Other sources were gathered from this very good Scott McGee GenWeb site, on which I have searched, added the results to the end of this page, and referenced as found:
Henry served two terms in the Kentucky Legislature, 
one before(3) 1800 when he represented
Ohio Co. and one after 1800 when he represented Muhlenburg Co.He probably
moved his family (most of his children were now in their own homes) to
Ohio County when he was a candidate. Since the Indian problem had now become
less grave, his three brothers had probably brought their families to this
region also.
(1) It is a family tradition that the Rhodes came to Kentucky with Daniel Boone. There is some evidence that some of the older Rhodes may have been in that region even earlier than Boone. It also seems likely that they came with some of the earlier scouts from their own country rather than with Boone. These Rhoadses did not bring their families to Kentucky until about 1784. Their interest in the West was probably aroused early by the Harrods, Stoners, and Bushes, their neighbors in Bedford County. With the last two families, the Rhoadses had marriage alliances. James Harrod was born in Bedford County in 1742 Michael Stoner, b. In 1748, and Christopher Bush were, like the Rhoadses, Palatine Germans. Henry Rhoads had married Elizabeth Stoner (b. March 25, 1744 in Maryland) in 1760. As early as 1767, Samuel Harrod and Michael Stoner, described as a veritable giant in strength and physique, explored Kentucky. In 1774, James Harrod laid out Harrodstown, and in the next year, Boone and Stoner blazed the Wilderness Trail. They also laid out Boonesboro, which Black Fish attacked Apr. 24, 1777. Boone was hurt and Stoner was shot in the arm. The German made his way to the fort and cried as he shoved his rifle to another man, "Schoodt one tem Cot-tamm yellow rascals! " Capt. Billy Bush tried to help the gigantic Stoner inside. "Push, Push, don't make so pig a mark; we is too pig a lump to schoodt at " Stoner was a surveyor, so large and strong that he never removed his pack when he carved a name on a tree. He died in Wayne Co., Ky. in 1813. Henry Rhoads and possibly some of his younger brothers, all of whom were surveyors, may have came to Kentucky with Stoner on at least one of his early trips. We do not expect to find any Rhoadses on the lists of the defenders of these earlier settlements in Ky., as the Rhoadses were then in military service in the East. Henry was fighting under Gen. Muhlenburg then, but the records show that he had been in Kentucky a bit earlier. Two records of old Kentucky Courts read as follows: "Henry Rhoads, ass'ee of Wm. Plummer by Wm. McConnell this day claimed a pre-emption of 1000 acres at state price in the Dist. of Ky. on acc't of marking and proving same in 1775, lying on the north fork of McConnell's Run about 2 1/2 miles from Stamping Ground and 3/4 mile above the forks of said run and a buffalo road to include improvements. Satisfactory proof being made to Court, they are of the opinion said Rhoads has a right to pre-emption of 1000 acres location, and that a certificate be issued accordingly. " Also: "Michael Stoner this day appeared and claimed a right of settlement and pre-emption on Stoner's Fork of the Licking, twelve miles above Licking Station, by making corn in the country in 1775 and improving said land in 1776. 400 acres and pre-emption of 1000 acres adjoining same. "
(2) Gen. Peter Muhlenburg, b. in Penna., was a clergyman in the Lutheran Church. About 30 years old, at the opening of the Rev., he was pastor at Woodstock, Va. near the Penna. border. In 1776, he was commissioned Colonel to raise a regiment of Germans in his region. All school children used to be familiar with T. B. Reed's poem, The Rising of 1776. The poet says that Muhlenburg entered the pulpit with sword and cockade, preached his farewell serman, inflamed the people with a passion for liberty, and next day marched out at the head of a whole regiment, which became The Eighth Virginia. This corps behaved with honor at Brandywine, Monmouth, Germantown, and in other campaigns.. In later years, Henry Rhoads, then a member of the Kentucky Legislature, had Muhlenburg county named for his friend and hero.
Page (8-9): After Pond Station had been started and after Henry Rhoads began inducing more German-Americans to locate near that station and in other sections of the country, and while Caney Station was being built by Virginians, the inflow of newcomers began to increase rapidly.
Page (10): The first of the early settlers of whom we have any tradition or history were Henry Rhoads and his brothers, who settled Rhoadsville, which later became Calhoun. Of the original party who began this station only a few remained permanently in the immediate neighborhood. Henry Rhoads was probably the first to leave it. After living a few years near what later became Hartford, Ohio County, he settled in the neighborhood of what is now Browder, Muhlenberg County.
Page (29-35): ...Most of General Muhlenberg's soldiers were born in America, but their fathers came from Germany and Holland long before the Revolution. Among these was Henry Rhoads, "the Godfather of Muhlenberg County," a prominent pioneer in Western Kentucky and identified with the early development of Muhlenberg and the entire western section of the Green River country.
Page(128): In some homes there were no Bibles other than German -copies that had been brought by the German-American pioneers - nevertheless the services were conducted in English. Henry Rhoads, it is said, frequently addressed audiences and read chapter after chapter from a German Bible, translating them into English with more grace and rapidity than some of his contemporaries who on other occasions read a Bible printed in English.
"First, I recommend my soul to the Almighty God, and as touching my worldly effects wherewith He has helped me, I give and dispose of them in the following manner.
