Biography of F. E. Rhodes, page 206.  History of Northeast Indiana; 
LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, and DeKalb Counties, Vol. II, under the 
editorial supervision of Ira Ford, Orville Stevens, William H. McEwen, and 
William H. McIntosh.  The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago and New York, 1920.   

   F.E. Rhodes is president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at 
Spencerville, and has long been identified with that community as a 
practical farmer, and owns part of the noted Rhodes homestead, which has 
been in the possession of this family continuously since earliest pioneer 
times.
   Mr. Rhodes was born on the farm which, he owns a mile and a quarter 
northeast of Spencerville, January 12, 1868.  He is a son of Milus and 
Elizabeth (Beams) Rhodes.  His father was born on the same farm February 
22, 1838, and died January 16, 1918, at the age of eighty years.  The 
pioneer was grandfather Daniel Rhodes, who came from Ohio and was numbered 
among the very earliest settlers in Concord Township of DeKalb County.  He 
entered 160 acres of land, and that farm has never been in any other 
ownership except the Rhodes family and the Government.  Daniel Rhodes was 
a democrat.  His children were Daniel, Newton, Milus, Nancy, Mary, Matilda, 
Sarah, Alice, Manda and Minerva.
   Milus Rhodes had a common school education in pioneer days and after his 
marriage lived on the home farm the rest of his life.  He was an active 
member of the Lutheran Church and a democrat in politics and also belonged 
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He had two sons, Raymond R., of 
Spencerville, and F.E. Rhodes.
   F.E. Rhodes is a well educated man. As a boy on the farm he attended 
district schools, also had a high school course and finished his education 
in the college at Valparaiso.  For fourteen terms he was a teacher.  May 
18, 1893, Mr. Rhodes married Amanda Rhodes, who was born in Noble  County, 
Indiana, in 1867. Her family was not related to that of her husband.  She 
was educated in the district schools.
   For two years after his marriage Mr. Rhodes lived at New Paris, 
Indiana, where he conducted a grocery and bakery.  Returning to DeKalb 
County, he taught for a time at St. Joe and then took up farming.  He owns 
230 acres, including 110 acres of the old homestead.  His brother has 120 
acres of the Rhodes farm.
   Mr. Rhodes has one son, M.E. Rhodes, a graduate of high school, and who 
married Verne Jolly.  They are members of the Lutheran Church and he is 
one of the most liberal supporters and a deacon. Though an active democrat 
he has never held any office.
   The Farmers and Merchant Bank of Spencerville has the following 
officials: F. E. Rhodes, president; L. B. Fisher, vice president; C.G. 
Rectenwald, cashier; W.A. Bierbower, Albert H. Peters, F.E. Rhodes, Adam 
Shilling, W.P. Stewart, L.B. Fisher, John Beninghoof and Reuben Remm, 
directors. Mr. Rhodes is also secretary and treasurer of the Township 
Shipping Association.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com