David Rhoads, who is now living practically retired on his fine farm on section 36, Pioneer township, was for many years prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Cedar county, owning and operating four hundred acres of valuable land. He dates his residence in this county from 1856 and is therefore largely familiar with its annals from pioneer times down to the present.
His birth occurred in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, on the 23d of September, 1833, and there he was reared to manhood on a farm. He learned the bricklayer’s trade and worked at that occupation for nine years. In 1856, when a young man of twenty-three years, he came west to Cedar county, Iowa, and in March, 1860, was married to Miss Anna Mary Heneks, likewise a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Her father, John Heneks, came to this country from Pennsylvania about 1854.
Following his marriage Mr. Rhoads located on section 36, Pioneer township, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he prepared for cultivation and farmed in association with his brother, Edwin Rhoads, for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold out to his brother and bought one hundred and sixty acres of the farm on which he now resides, forty acres of the tract having been broken. Turning his attention to its further development and improvement, he eventually brought the fields under a high state of cultivation and, as his financial resources increased, extended the boundaries of the farm by additional purchase until it embraced four hundred acres. He erected a substantial two-story residence, two large barns, set out a grove and orchard and fenced and tiled his land. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also raised and fed stock, both branches of his business proving profitable. At the present time, however, he is not actively engaged in the work of the fields, having divided most of his land among his children.
By his first wife, who passed away in 1867, Mr. Rhoads had four children, namely: Wilbert C., an agriculturist of Cass county, Iowa; Charles E., who is mentioned on another page of this work; John C., a resident of South Dakota; and Frank, deceased. In 1872 Mr. Rhoads was again married, his second union being with Miss Catharine Armentrout, who was born and reared in Ohio and came to Iowa when a young lady. Their home was blessed with seven children, the record of whom is as follows: Samuel, the oldest, now follows farming in Cedar county. David, a resident of Cedar Rapids, is likewise an agriculturist by occupation. Harry is the next in order of birth. Joseph is engaged in business at Cedar Rapids. Herman died June 18, 1892, at the age of fifteen years. Eugene, whose birth occurred July 17, 1879, was reared on the home farm and supplemented his preliminary education, obtained in the common schools, by a course of study at Mechanicsville. He has always remained with his father and is now the owner of two hundred acres of the old homestead place. As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life he chose Miss Amanda Spencer, a native of Cedar county, by whom he has a daughter, Mildred Inez. Anna Rhoads gave her hand in marriage to Cecil Overbaugh, a farmer of this county.
Mr. Rhoads is a stanch republican in politics and has supported every nominee at thehead of the party
since casting his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont in 1856. He has capably served in the capacity of supervisor and township trustee and has been sent as a delegate to numerous conventions. He has likewise done effective service for the cause of education and is widely recognized as a most public-spirited and valued citizen. In religious belief he is a Quaker, having been reared in that faith. He has now passed the seventy-seventh milestone on life’s journey and his career has ever been such that he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.
