RHODES
                          by John Rhodes
                         Thu Apr 18 1991
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I decend from Jacob and Barbara RHODES of Letterkenny Twp., Franklin
Co., PA. Jacob was born in 1776, Barbara was born in 1783; both most
probably in PA, possibly in Lancaster Co.  They apparently moved to
Letterkenny Twp. ca. 1806.  Their eight children were John and
Benjamin who married and remained in Franklin Co., Samuel who married
Elizabeth SLEVICK and moved to Springfield, OH; Jacob who married
Fannie WENGER and moved to Kokomo, IN, Christian, my g2gf who married
Magdalena METZ and remained in Franklin Co., Mary who married Judge
HUBER of Chambersburg, PA and remained in Franklin Co., David who
married Mary _____ and is last reported to have lived around
Harrisburg, PA. Another brother, Peter, died as an infant.  I've
traced this family with the exception of David and Mary, and none fit
with your "Southern" scenerio.

   Incidently, my ggf, John Metz RHODES, son of Christian and Magdalena,
moved to Marion Co., KS in 1872.  I was raised on his homestead.  Three of
his brothers accompanied him there, one, Benjamin continued on to Winters,
CA in 1905 and established a small RHODES clan there.  There are many
RHODES descendants today in northern Marion Co. KS and environs.  Most of
these have scattered to the four winds, however.  I know of one in the OK
land rush.  I believe he ended up in Guymon, OK.  That's getting down your
way but has no connection to VA, KY, TN etc. 

   There was an earlier generation of RHODES in Letterkenny Twp., Franklin
Co., PA including John ROAD/ROTE, Henry, Samuel, Christian and Benjamin
[note the same names as Jacob and Barbara's children], who I have not
traced as yet.  I have not connected them to Jacob, my g3gf.   

   My RHODES ancestors were apparently Pennsylvania Dutch, that is to say,
of German or Swiss (Mennonite) descent.  Some were German Reformed;
Christian's wife, Magdalena METZ was Mennonite.  I am still unsure about
the religion of Jacob and Barbara.  I have a clue that they originally
might have been Mennonite but changed with many other Mennonites of
Letterkenny Twp. to United Brethren ca. 1800.  They are buried in Salem
Cemetery about 3 miles NW of Chambersburg.  Jacob was buried there in 1829;
Barbara in 1858.

   Many PA Germans moved south into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
in the 1765-1800 era and then spread to KY and TN.  Others fled West
at the time of the Civil War as both sides pretty well trampled them.
Many were Mennonites in the Shenandoah Valley and still are.  There
were other RHODES families that spread from SC west to GA, AL, TX
etc.  I am of the opinion that these were English to start with,
however, that is only a hunch.  PA Germans and Quakers (English and
Welsh mostly) both moved south to the Carolinas in the mid-1700's.
Some of these Quakers later moved back NW to OH, IN and IL to get
away from slavery.

  I know of no RHODES Quakers. As for the name RHODES, those of us
who are of German or Swiss descent were often originally named ROTH.
The original German pronunciation of ROTH was close to ROTE.  The
English-speaking officials heard a D for the Tor TH and wrote their
name as RODE.  It wasn't long before that proceeded to RODES, RHODES,
RHOADS etc.  Of course there were also early English RHODES living in
PA and MD; I am not up on other English RHODES descendants in VA and
other southern states as they really are not my line.

   There are several ROTH and RHODES families of PA who have been
studied and are the subjects of genealogical books or other
publications.  A major one of these is the family of Anthony and
Magdalen ROTH, Mennonites who immigrated to Manchester Twp., York
Co., PA with their son Heinrich.  They had numerous children there.
Anthony is buried at the Manchester Mennonite church along with two
sons, John and Christian who remained in Manchester Twp.  Anthony's
widow accompanied her oldest son Heinrich and wife to Rockingham Co.,
VA along with married daughters etc and established a large and
still-existing RHODES clan down there.  A book of their Iowa and
Kansas descendants was written by Mrs. Ray KEEN of Manhattan, KS
entitled: "Roads Back East".  It was published ca. 1980. Incidently,
the gravestones for Heinrich and his wife are: Heinrich ROTH and
[Sarah?] RODES!  This family is also well documented in the Lancaster
Mennonite Historical Society's publication: Pennsylvania Mennonite
Heritage of April 1983 (date?).  Heinrich ROTH/RHODES was a Mennonite
minister. Another large RHODES family, that of a Henry RHODES, has
been written up in Bedford Co. and Hunterdon Co., PA.  The author was
Mrs. MIKULA by my recollection.  I seem to recall that some of his
descendants moved south and west, ie. VA and KY directions.  That was
a common migration route from south central PA in the late 1700's and
early 1800's.

   To the south of Rockingham Co., VA in the area of Rockbridge and
Agusta Cos. were more RHODES of German or Swiss ancestry in the last
half of the 18th century.  Some of these ended up in Jackson Co., WV
and spread from there, possibly into KY.  I have corresponded with a
lady in WV who is tracing these RHODES and could dig up her name and
address if you wish.

John Rhodes, P.O. Box 21, Bear Creek, PA 18602  h:717-472-9248 
Seeking in PA/MD: BOROFF ENTLER HERR KEYSER LAUFFER ROTH SLEVICK WENGER