The record-union., 1896-01-25
SACRAMENTO REcoRD7IoN SATURDAY JANUARY a5
DEATH OF DANIEL RHOADO
lie Mas a Member Of The Famous DOnner
ReScuins Party.
Lived in Sacramento County When
Marshall Discovered Gold at
Suffers Mill.

A few days ago the death of Daniel
Rhoads was announced in San Fran
cisco at the ripe old age of IA years.
He left a widow and three children,
Mrs. Mary Kiffer, John w. Rhoads and
Elvira Dawson. The deceased was one
OF the oldest settlers on Kings River,
and was well and favorably known all
over the San Joaquin Valley. He par
ticipated in the Native Sons celebra-
ton in Visalia several years ago. He
also was a member of the Visalia Di-
vision Of Territorial Pioneers and Mex
lean War Veterans.
Daniel Rhoads was born four miles
south Of Parie, Edgar County, Ill, De-
cember Z, 1921. His father Thomas
Rhoads, a native of Kentucky, was
born in 1895. Their ancestors were
English people, and the grandfather.
Daniel Rhoads, was a soldier under
Washington in the Revolutionary
army.
After the deceased reached man
hood he became greatly interested in
an account of a trip made by General
John G. Fremont, the Pathfinder" to
this coast, and he made up his mind to
come to the Golden State. In 1S43 he
married Amanda EEsvey, and three
years later started for the coast, ac-
companied by his wife and other rela-
tives. A portion of the time they trav-
eled in company with other immigrants.
On April Z, 1916, they crossed the
Missouri River at st. Joseph, Mo-, and
arrived in the Sacramento Valley Oc-
tober 4th of the same year He was at
work near Suffers Fort when news ar
rived that the Donner party were suf-
fering untold privations in the mount
aims.
Mr.. Rhoads and John Sinclair at once
started on foot to rescue the sufferers.
AT ranch they stopped four days to
prepare food for these unfortunates.
Mr.. Rhoads, his brother John and
twelve others composed the rescuing
party, with a supply of provisions. A
portion of the way the supplies were
carried on pack animals, butt from
Piney Ridge, a distance of eighty miles,
each man had to carry seventy-five
pounds on his back, besides his blan-
ket, hatchet, etc.
To carry this heavy weight and
travel with snowshoes over the snow
covered mountains required a great
deal of courage and perseverance, and
at Bear Valley six of the party gave
cut and could go no farther. Seven,
however, were determined to proceed,
even if they died in the attempt.
Up to recently Mr.. Rhoads and Seth
Mootry were the only living members
of that brave little body of seven men.
They continued their perilous way and
were received with great joy by mem
bers Of the Donner party. Except for
the bravery of the rescuing party, many
more of the unfortunate immigrants
would have perished
The late Mrs. Mary Clarke, who died
in Tulare County, was one of the mem
bers Of the party rescued from death.
In June. 1847, Mr.. Rhoads removed
to the Costumes River and the follow
ing October to Sonoma- In 1S4S he re-
turned to Sacramento, and afterwards
settled on a ranch a mile below where
Gait now stands, and was there when
gold was discovered at Suffers mill.
The next two years he engaged in
gold mining.
In 1859, accompanied by Mrs. Rhoads,
he went to Missouri, by the Isthmus
route, but returned later. In 1860 he
settled along the Lower Kings River
and the same year took his family to
his late home near Lemoore, having
built for their reception an adobe house.
AT the time of his death he was Pres
ident of the Bank of Lemoore, and up
to a year ago was the Vice-President
of the Bank of Hanford.