RHODES FAMILY

RHODES FAMILY By

Magdeline ZIRKLE (Mrs. J. Rush RHODES)

I have been thinking for some time of writing a little sketch of my husband's family, but first I am copying a short article written about the RHODES family name, which I read in a newspaper some years ago. It was taken from "Old English Letters" and is as follows:

The History of Your Name RHODES

The surname RHODES is of English descent, with one exception, a family in France which was spelled Rhodez.

Henry RHODES was born in Lancaster, England, 1608, and was in action in King Phillip's War. Henry came to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1640 and was the most outstanding man in the Colony.

There was another branch came early to America and became very prominent in the colony of Virginia, afterwards moving to Tennessee and Kentucky. Among the descendents in this country of Henry RHODES (Rhoades), of Lynn, Massachusetts, are members of the Washington family, as George Washington descends through his great grandmother, Amphillis RHODES. This branch of RHODES descended from a long line of English ancestors, tracing back to Wilemus of Rhode. The name has been spelled in many ways, as follows: Rods, Rodes, Roads, Roades, RHODES, Rhoades, and Rode. There are more than 5000 representatives of the male line alone, bearing the name RHODES in some form of its spelling. No general history of the family in America has ever been written.

There are many branches of the RHODES family existing in the United States, but practically none of them are found spelling their name Rhoades except the descendents of Henry RHODES of Lynn, Massachusetts.

Henry RHODES brought to America a coat of arms and the original charter. ARMS: Argent and a cross engrailed between four lions rampant, gules, as many bezants. CREST: A leopard, segeants or spotted sable, collared and ringed argent.

My Husband's Family

My husband, John Rush RHODES, was born August 13, 1868, died April 11, 1947. His father, John Wesley RHODES (1825-1902), was of German descent. The German name for RHODES is ROTH. His mother, Sarah Elizabeth KERN (1828-1905), was of German and Irish parentage. His paternal grandparents were Anthony RHODES (1795-1863) and Elizabeth SHOWALTER (1800-1883). His maternal grandparents were Henry KERN (1802-1884) and Sarah WILSON (1804-1869).

Brothers and sisters of John Wesley RHODES were Frederick, Joseph, Anne, Henry, Sarah, Magdaline, Maria, and Frances. Sarah Elizabeth KERN had one sister, Anne, and five brothers, Alfred, David, Nickolas, Lewis, and James.

My husband came from a large family. His parents were devout Christians. He was reared in a good home. His father, John Wesley RHODES, served in the Army of the Confederate States. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. K, 60^th Regiment, Virginia Infantry and was appointed Sergeant, April 29, 1862. He was in the service until he was wounded in 1864.

My husband's mother was a remarkable woman. She had five children when her husband enlisted in the Army of the Confederacy. She knew what the war cost the South. She experienced many hardships and privations. With her wonderful memory it was quite exciting to hear her relate some of the experiences of her girlhood and young womanhood. She was the mother of eleven children.

Her Grandfather KERN was one of the Kerns that settled at Kernstown near Winchester, Virginia. He later moved to Botetout County, Virginia. In 1840, when Mother RHODES was twelve years of age, her Grandfather KERN had secured a lot of land in Indiana and decided to move all his children and their families there. They moved in covered wagons, camping along the way. She remembered the trip and would tell many interesting things that happened along the way. It was the year that William Henry Harrison was running for President of the United States. (He was given the name of Tippecanoe while engaged in war with the Indians.) She said all along the way they could see log cabins with a keg close by and these words: "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too." Tyler was running for Vice President. Harrison's home was a log cabin, and it was said they served cider instead of costly wine.

The climate in Indiana was treacherous at that time, with swamps and malaria. Her father stayed only one year. His family was sick and dissatisfied, so he moved them back to Botetout County, Virginia.

The rest of the Kerns remained in Indiana. The land was drained. They fought and conquered the malaria. They acquired much property and became prominent citizens of Indiana.

