Oscar A. Rhoads

OSCAR A. RHOADS, a man well known in Cherokee County, was born in Chenango County, New York, June 18, 1863. He lives on a well cultivated farm of 80 acres in Spring Valley township on the Rural Free Delivery Route No. 2.

His father, Albert Rhoads, was a native of New York, where he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the country schools of his native State. After reaching man's estate, he became interested in farm management and dairying, continuing this occupation until December, 1876, at which time he came to Cherokee County, Kansas, and located on a farm in Spring Valley township. This farm he rented for seven years, at the end of which period, having by hard labor and perseverance, accumulated considerable currency, he purchased the property. He remained on the place, engaged in farming and stock-raising, until his death, which occurred May 5, 1901, when he was run over by a St. Louis & San Francisco train and instantly killed.

Albert Rhoads' wife Nancy was a daughter of Thomas and Margaret Sisson; her father was a farmer and came originally from New York State. Their family consisted of four children, namely: Alice F., wife of C. A. Nicholson, a farmer of Spring Valley township; Oscar A., subject of this review; Elbert and Edna (twins), both deceased,—the former at the age of 16 and the latter, who was the wife of Joseph H. Thompson, of Lyon township, in 1900. Mrs. Albert Rhoads, the mother of these children, is still living in Spring Valley township.

Oscar A. Rhoads lived in his native State of New York until the age of 13, there receiving the rudiments of the education which he completed later in the schools of Kansas. Having finished school in Cherokee County at the age of 19 years, he assisted his father in the care of the farm until he attained his majority. In January, 1884, at the age of 21, he married Georgia A. Kinnaman, daughter of Henry and Ruth Kinnaman of Spring Valley township. To this union were born four children, as follows: Lena B., Fred H., Nellie L. and Floyd.

After his marriage, he began farming for himself on the farm adjoining where he now resides. At the end of a year he moved to the farm just west, and later spent three years on a farm near Sherwin Junction. After working a farm near Columbus for one year and the home place for another, he concluded to buy a home for himself, and returning to his present farm purchased it and became engaged in farming and stock-raising, and has since continued in this occupation. The farm on which he resides comprises 80 acres of highly cultivated land, which produces the usual small grains, and on which are raised many head of stock. But Mr. Rhoads, not being satisfied with small farming, has branched out more extensively, until he now operates some 300 acres of rented land. His operations have proved most successful, and he is numbered among the well-to-do farmers of his section.

Of secret societies, our subject is a member of one that was founded in an early day, the A. H. T. A., of which he is a prominent and popular member. In 1903 he was sent as a delegate to the association's State meeting at Winfield, Kansas. In politics Mr. Rhoads has always been a Republican, and always stands for the principles of his party, taking an interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the State or county.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Myra A. Dinger, faculty from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 04-09-97.