Frederick Wolcott Rhoads (1809-1867)

RHOADS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/13/2017 at 19:28:37

From Nevada Representative November 1, 1907 (front page)

Accidental Death of F. W. Rhoades

The Aegis also reports the death of F. W. Rhoads, who was one of the prominent members of the community and the members of whose family have in the years since been prominent in this and other states. He was a carpenter, and he fell from a scaffold on the old Alderman building on or near the present site of the opera hall. His death was deeply felt by the people of town and county and is often referred to when any of the old-timers get to talking of pioneer days. Mr. Rhoads when he first came to the county located at Story City, where he was the first postmaster; but after a time he removed to Nevada and here the members of his family continued to be identified until long after his death. The Aegis reports the accident as follows:

"We have to record the accidental death of Mr. F. W. Rhoads, who fell from the scaffolding of a building on Saturday morning and died from the effects of his injuries in about twenty-six hours. Mr. Rhoads was one of our earliest citizens in Nevada and was distinguished for his industry and strictly moral and temperate habits. He was by occupation a carpenter, was considerably over fifty years of age but of robust constitution and had to all appearances a good prospect of fifteen or twenty years of active life before him. His native state was Vermont, but he had lived some years in Ohio before coming to Iowa. His funeral sermon was preached from the Presbyterian church (the present office of the Representative) by Rev. Mr. Simmons, the Baptist minister from Boonesboro Mr. Rhoads having been connected with that denomination. The deceased leaves a large family who were, in great part dependent upon him for support.