John Henry Clay RHODES, was 5th child of Rev. James J. RHODES and his 2nd wife Winifred NOBLES of the Tuckahoe District of Jones Co., N.C. He was born on 28 Dec. 1844.
Not much is known about his early childhood. But with 4 older brothers; a strict Christian upbringing; and a large family of relatives living near by on many acres of farmland in the Tuckahoe area-I am sure it was an adventurous one.

By 1862, John Henry RHODES, along with his brothers enlisted in the Confederate Army. He was 18 years old and enlisted in New Hanover Co., N.C. and served in Co. "G", 2nd Regiment; N.C. State Troops; along with his brother George Washington RHODES. He was present or accounted for on the Muster Rolls until he was captured at Kelly's Ford, Va. on 7 Nov. 1863. He was confined at Point Lookout Prison Camp in Maryland until he was paroled for exchange on 30 Sept. 1864. Again he was reported as present on a roll of detachment of paroled and exchanged prisoners at Camp Lee, near Richmond, Va. dated 11 Oct. 1864. He was captured again at Petersburg, Va. on 3 April 1865 and confined at Hart's Island, New York Harbor, until released after taking the Oath of Allegiance on 17 June 1865. He served in the Infantry as a private.

After the war ended he went back to Jones Co. and married his cousin Edyth "Louisa" RHODES. She was the daughter of Joseph Becton RHODES, b. 26 Feb. 1825 and Eliza WOOD. John RHODES married Louisa RHODES at her father's house (Joseph RHODES) on 31 Oct. 1866, by F. G. SIMMONS, J. P. "Louisa RHODES was her husband's 1st cousin once removed; and grandneice of her husband's father."Edith Louisa RHODES was born 21 May 1851. She had 4 siblings: 1) Ivey Becton RHODES, b. 6 May 1850, 2)William F. RHODES, b. 2 April 1852, 3) Joseph Hill RHODES, b. 6 July 1853 and 4) Mary RHODES, b. 25 Sept. 1858.

By 1880, they were living in the White Oak District of Onslow Co. and had 2 children: 1)Fannie Murray RHODES, b. 20 January 1869 and 2) Charles Henry RHODES, b. 25 July 1873.

Sometime about 1883/84 this family along with Louisa's brother, Joseph Hill RHODES and his family decided to move to Texas. There were probably other relatives and neighbors that moved there also. They were living in Waco, McClennan County Texas by 1900. The 1900 Census, shows John H. RHODES & wife Edyth, living next to Joseph H. RHODES and his family. The census shows John & Louisa had been married 32 years and had 2 children.

According to the "Kinston Free Press" dated Thursday 6 March 1890, North Carolina
White emigrants moving out of state to Waco, Texas are:
S. T. CROSSLAND, S.S. MCCLEESE, J. H. RHODES, I. C. CHANDLER, John BAKER
T. B. COX, Elder J. S. CUMMINGS, Needham WELLS, James SAUNDERS,
J. T. WILLIAMS, W. R. ROUNDTREE, Claude WADE, George HARTSFIELD &
Lon MORTON. -46 from Kinston and 13 from New Bern, N.C.

John Henry Clay RHODES in Texas.

This is possibly a picture of John Henry Clay Rhodes and wife Edyth Louisa Rhodes
she died in 1906 in Texas and both are buried in Praire Grove Cemetery in Abilene, Texas.



This is the Obituary notice of John Henry Clay Rhodes, it reads:
J. H. RHODES, Former Abilene Man dies
J. H. RHODES, age 86 former resident of Abilene and lately residing at the home of his son C. H. RHODES at Coahoma,
died Friday night at the home of his grandson, Jake RHODES, eight miles southeast of Anson where he had been
visiting during the past month. His death followed an illness of two weeks.
Mr. RHODES had been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church for 63? years. He came to Texas from North Carolina
in 1890 and had lived in the state since.
Surviving are two children, C. H. RHODES and Mrs. Fannie STANFIELD of Waco, five grandchildren and eight great granchildren.
Funeral rites will be held at the graveside in Prairie View Cemetery by Rev. Walter Fielder of Funston? Burial will be made by the
side of Mr. RHODES' wife who died in 1906.