Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1904 — Funeral of Wm H. Rhoades [ARTICLE]

Funeral of Wm H. Rhoades

The funeral of Wm H, Rhoades was held Friday at 10 o’clock a. m. at his late residence on McCoy avenue, and was largely attended. The religious service were oonduoted by Rev. B F. Ferguson, assisted by Rev. H. L. Kindig. Rensselaer Post, No. 84 had oharge of the burial sprvice and 36 of his old army comrades marohed in the funeral procession, The pall bearers, all old soldiers were R- H. Grow. A. J. Abbott I. N. Hemphill, J. W- Williams, Fred Stooksiok, James Thompson. -

W. H. Rhoades was born at Winslow Maine, Nov. ’4th 1837. Nov. 4th being also the birthday of his mother. He died at Rensselaer, Ind. May 18th 1904, and that day also was tne day of his mother’s death, just 11 years before to an hour. He moved to Rensselaer with his parents in 1857, and this remained his home until his death. He was educated at a college in Buffalo. N.. Y. His oivil war record was notable and very honorable. The faot is well inown that Robert H. Milroy, a resident of Rensselaer before the war, foresaw the war and prepared to be among the first at front, by enlisting and drilling a company months before the war actually broke out. This, so far as known, was the first company to be organized especially for the war between north and south, for the Union, army, in the whole nation. Mr. Rhoades was a member of this oompany and helped organize it. When Lincoln’s first oall for 75,000 three months troops was issued this company responded in a body, and was the first company in Indiana to start for Indianapolis. He was h nonoomissioned officer in this oompany, whioh became Company G. of the 9th Indiana regiment. When the oompany wa9 re-or-ganized for three yeaVs he wbb its First Lieutenant. He took part in the battles of Greenbrier, Alleghany, Shiloh and the Beige of Oorrinth, Also in the tremendous maroh across Kentucky, under Buell, until he reached Bowling Green, where he was taken sick and finally compelled by continued ill-health to resign and return home. He was a brave and faithful soldier and an efficient, just and popular officer.

After his return home he engaged for a while in the dry goods business, and later for many years, oouduoted a harness shop in partnership with his father. Patriotism was almost a mania with him, and in eome form his almost constant subjeot of conversation. And it showed itself in his keeping his residence constantly decorated with flags and piotures of great men, and painting his house and all its surroundings in the national oolorsHe was married Jan. 15tb, 1864, at Indianapolis, to Fannie O. Wood, who survives him, They never had any ohildren.