Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-15
WILLIAM RHODES.

WILLIAM RHODES.
Died Yesterday, after Brief Confinement
to His Home by His fatal Illness--An Ac-
tive and Useful Life Ended, and the City
Loses Faithful and Capable Officer.
Alderman William Rhodes, president
of the city council of St. Paul, died at his
residence in this city at about half past
10 O'Clock yesterday morning. When
his death was reported throughout the
city, it occasioned many expressions Of
surprise, for though he was widely known
through his long continued business and
official relations with the people Of St.
Paul, there were few who knew the con-
dition of his health, and as he had been
confined to his house only three days,
none but those most intimately assoc.
ciated with him, were aware that he
was not in his usual health. He
has, however, for ten or
twelve years been afflicted with Bright's
disease of the kidneys, and, for several
years past, physicians who knew his
condition felt that his death would
quickly result from any disturbing dis
ease cause. Wednesday last Mr. Rhodes
had his Office effects moved into the
apartments he had selected in the David.
son block, on Jackson street, and on
Thursday, after attending a session of
the board of equalization (of which he
was memberl, he repaired to his new
Office, where Capt J. Fl. Reaney called
upon him soon after. Capt. Reaney
found him feeling out of sorts and COM
planning that he was chilled. But he
wanted company and conversation,
and Capt. Reaney remained with him
for half an hour or more. Upon
Capt. Reaney's retiring, Mr.. Rhodes
accompanied him to the street and then
repaired to the Office of Williams &
Davidson to wait the coming of his
sleigh. To Mr.. J. H. Davidson, with
whom he sat for some time, he also COM
planned of chilliness. After going home
Mr.. Rhodes tried some simple remedies,
which relieved him for the time, but the
next day he did not feel we'll enough to
repair to his office, and remained at
home. Saturday forenoon, finding he
was becoming worse rather than better,
he sent for his physician, DR.. D. w.
Hand The latter, being himself unwell
that morning, did not receive the mes
sage Immediately, but called at Mr.
Rhodes residence that afternoon and
found his patient suffering from pleuro
pneumonia, probably resulting from
a cold caught Wednesday or
Thursday, and his breathing
somewhat asthmatic Up to this time he
had not taken to his bed. The doctor
prescribed for him and recommended rest
and care in bed. Next day Sunday the
his condition worse, but he
he was still up and about the house. That
afternoon he grew still worse and was
thence compelled to keep to his bed,
though his mind was as clear as ever and
neither he nor those who saw him thought
his condition dangerous Yesterday
morning about O'Clock he was becom-
ing weaker rapidly and soon after was
partly unconscious, in which condition
he remained untilhis death. He had ar.
ranged to execute deed yesterday for
some real estate which he had sold but
the attorney upon going to his residence
with the document found him dead His
funeral, as formally announced elsewhere,
will take place from st. Paul's Episcopal
church Thursday afternoon.
Captain Rhodes, as he was generally
called, having derived the title from his
long connection with the steamboat bust
ness of the Upper Mississippi, was
born in Davenport, Devonshire, England,
the 2lst of February, 1925, and would
have been Sc years old Saturday of next
week. He came to this country in 1S43
and first settled with his father in West
Virginia. From 1854 to 1858 he was in
mercantile business in Cincinnati, when
he became connected as agent with Mr..
W. F. Davidson, then running one or
more steamers on the Ohio. In 1859 he
came with Mr.. Davidson to ST. Paul and
has since continuously had his residence
here. He was secretary and treasurer of
the La Crosse & Minnesota packet COM
pany until it was merged in the North
western Union packet company in 1866,
from which time he was secretary and
treasurer of that company until 1872. In
1874 or rs he became secretary
and treasurer of the Keokuk
Northern line packet compa-
ny and repaired to st.
Louis, where he remained until in 1876.
Failing health induced him to resign the
trust and visit the hot springs of Arkan-
sas, after which he returned to St. Paul.
He soon after became interested with and
was active in the managementRiof the
Northwestern Fuel company. Some two
or three years since he left that company
and the firm of Griggs, johnson &
Rhodes was formed to transact fuel
and real estate business. About year
ago the firm was changed to Griggs,
Rhodes & Foster, and few menths since
Mr. Rhodes retired from the
business altogether. During all
this time he has had especial charge
of Commodore w. F. Davidson's
large property interests in this city and
State He has also been several years
director of the Merchants National bank
and director of the St. Paul Fire and
Marine Insurance company.
In 1868 Capt. Rhodes was elected
member of the city council of St. Paul
and served one term with characteristic
fidelity and good judgment as to the gen.
eral interests Of the city. In 1877 he was
again elected, and last year was reelected
to the council, of which body he has been
president for about three years
In his later service for the city he has
been prominent in all important meas
| ures, and, as one of the representatives of
the city government, he was especially
effective in adjusting matters which
were at issue between the commercial,
manufacturing, real estate and railway