"First, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Barbay Rhoads all the property she brought with her after we were married, agreeable to contract, and one cow, a large heifer and one iron pot and the corner cupboard and chest and my large Bible, and the low posted bedstead, one large and one small wheel including all the furniture we have got since we were married. I also give and bequeath to my beloved wife Barbay all that is allowed to her agreeable to the courts of a bond on my son David Rhoads bearing date August 23, 1810.
"Secondly, I give and bequeath all my debts, dues and demands and all the property I own in this world except what is expressly mentioned in this my last will to my children, namely my sons, Jacob Rhoads,Daniel Rhoads, Henry Rhoads, Solomon Rhoads, David Rhoads, Susanah Nighmyoir and Caty Jackson, Elizabeth VanMeter and Hannah Jackson, all my daughters to be equally divided among them, at the discretion of my executors at my decease.
"Lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my brother Daniel Rhoads and Solomon Rhoads and David Rhoads as executors of my last will and testament, hereby ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills by me made as witness and seal this 15th day of April in the year of our Lord 1812 and the presence of viz:
Henry Rhoads. "
(Seal)
When Henry Rhoads settled on his tract of land Muhlenberg was practically an unbroken wilderness. Many wild animals, large and small, held sway. A number of stories are told about the game that roamed over these hills in olden times. I here repeat two of these stories, because they are characteristic of life in the wilderness and because they are incidents from the life of Muhlenberg's first great pioneer, handed down by local tradition.When Henry Rhoads was building his log house his neighbors were few and far between, but all came with a helping hand and a happy heart to take part in his "house-raising." These old-time house-raisings were attended as much for the sake of their social features as for the purpose of building a house. One afternoon, while the crowd was busily engaged on the roof of this building, a large bear leisurely wandered into sight. When the men saw the animal they stopped work and immediately started on a bear chase. Some ran after him with axes and others with guns. The women of the wilderness always lent a helping hand. In this instance one woman folled in the bear chase with a pitchfork. After an exciting time old Bruin was finally killed. That night a large bearskin was stretched on the new log wall and barbequed bearmeat was served in abundance at all the other meals prepared for the house-raising party.
But the noise made by the bear-chasers evidently did not scare all the wild animals out of the neighborhood. About a year after that event Henry Rhoads, while walking in his wood, which is still standing a short distance north of the old house, espied a large drove of wild turkeys. He slowly raised his flint-lock rifle for the purpose of shooting a fine gobbler strutting under a white oak within close range. When he was about ready to pull the trigger he heard a rustling in the dry leaves behind him. Rhoads looked around, and to his great surprise saw a huge panther preparing to spring upon him. Without stopping to take sure aim he fired at the threatening beast. Luckily, the bullet hit the animal between the eyes and killed it instantly. A half-hour later Rhoads walked back home with the panther skin on his arm and his trusty flint-lock on his shoulder.
These old flint-locks were, as a rule, fine-sighted and unerring. They were slow but sure, although they did not kill every panther they were aimed at. Compared with modern rifles they were slow in all the operations that preceded and resulted in the discharge of the bullet. Most of the local traditions are subject to a variety of versions. The old panther story, as I have related it, has probably changed very little from the original since Henry Rhoads' day. However, another version of this incident has also crept into circulation, and shows to what extent some traditions are changed. This new version has it that when Henry Rhoads saw the wild turkey in the woods he took steady aim and then pulled the trigger of his flint-lock. He had no more than pulled the trigger when he heard the panther back of him. Rhoads turned, immediately swung his gun around and aimed at the panther, then in the very act of making a long leap from a limb down upon the hunter. But the old pioneer was quicker thant he discharging powder or the charging panther, for he had the gun pointed at the animal before the bullet left the barrel, and thus killed the panther with the load that, a few seconds before, had been started toward the turkey! This same version continues with the statement that the animal did not drop to the ground after it was shot, but fell across the shoulder of the hunter, who then leisurely walked home and did not throw the panther down on the ground until he reached the front of his house. I do not adopt this version, but merely record it for its vivacity and novelty. Henry Rhoads, as already stated, was a member of the State Legislature from Logan County when, in 1798, Muhlenberg was formed, and he was the first man to represent the new county in the House of Representatives. He was sixty years of age when the county was organized. Although he declined various county offices offered to him, he nevertheless continued to work for the good of the community, and probably did as much for the county, if not more, than any of the other early pioneers. He helped draw the plans for the first courthouse and also did much toward promoting the interests of Greenville, the new county seat. He was bondsman and adviser to a number of the younger men whom he successfully recommended for office. Tradition says that many, and probably all, of the German-American pioneers in Muhlenberg came to the county through his direct or indirect influence. During his last years Henry Rhoads spent much of his time looking after his farm, tanyard, and other personal affairs, but nevertheless lost no opportunity to bring in new settlers and perform such acts as he thought would advance Muhlenberg County and its people. Today a small sandstone is all that marks the spot where rest the bones of this influential pioneer. Some day his labors will be more fully appreciated and an appropriate memorial will then, I dare say, be erected over the grave of the Godfather of Muhlenberg County.
Sources of Information: New Testament of Henry Rhoads; Gravestone at Rhoads Cemetery; Genealogical newspaper columns of Ohio County, KY; Info compiled by Fonda Lawhead, 5301 Carriage Dr., Evansville, IN
He lived in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Kentucky. By trade he was a blacksmith. He was active in the Brethren religion (German Baptist). He served in the Revolutionary War as a captain in the Pennsylvania Militia of Bedford County.Capt Rhoads served with Col Hawes under Gen Muhlenburg. He named your county after him because of his devotion and love for Gen Muhlenburg.