Rhodes, Rachel Catherine 1842-1912

RHODES, DEVINNEY, HARTZELL, POWERS, TURPKIN, WRAGE, WILTAMUTH, TAYLOR, CHAPIN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/17/2012 at 09:17:45

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Feb. 6, 1912

MRS. RACHEL CATHERINE RHODES

Rachel Catherine DeVinney was born in Port Byron, Rock Island county, Illinois, on July 22, 1842. She was the oldest child born to Elisha and Mary Hartzell DeVinney and was a cousin of Bishop Hartzell of the M.E. church.

On a beautiful plain overlooking the Mississippi River she grew to womanhood sharing the life of her pioneer parents. At the early age of fifteen years she began teaching school. She lived through the wearing period of the Civil War, losing at that time a much-loved brother.

In 1868 she came to Iowa, where in Poweshiek county she took up her work of teaching school, the late Prof. Parker then being County Superintendent.

In 1872 she was married to H.I. Rhodes, one of he earliest settlers in Sheridan Township, and here until their removal to Grinnell in 1902 they lived on the old hometead. Only those who have lived through this period can know the life of sacrifice and hard work that was theirs. Ever ready to lend her aid in sickness and distress, she gave courage and help to many.

She was early converted to the Christian life and was a consistent, faithful, zealous worker, holding God's house sacred and especially dear the Thursday evening prayer meetings and the family worship. No thought of fear ever came to her concerning her future life. Her husband and children will always cherish a remembrance of a life sacrificed for their best good and especially at the last moments when she sought to spare them from a knowledge of her suffering and of the inevitable end which she realized must come.

She leaves to mourn her loss, her husband of nearly forty years, to whom she was a true and strong help and support; the seven children they reared to man and womanhood; a brother, Wm. DeVinney; two sisters, Mrs. Rose Powers and Mrs. Wm. Turpkin; three much-loved cousins, Mrs. Wm. Wrage, Mrs. N. Wiltamuth, and Mrs. Mattie Taylor; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Jas. Chapin, and many others who will always cherish a memory of a life well spent.

Funeral services were held from the home on West street, Friday, Feb.2, conducted by Rev. Elias Handy, who chose for his central thought, "The Glory of the Christian's Death."

Mrs. E.B.T. Spencer sang "Nearer My God to Thee" and Miss Lorinda Kensinger assisted her in singing two favorite songs of the deceased: "Sweet Will of God" and "Lead Kindly Light."