Rhoads, Franklin L.

Born: 1824-10-20 Pennsylvania

Died: 1879-01-06 Shawneetown, Illinois

Flourished: Tazewell County, Illinois

In 1836, Rhoads moved from Pennsylvania to Pekin, Illinois, where he became a printer. He served as a private in the Fourth Illinois Infantry during the Mexican War. Returning to Pekin after the war, he worked as a clerk on a steamboat and later as a steamboat captain. In 1860, Rhoads owned $2,000 in real estate, with a personal estate of $500. During the Civil War, Rhoads served as lieutenant colonel of the Eighth Illinois Infantry, later receiving a promotion to colonel. After resigning from the Army, Rhoads settled in Shawneetown, Illinois.

Newton Bateman and Paul Selby, eds., Biographical and Memorial Edition of the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois (Chicago: Munsell, 1915), 1:450; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Peoria, Peoria County, IL, 138; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Pekin, Tazewell County, IL, 85; Illinois Mexican War Veterans, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; Gravestone, Westwood Cemetery, Shawneetown, IL.