Short Biography of Charles R. Rhodes

J. W. Rhodes is one of the more recent acquisitions to the agricultural and mercantile interests of Mississippi County, Ark., but he has already been found to be one whose leading characteristics are progressive and enterprising in their nature, and thus of much worth to the people of this community. A native of Hines County, Miss., born near Vicksburg, he was only four years old when his father (in 1857) removed with him to the Lone Star State. Here the latter died in 1866, his wife and children, consisting of seven boys and three daughters, removing to the State of Tennessee the following year. J. W. Rhodes resided at home with his mother until sixteen years of age, spending his boyhood days as other youths of the community, and received a fair education in the common schools. He then obtained a position with Cunningham, Wicks & Malone, commission merchants of Memphis, Tenn., with whom he remained two years, then went to Bay Springs, Miss., and worked as a book-keeper for J. M. Nelson & Co., for one year. He again returned to Memphis, Tenn., and secured employment with the Charleston & Memphis Railroad Company, where he kept books, and afterward clerked on the river for the Memphis & Osceola Packet Company, and was employed in this capacity on different steamboats of that line for about four years. In 1876, he leased the Crowell Landing for a term of five years, but bought the landing in 1878. This was washed away in the freshet of 1883, but Mr. Rhodes soon purchased thirty-seven acres of land, on which he is now living, and established a landing called Golden Lake, which took its name from the postoffice, which he had established, and of which he has been postmaster since 1885. He first established a store in 1883, at Crowell Landing, but when the land began to be washed away at that point, he moved his goods back farther inland, to his present location, where he and E. A. Norton formed a partnership under the firm name of Rhodes & Norton, which continued until their establishment caught fire, and was consumed, January 22, 1888. Their loss was estimated, over and above their insurance, which amounted to $2,000, at $5,000. Directly after the fire, Mr. Rhodes erected a substantial frame building, 36×60 feet, on the site of the burnt building, and is now carrying one of the largest and most complete stocks of goods in the county, valued at $5,000. He also owns a fine cotton-gin, and is now replacing the old machinery with the latest improved in the market, its capacity being twenty-five bales per day. He has in his plantation about 120 acres, eighty five of which are under the plow, and is improved with good buildings, his residence being an exceptionally fine one. His peach orchard is also one of the best along the river. In the year 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara M. Pulliam, a daughter of E. Pulliam, of Bartlett, Tenn. Mrs. Rhodes is a lady of culture and refinement, and she and Mr. Rhodes are the parents of the following children, two girls and two boys: Ella Nelson, Lucy Pulliam, Joseph Wicks, Jr., and Charles Robert. A great deal of business is done at Golden Lake, Mr. Rhodes acting as agent for the steamboats at that point. He is a member of the K. of H., and his wife is a member of the Methodist Church.

Source: "Northeast Arkansas Biographies and Historical Memoirs" ³⁶⁶