In 1908 the Democratic Party nominated my husband's cousin, John KERN of Indiana, for Vice President of the United States. His name appeared on the ticket with that of William Jennings Bryan for President.

My husband was one of eleven children. His brothers and sisters were Charles Edward, Alfred Henry Taylor, Anthony Newton, Mary Virginia, Laura Alice, Shannon Leonidos, Arline Victoria, Sallie Anne, James William, and Dora Belle. Mary Virginia, Shannon Leonidos, and Arline Victoria died in childhood.

Charles married Margaret THOMASON. They had two daughters, Virginia and Bertie. Virginia married Newton COAKLEY. She has four children, Fleta, William, Ruby, and Robin. Bertie married Luther MINNICH and has four children Claude, Lloyd, Bernard, and Mary Ann.

Taylor married Mary SWARTZ, and there were four children from this marriage. One girl died in childhood. Other children were Lula (Lou), Elizabeth (Bettie), and Edward. Lou married Ernest VINT and has five children, Lloyd, Roscoe, Roxie, Marjory, and Carl. Another son died in childhood. Bettie married H. C. REVERCOMB, and their five children are Edward, Arlie, Mary, Lester, and Earl. Edward married Pinky HOLLEN and has five children.

Anthony (Tone) was twice married. His first wife was Virginia KELLER, and they had two daughters. His second wife was Magdaline FLOYD. There were no children from this marriage. Names of the two daughters are Cora and Mattie. Cora married Abram EARLY and had seven children, Effie, Samuel, Hubert, Warren, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Anna. Samuel, Hubert, and Anna are dead. Mattie married Claude EARLY. They have six children, Ernest, Elmer, Mary, Lillian, Walter, and Isaac. Lillian is dead.

Alice married Jacob LEARY and had four children, Nora, Arthur, Statten, and Olga. Nora married Elmus HOLSINGER and has two children, Eldon and Janet. Eldon married Eula RIDER, and they have three children, Donald, Martha, and Eldon, Jr. Arthur LEARY never married. Statton married Carrie MCLOUGHLIN and has two children, Hubert and Bettie. Olga married Robert BASSFORD and has four sons, Robert, Kenneth, Ralph, and Walter.

Sallie married Charles HESS and had two children, Ressie and Dwight. Ressie married Marion HOLSINGER and had two children, Virginia and Weldon. Dwight married Beulah WEBB and has one daughter, Fern. Ressie is dead.

James W. married Rosie SKELTON. They had eight children, Ward, Roy, Glenn, Carl, Grace, Margaret, Lola, and Naomi. Carl, Roy, Grace, and Margaret, and Ward are dead.

Dora married David WENGER. She has five living children, Madaline, Dewitt (Dee), William (Bill), Minnie, and Richard. Four children died in childhood. Madaline married Robert ALMARODE (Mr. Bob). They have one daughter, Betty Jo. Dee married Fannie MILLS. They have two sons, Robert and Winston. Bill married Blanche KING, and they have three daughters, Janet, Jeannette, and Mildred. Richard married Margaret BRANNOM. Minnie lives with her mother at Edom, Virginia. Dora (Mrs. David WENGER) has outlived all her brothers and sisters.

My husband and I were married in 1893 and had three children, Courtney (now dead), Markwood Zirkle, and Elbert Franklin. Courtney married Forrest RALSTON, and they had one son, Richard. (Richard married Dolly ATWELL and has two sons, Kenneth and Bobby.) Markwood married Mildred KIRKLAND, and they have one daughter, Betty. Elbert married Lorene SMITH, and they have two sons, James Ralph (Jimmy) and Robert (Bob). (Jimmy married Mary Rhea ELEAZER, and their two daughters are Kathy and Michele.)

Much could be said about my husband's family. They were not blessed with material riches. Their integrity was not questioned. They were honest, industrious, and frugal, devoted to their family, their church, and friend to everyone. My husband could truthfully say, in the words of the Psalmist: "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."

(1959)