JOHN M. RHODES.

John :M. Rhodes, who has served for twenty-one years on the board of supervisors and has taken an active part in communit y affairs in Roscoe, his native village, was born August 25, 1840 , his parents being John J. and Pamelia (Wilson) Rhodes. The grandfather, John Rhodes, a native of Ireland , came to the new world after his marriage. bringing with him his wife and one child. His wife was a native of England . They Settled in Oneida county. New York , the year of their Emigrati on being 1795. Mr. Rhodes had been a carder in the woolen mills in his native country and subsequently conducted a woolen mill in the Empire state.

The father was a native of the Empire state, born in 1803. while the mother's birth occurred in Canada , in 1806. When a young man John J. Rhodes learned the trade of carding in a woolen mill in the state of New York , and later with a younger brother went to Canada , where they conducted. a woolen mill for several years. It was during their residence there that the parents of our subject were married, and in 1839 they came west to Illinois , remaining for about a year in Rockford . On the expiration of that period they took up their abode in Roscoe, where Mr. Rhodes built a sawmill. He also purchased land and in connection with the manufacture of lumber was engaged in pursuits upon the farm, which is now the property of his son, John M. The tract comprised about three hundred and forty acres and was largely unim­ proved but the father, with characteristic energy, placed his fields under a high state of cultivation.

He was the first supervisor of Roscoe township, which office he filled for seven years to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was also justice of the peace for many years and his decis­ ions were strictl y fair and impartial. He was also highway commissioner and every trust reposed in him was faithfull y performed. His political allegiance was given to the whig party in early manhood and on its dissolution he espoused the principles of the new republican party and con­tinued one of its stalwart supporters until his death, which occurred in Roscoe, when he was fifty-six years of age. His wife survived him until about seventy years of age. They brought with them to Illinois three children, who were born in Canada . but only one is now living, William. a resident of Worth county, Iowa . The other members of the famil y born in Illinois , who yet survive, are John M. and his sister. Mrs. Laura Sammons. the wife of Amos Sammons.

John M. Rhodes has made his home in Roscoe throughout his entire life. The pubic schools af­ forded him his educational privileges and on the 24th of Ma y, 1861 , in response to his country's need, he offered his services to the Union , en­listing as a private of Compan y B. Fifteenth Illinois Infantry for three years' service. He continued with the command for about a month after the expiration of his term, being mustered out June 14. 1864. He went to the front under Captain Hurlbut. who afterward rose to the rank of major general. The first battle in which he participated was the hotl y contested engagement at Shiloh . where the men fell like flowers before a hailstorm. the regiment losing two hundred and fifty-eight of its members in eight minutes. Mr. Rhodes had three bullets shot through his clothes in that engagement. Later he participated in the battles of Fort Donaldson and the siege of Vicksburg and in other engagements with his regiment, never faltering in the performance of any duty assigned to him.

When mustered out of the army Mr. Rhodes returned to his home in Roscoe, and was married on the 25th of August, 1864, to Miss Louisa Love., a native of Roscoe, and a daughter of Jabez Love, who was born in England but in his youth came to America, set­ tling in Detroit, Michigan, whence he afterward came to this place, casting in his lot with its early settlers. He is now the owner of one hundred and ninety-seven acres of his father's old homestead. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes were born three children, of whom two are living : Charles, now a veterinary surgeon, residing at Beloit, Wisconsin, married Miss Maria Lyford, a daughter of Dudley Lyford, of Roscoe, and they have two children, Alice and John D. Mary is the wife of Clifford Wilcox, and had three children, Lee and Ethel, living ; and Arthur, who was killed by lightning August 9, 1893. He married Ella Cummings and they had one son.Ralph.

Through much of his life Mr. Rhodes has been identified with agricultural interests but in 19oo he went to Washington, D. C., and became one of the police officers in the capital, where he remained for a year. He was then appointed to a position in the internal revenue service, acting as special agent for three years, after which he re

turned to Roscoe. Prior to his residence in the national capital he was for many years justice of the peace and had also served on the board of supervisors for nine years at one time, and ten years at another time. He was the first native born son of Roscoe to be called to that office and upon his return from Washington he was again elected supervisor so that his service in the posi­ tion covers twenty-one years altogether. No higher testimonial of his ability or of the trust reposed in him could be given than the fact that he has so long been retained in the one office. He is a member of the Masonic fraternit y, at Rock-ton, and of Nevius post. No. 1. G. A R.. at Rockford. He has ever been a public spirited and patriotic citizen, as true and lo yal to his country in days of peace as when the war cloud hung over the land and he battled for the Union upon the contested ground of the south.

 

History of Winnebago County-1877

 

 

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Illinois Ancestors