Cyrus Rhoades, one of Carroll County's pioneers, residing on section 12, Newton Township, was born April 12, 1834, the youngest in a family of nine children of William and Anna Rhoades, who were natives of North Carolina. They subsequently removed to the State of Iowa, where they lived till their death. Cyrus Rhoades was reared to the avocation of a farmer, receiving his education in the log cabin subscription schools of his neighborhood. June 2, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth M. Vance, who was born in Randolph County, Indiana, June 26, 1834, the eldest of six children of David and Sarah (Smith) Vance. Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades, as follows — Franklin P., George W., Naomi L., America J., Thomas J., James M., William (deceased), Elmer E. (deceased), Paulina, Jacob, Eva E. and Nellie V. (twins), both now deceased. In August, 1853, Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades immigrated to Iowa with ox teams, locating in Guthrie County, where he pre-empted eighty acres near Panora, which he improved. He erected a log house on his land, on which he lived about six months, and here they experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Their first milling and trading was done at Panora. Indians were numerous and game was abundant. Mr. Rhoades carried the United States mail from Panora to Carrollton with ox teams, taking nine days to make the trip. He sold his land in Guthrie county in 1854, when he came to Carroll County, settling in Union Township, on section 7, before the county was organized. Three years later he removed to section 12, of the same township, where he made his home for nine years. In 1866 he removed to his farm on section 12, Newton Township, where he has since resided, having now 110 acres of valuable land well improved, and in connection with his general farming he is also engaged in stock-raising. Mr. Rhoades was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting March 18, 1862, in Company O, Fourth Iowa Infantry, in which he served until August 11, 1863. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and the battle of Arkansas Post and was mustered out at Black Hills, Mississippi, where he received his final discharge.

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