MRS. RHOADES DIED FRIDAY

MRS. D.M. RHOADES PASSED AWAY FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT THE ADVANCED AGE OF 87 YEARS

Mrs. D.M. Rhoades passed away at her home on South street last Friday afternoon, having been unconscious since Monday and unable to take any nourishment. She had been seriously ill but a short time, death resulting from troubles incident to old age.

The funeral service was held at the Christian church at 2:15 Sunday afternoon, Rev. W.B.F. Robb, her pastor, officiating. She was the last charter member of this church when it was founded in the early days of Blair’s history about 1879, and had been a faithful worker and attendant as long as her health would permit.

Armilda Bovee was born in Illinois in a covered wagon on the way from Illinois to Missouri, October 20th, 1841, so was almost 87 years of age. She grew to womanhood in Missouri and was united in marriage to D.M. Rhoades at the age of sixteen in 1857 and six children were born to them, five of whom are now living.

The children are Jas. A. Rhoades, Mrs. J.F. Burcham and John A., of this city; Jennie, Mrs. F.B. Oliver of Benson; and Ida, Mrs. Wm. Barnhart of Chicago. Mr. Rhoades passed away twelve years ago the 21st of next January. Besides the immediate family, she leaves fifteen grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. #2-Tribune 27 Sept 1928

Aged Lady Expires

Mrs. Armilda Rhoades Dies at Age of 87 Years.

Mrs. Armilda Rhoades died at her home on west South street last Friday afternoon at 3:20 o’clock following a short illness. The deceased was born in Illinois, October 20, 1841, and spent the early part of her life in Missouri. In March 1879 she came to Washington county and located at Blair where she resided up until her death. She was married to D. M. Rhoades and to this union six children were born, one of whom died in infancy. The husband died January 21, 1917 and since that time she has made her home on west South street. She was a charter member of the Christian church of this city and had a large circle of friends who though highly of her.

Funeral services were held from the Christian church at 2:00 o’clock on Sunday afternoon, the Rev. W. B. Robb, officiating, after which interment was made in Blair cemetery in the family lot. She leaves to mourn her loss two sons, John A., and James A., both of this city; three daughters, Mrs. J. F. Burcham of this city, Mrs. Wm. Barnhart of Chicago, Ill., and Mrs. F. B. Oliver of Benson besides a number of grandchildren. A profusion of floral tributes at the last rites were indicative of the high esteem in which she was held by her many friends.

#3 Obituary printed in the September 27, 1928 Enterprise

CALLED TO REST

On last Friday at 3:20 o’clock P.M., Mrs. D.M. Rhoades passed from this life after an illness of but a few days. At her death she was 86 years, 11 months and 1 day old. The husband preceded her to the great beyond in January of 1917.

She was born in the state of Illinois on Oct. 20, 1841 while the family was enroute to Missouri where they pioneered and where she grew to womanhood and was later married when but sixteen years of age to D.M. Rhoades. To this union six children were born, five of whom are still living as follows: James A. Rhoades, Mrs. J.F. Burcham and John A. Rhoades of Blair, Mrs. Wm. Barnhart, of Chicago and Mrs. F.B. Oliver, of Benson.

After her marriage they continued to reside in Missouri until after the Civil War and she saw many sights of brutality common in that state which was the camping grounds of the lawless factions of both sides. Naturally she imbibed the strong feelings of the people of that state and she was in spirit a true southerner.

With her husband and family she came to Blair in March of 1879 and has since that time made this her home. She was a charter member of the Christian church of this city to which she faithfully clung until the end, true in spirit to its teaching. And she was the last of these members to pass away.

She was a good mother and her family was always her first ambition.

As the spirit winged its way to its last home the children, with one exception, that of Mrs. Oliver were present and bowed in silent sorrow to the mandates of nature. She lived a good life, and her life was well worthy of emulation.

The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Christian church and interment was made in the Blair cemetery beside her husband for whom she had grieved for so many years, and who passed away January 21, 1917.

Besides the immediate family already mentioned she leaves fifteen grandchildren and thirty-seven great-grandchildren to mourn her.

The out of town guests present at the funeral ceremony were Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Barnhart of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. F.B. Oliver and son, of Benson, Neb., Mrs. Irene Carter of Omaha, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Rhoades of Carter, S.D., Nr. And Mrs. O. Rowe of Perry, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Rhoades and family, of Wayne, Neb., Mr. and Mrs. A.I. Moyer of Emerson, Neb., Mrs. J.A. and Mrs. Jesse Rhoades, of Chappel, Neb., Mrs. R. Watson and daughter and Mr. George Adams, of Council Bluffs, Ia.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

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