William H. Rhodes. As proprietor of the Sunrise Stock farm, comprising 230 acres, situated near Manhattan, in Riley County, Kansas, William H. Rhodes occupies a prominent place among agriculturists in this part of the state, the products of his farm because of their standard merits having a wide distribution. Mr. Rhodes was born in Atchison County, Kansas, March 31, 1869, but was reared in Marion County, Kansas. His parents were John M. and Martha (Kuhn) Rhodes.
John M. Rbodes was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and died in Marion County, Kansas, in 1914, when aged seventy-nine years. His father, Christian Rhodes, was born in Germany and after coming to the United States lived always in Pennsylvania. John M. and Martha (Kuhn) Rhodes were married in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and came to Kansas in 1866. They located first in Atchison County but four years later removed to Marion County, and there Mrs. Rhodes yet lives, being now aged eighty years. Mr. Rhodes for forty-four years successfully carried on farming and stockraising, a quiet, industrious man, a good neighbor and a valued citizen. In politics he was affiliated with the republican party. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. They had four children: Christian E., who is a banker at Elmo, Kansas; William H.; Mary E., who is the wife of H. H. Banker, who is a merchant at Browasville, Texas; and J. Frank, who is a farmer and stockraiser on the old homestead in Marion County.
William H. Rhodes was reared to be a farmer and very early, on his father’s homestead, began to learn the practical details that are a necessary equipment for success in this vocation. He obtained a common school education but on the farm he has learned more than the books of his boyhood could teach him, for it is a fine training school. Mr. Rhodes has shown its worth by developing into one of the most accurate, careful and enterprising farmers and stockraisers, in Riley County. For fifteen years he successfully operated a fine stock farm in Marion County, near Tampa, which he sold in 1908, coming then to Riley County and purchasing his present farm situated near the Kansas State Agricultural College and now known as the Sunrise Stock Farm. He raises exceptionally fine stock consisting of Percheron horses, Hereford cattle and Berkshire hogs.
In 1908 Mr. Rhodes was married to Miss Viola Cromer, who was born in Illinois, and they have two children: Aileen and Harlan. They are members of the Presbyterlan Church. Mr. Rhodes is not active in politics but votes the republican ticket and is a dependable citizen in lending his influence, when occasion arises, toward forwarding enterprises promising to advance the general welfare.