Rhoads - William Francis - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

William Francis Rhoads was born in Thompsontown, Penn., Nov. 20, 1829, came with his parents to Washington, Wayne County, Indiana, in October, 1835; afterwards to Hancock County; from there to Posey County where the family resided for about three years, and in Oct. 1840, came with his parents to Waveland where he has resided ever since—a period of almost 51 years. He was taken sick May 5 of erysipelas and other complications, and died May 17 at 5:20 p.m. at his home in Waveland, aged 61 years, 5 months and 27 days. He and Margaret Hannah Osborne were married June 6, 1861, at her mother’s residence near Carpentersville. Their domestic life was very happy. They came to Waveland at once after marriage, and soon after began housekeeping. They had no children. His father died in 1875, aged 76 years. His mother died in 1888, aged 91 years. He had four brothers and one sister, all of whom survive him—the youngest being almost 55 years old. All were present at the funeral except the sister, who was prevented by sickness. At the age of 17, in June, 1846, he united with the Waveland Presbyterian Church, going into it as a privilege rather than a duty. From the first he was active in praise, in prayer, in Sunday school work, in visitation of the sick and in general church work. For many years he was superintendent of the Sunday school. He was ordained a ruling elder of said church in May, 1867, and even thereafter sustained that relation to the time of his death. He was well versed in Scriptures and in the doctrines as held by the Presbyterian Church. He frequently went as a delegate to represent the Waveland church in Presbytery and Synod. In 1876 he was elected as one of the commissioners to represent the presbytery of Crawfordsville in the General Assembly at Brooklyn, N. Y. Being a good vocalist he was frequently requested to conduct the music on funeral occasions, both in and out of the church. In business those who purchased his work got “value received.” He died in full faith that Christ was his portion and heaven was his home. The Presbyterian Church being without a pastor at the present time, by request, his intimate friend and co-worker, Rev. H. L. Kindig, pastor of the Methodist Church, conducted the services at the Presbyterian church at 2 o’clock p.m. May 19, preaching from the text, 2 Samuel, 3: 38, after which he was laid away in the Presbyterian Cemetery alongside of his aged father and mother. The directors and officers of the Building and Loan Association acted as pall bearers, and as a mark of respect all the business men in town closed their places of business and attended the funeral in a body. – thanks to “S”

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal