PASSED TO ETERNITY

(From the Tribune)

“We see not, know not; all our way is night, with Thee alone is day; From out the torrent’s troubled drift, Above the storm our prayers we life, Thy will be done!”

D. M. Rhoades passed to the Great Beyond on last Sunday, January 21, 1917, at 3:55 p.m. at the age of seventy-six years, four months and twenty-four days.

Sitting in the presence of his death, as his son, the words that I may here incite seem but a hollow mockery and meaningless, and I can say, or do, nothing more than lay my tribute of love and devotion upon his casket. To my dear mother, who has been his constant and devoted companion, in sunshine and storm, for nearly three score years, now bereft of his love and companionship, no mere words or acts will serve as a balm to her wounded heart. The had lived an ideal life and their hearts and thoughts and beliefs had grown together, so intertwined that it seems the cruelest fate which should render them asunder. But he has gone to his eternal rest and in kind remembrance, we, who loved him so affectionately, must endeavor to emulate his virtues, as we assemble the broken strands of life, and so direct our course that we may, “when life’s fitful dream is o’er,” realize the promise convey and meet again “over there.” God’s ways are beyond comprehension by mortal man and great mystery of death has never been solved, so that we can only rely, trustingly, on His promises, as recorded in the Book of Books. There is no prophetic vision that enables us to look into the future and we must accept the dispensation of Diving Providence in our intense bereavement.

He was born in Missouri, on the ground where St. Joseph now stands, and was reared to manhood in that state. He comes of a large family, there being thirteen in number, of which only three are still living, two brothers and one sister….the rest of the newspaper obituary is missing.

#2-Published in the Blair Democrat January 25, 1917

D, M. Rhoades, Pioneer Brick Maker, Died Sunday

D. M. Rhoades, an old and respected resident of this city, died Sunday, January 21, 1917, at the age of 76 years. The deceased was the father of Editor John Rhoades of the Tribune. James A. Rhoades, Mrs. Lucy Burcham of Blair, Mrs. Jennie Oliver of Benson, Mrs. Ida Barnhart of Mellboro, S. D., all of whom were present at the funeral held from the Christian Church, Wednesday afternoon. Burial was in the Blair Cemetery.

D. M. Rhoades was born on the ground where St. Joseph, Mo., now stands. He came to Blair in March, 1880, from Iowa, and engaged in brick making, which he followed for a number of years. Mr. Rhoades has been in ill health several years and passed the winder of his life in the home of his son-in-law, Jonas Burcham.

#3-Printed in The Pilot, January 31, 1917

The funeral of D.M. Rhoades, whose death occurred Sunday afternoon of hardening of the arteries, was held at the Christian church at 2 o’clock last Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Harding of Omaha officiating.

Mr. Rhoades was born in Missouri where the city of St. Joseph now stands, Aug. 28th, 1840, and was therefore past 76 years of age. At the age of 17 he was married to Armilda Bovee near Rockport, Mo., and had he lived until Feb. 8th, they would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. In March 1880 they moved to this city and Mr. Rhoades engaged in the brick making business, which he followed until eleven years ago.

He leaves a widow 75 years old; two sons, James A. and John A., the eldest and the youngest of the family, of this city; and three daughters, Mrs. Lucy Burcham, of this city, Mrs. Jennie Oliver, of Omaha, and Mrs. Ida Barnhart, of Millboro, S.D., all of whom were present for the funeral. Also a niece and a nephew from Council Bluffs, Mrs. Mary Avery and George Adams. Mr. Rhoades was a faithful and earnest member of the Christian church and was a good husband, a good father and a good citizen whom we will all miss, though the faithful companion of fifty-nine years will miss him most.

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