William Baker Rhodes

In a letter written to Mr. Philip Rhodes Tate, daed 6 May, 1940, Arthur J Rhodes states that when his father was a youth, he would stay at his Uncle William's (William Hawkins Rhodes) farm in Freeport, Illinois.

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OBITUARY from the "Wichita Eagle", Tuesday, 4 Feb., 1941

"MARCH TO THE SEA VETERAN DIES AT AGE OF 96

" William Baker Rhodes Shook the Hand of Abraham Lincoln in Illinois.

"William B. Rhodes, 96, Civil War veteran who faught in the famous battle of Shiloh and was with Sherman on his march to the sea, died Monday night in a local hospital.

"Mr. Rhodes was removed to the hospital December 26 when he became noticeably weaker. His death leaves but two Civil War veterans in Wichita, Jacob Sohn, for years a resident of Baltimore hotel and now a patient in the Veterans Hospital, and William Leiter, 1040 North Waco.

"Mr. Rhodes was born in Ogdensburg, NY, July 11, 1844. When the Civil War was declared Rhodes was one of the first to enlist but because of his youth his father requested the cancellation of his enlistment and he remained at home until later in the war when he fought with company F of the 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

"He was in Freeport, Ill., at the time of the debate between President Lincoln and Douglas and afterwards shook hands with Lincoln. This was one of his most memorable incidents in his life.

"He made his home in Freeport for seveal years following the war and then moved to Kansas. He lived for a short time in Manhattan, then moved to Russell and in 1882 moved back to Manhattan. He operated a meat market there for many years and after he sold out his business was employed in a grocery and meat market until 14 years ago when he retired.

"Mr. Rhodes was active in the G.A.R. He was elected department commander in 1933 and served for one year and served as post commander at Manhattan numerous times.

"Mr. Rhodes' daughter, the late Nellie McMillen of Leavenworth, was past national president of the G.A.R. auxiliary.

"During the last years of his life Mr. Rhodes made his home in Manhattan with his only living son, Arthur J Rhodes, formerly county engineer of Riley County. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes came to Wichita four years ago and the Civil War veteran accompanied them. The family home is at 529 North Crestway.

"Surviving, besides his son, are two sisters, Mrs. J. R. Hanley, Muscatine, IA; and Mrs. Anna Miller, National City, Cal.; two brothers, John A. Rhodes, Santa Anna, Cal., and C. B. Rhodes, Council Grove; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren."

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"Declaration for Invalid Army Pension" dated 4 June, 1894 states that while at the Neuse River bridge in North Carolina, he contracted rheumatism and neuralgia, catarrh of head and throat due to exposure from marching in the swamps and remaining in wet clothes. Was laid up at this place and there also received a case of the mumps causing his jaw and head to swell resulting in loss of left eye and hearing of right ear. He soon after suffered jaundice."