Oakwood Cemetery in Somers, Wisconsin: Rhodes

William J. Rhodes and Alice B. Rhodes
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source: Larry and Lina Kopet, USGENWEBARCHWIS)

Jonas W. Rhodes, father of William J. Rhodes
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011)

Rhodes Family
For more than a half century William F. Rhodes occupied the old homestead farm of the Rhodes family in Somers Township, and when he passed away the locality lost one of its valued and representative citizens. He was born in Kenosha County, April 24, 1844. Almost forty years passed before his father, Jonas W. Rhodes, was required by death to put aside the work of the home farm, and as time passed on he kept adding to his holdings until he was the owner of about five hundred acres, constituting a most excellent property. On that farm he continued until his death, which occurred in 1891, his remains being then interred in Oakwood Cemetery.

William J. Rhodes pursued his education in the district schools of Kenosha County, mastering the lessons which qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. He was early trained to the work of the field, largely devoting the summer months to the task of cultivating and harvesting the crops. Upon his father's death he inherited a part of the estate and purchased the interest of the other heirs in the old home property, which he continued to cultivate and occupy until his demise, which occurred on the 23rd of May, 1905, when he had reached the age of sixty-one years.

It was in 1874 that William J. Rhodes was united in marriage to Miss Alice Carmen and they became the parents of three children: Jay William; Lulu, who married Ed Leet and has two children; and Frank E., who married Florence Buswell and has two children.

In his political views Mr. Rhodes was an earnest Republican. He served as Somers Town Clerk for thirteen years, was also Town Treasurer and was Treasurer of the School Board. He guided his life according to the teachings of the Methodist Church.

His eldest son, Jay William Rhodes, was born in Somers Township, January 13, 1875, and supplemented his early educational training by study in the high school of Kenosha. He was reared to farm life and has never sought to change his occupation, for he agrees with George Washington that "farming is the most useful as well as the most honorable pursuit of man." He today owns two hundred and twelve acres which he farms, the place being situated in Somers Township. Upon this land he engages in raising sheep and cattle, the latter for dairy purposes, and he ships his milk to the Chicago market. His business is well managed and he carefully watches over every detail so that the best possible results are achieved.

On the 8th of June, 1905, Mr. Rhodes was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Cook, a daughter of Elliott Cook, one of the early settlers of Kenosha County. They now have one child, Wendell, in school. Jay William Rhodes has been school Treasurer and for two years filled the office of Somers Town Treasurer.
(Source: The City and County of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Vol. II, Chicago, The S.J. Clark Publishing Co., 1916).

More About William J. Rhodes
Early yesterday morning, William J. Rhodes of the Town of Somers, prominent throughout Kenosha county as a politician and farmer, died at St. Mary's hospital in Racine. Mr. Rhodes has been ill for a long time and six weeks ago was brought to the hospital. Deceased was a son of the late Jonus W. Rhodes, one of the pioneer settlers of Kenosha County. He was born in Somers, April 24, 1844. In his younger days he became prominent in the affairs of Somers Township and for 61 years was a resident of Somers. The funeral will be held from his late home in Somers on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
(Source: Racine Journal, publication date May 26, 1906)

More About Caroline Rhodes
Mrs. Caroline Rhodes, one of the oldest residents of this section died Monday. May 28, 1906. She was born in Vernon, Sussex County, New Jersey on February 9, 1821. She married Jonas William Rhodes, also of Vernon, Sussex County, on April 13, 1843 and immediately they moved to Somers.
Mr. Rhodes died in 1891 after 48 years of happy married life here. Seven children were born to this couple. Mrs. James E. Spencer, a daughter lives in Somers.
Mrs. Rhodes passed quietly while sitting in a chair. In her death, she ranks of the pioneers of this section, being among the very earliest settlers in these parts. She was also one of the earliest members of the M.E. Church of Somers.
(Source: Racine Journal, publication date June 8, 1906)

Supreme Court of Wisconsin: Truesdell and wife vs. Rhodes, impleaded, etc. June Term, 1870. Appeal from the circuit Court for Kenosha County
(Purpose of this information is to show relationships of Charles D. Rhodes, pioneer land owner of Somers Township)
"This action was brought by Calvin Truesdell and Sarah Truesdell, his wife, against James Ozanne, Jr., Jonas W. Rhodes, Charles D. Rhodes, and "the unknown heirs of Wm. Rhodes, deceased, and the unknown owners" of certain described lands. The facts alleged in the complaint are substantially as follows:
1. That sometime in 1857, William Rhodes died intestate, being at the time of his death owner and in possession of the lands in dispute, and left surviving him Jonas W. Rhodes and Charles D. Rhodes, his children, and other heirs-at-law to the plaintiffs unknown, and that no administrator had been appointed upon his estate in this state; that in 1857 Jonas W. Rhodes, who resides upon lands adjoining the tract in controversy, disclaimed any ownership in said tract, and requested the assessors of the town to assess the same separately from his lands, to owners unknown; that the tract was thus assessed for the taxes of 1857, returned to the county treasurer for non-payment of taxes, and sold for the same to Jonas W. Rhodes, who purchased and took the certificate in the name of James Ozanne, Jr., but without his knowledge or consent, and the certificate was never delivered to or accepted by said Ozanne, and he never acquired any title to or interest in the lands a against the plaintiffs.

Rhodes Parcel Ownership - 1861 Somers Township
Section 2 - J.W. Rhodes 24 acres
Section 2 - C.D. Rhodes 25 acres
(The parcels in Section 2 above are now the current property of Petrifying Spring Park, Kenosha County.
Section 4 - J.W. Rhodes 160 acres
Section 5 - C.D. Rhodes 80 acres
Section 5 - C.D. Rhodes 80 acres
Section 6 - C.D. Rhodes 80 acres
Section 6 - C.D. Rhodes 40 acres

Partial 1861 Map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
See Rhodes parcel ownership above.
Click on map for larger view.

For Sale
"Valuable Farming Land For Sale. The subscriber offers for sale a portion of his valuable farming land located in the Town of Somers, about ten miles from the cities of Kenosha and Racine. I will sell from 100 to 300 acres at TWENTY DOLLARS AN ACRE. This land is well improved and watered and is only offered for sale because I have more than I want to take care of. For further particulars enquire of the subscriber, on the premises. I have also a quantity of wild land in the State and Minnesota.
Town of Somers, February 1, 1865. J. W. RHODES."
(Source: Racine Daily May 10, 1865)

Rhodes and Cook Marriage
On 08 June 1905 Mr. (Jay William) Rhodes was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Cook, a daughter of Elliott Cook, one of the early settlers of Kenosha County. They (Jay William and Mabel Cook Rhodes) now have one child, Wendell, in school. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Rhodes also belongs to the Modern Woodmen Camp at Somers. He votes Republican, for two years filled the office of Town Treasurer, and has also been school Treasurer, He has never sought political office to any extent, however, preferring to give his thought and energy to his business, and has been most diligent in all that he has undertaken.
(Source: Submitted by Cathy Kubly)