Wesley J. Rhodes (1885 - 1935)

Born 26 Feb 1885 in Highland, Ulster, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 14 Jul 1935 at age 50 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, United States

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Biography

Wesley was born in 1885. He was the son of Aaron Rhodes and Elizabeth Miller, their youngest child. Wesley at age 20 was trying to work in his father's business of Fruit Growing but by 1910 he was living at home in Highland, Ulster County, without an occupation. His obituary mentions he was a patient in the Hudson River State Hospital in Poughkeepsie for over 19 years, suggesting he was admitted around 1916. Perhaps he was under a doctor's care previous to this year as I found the following social note in The Kingston Daily Freeman, published 15 April 1915: Highland Dr. Lamoree, Walter Hasbrouck, Aaron Rhodes and Wesley Rhodes went to Dutchess County Tuesday by automobile trout fishing. Hope they will not forget their many friends and just give them some of the speckled beauties on their return."

By 1918, Wesley was in hospital and listed as insane on his World War I Draft Registration. They described Wesley as tall, slender with red hair and blue eyes. It is also noted that Wesley's older brother Lewis Wellington "William" Rhodes committed suicide in 1892. Wesley died in hospital in July 1935 at age 50. He was survived by his mother and brothers Edward and Abram Rhodes.

Sources

• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, J. Wesley Rhodes, birth 26 Feb 1885 Highland, Ulster, New York, death 14 July 1935 Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, father, Aaron Rhodes, mother, Elizabeth (Miller) Rhodes, Burial, Highland Cemetery, Highland, Ulster, New York
• 1900 United States Federal Census, Lloyd, Ulster, New York, Aaron Rhodes 54, farmer, Elizabeth Rhodes 48, wife, Abram Rhodes 22, son, farm laborer, Wesley Rhodes 15, son, at school
• Newspapers.com, The Kingston Daily Freeman 15 April 1915, Thur p.7, HIGHLAND
• U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918, Westley (Wesley) Rhodes, age 34, birth 26 Feb 1885, slender, tall, red hair, blue eyes, nearest relative, Aaron Rhodes of Highland, Ulster, Registered Sep 12, 1918 by the Superintendent at Hudson River State Hospital at Poughkeepsie, no occupation, insane
• 1930 United States Federal Census, Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, Hudson River State Hospital, Wesley Rhodes, 46, single, patient
• Newspapers.com, The Kingston Daily Freeman, Kingston, Ulster, New York, 16 July 1935 Tues. p.8, Obituary, Wesley Rhodes