Mexico weekly ledger., 1919-08-07
PIONEER MEXICO DOCTOR
DIES TUESDAY MORNING
DR.. w. r. Rodes, SO Years Old Died
at Home Of His Son From
Heart Trouble
WAS HERE MANY YEARS
Formerly Superintendent of the State
Hospital For Insane at
Fulton.

~
years old died at the home of his son
DR.. N. R. Rodes on Anderson and Coal
streets, Tuesday morning at 500
o'clock. DR.. Rodes has lived in Mexico
many years and was up to the time of
his retiring, one of the oldest practic-
ing physicians in the city.
The cause Of the death was organic
heart trouble. It had troubled DIR.
Rodes for many years, and recently
became worse, so that he was
able to live only with the aid of medi-
cines. He had been i'll Monday night
and DR.. Ned Rodes had been up with
him until three o'clock Tuesday morn
ing. About that time he became cas-
ier and his son went to bed. At six
o'clock Tuesday morning the telephone
rang and when the son went down the
steps he found his father at the bot
tom sitting on the floor leaning over
against the steps with his arm about
his face. He had evidently gotten out
of bed to walk about and when at
tempting to go up stairs had suffered
the attack that was to prove his last
No marks on the body indicate that
he fell, but simply sank down on the
floor at the foot of the steps.
DIR. Rhodes was born in Covington
Upton County, Tenn, on April 1, 1887
His parents were DIR. 7. Upton Rodes
and Mrs. Sallie Upton Rodes. The
county in which he was born was
named for the father Of his mother
At an early age he moved to Missouri
with his family and lived in Rails
County near Hannibal 1t was there
that he became a friend of Mark
Twain. During their childhood they
played with each other many times.
When young man he attended the
Jefferson Medical College and grad
uated from that institution in 1860.
He moved to Santa Fe, Mo, where he
practiced medicine till 1880 when he
moved to this city. He resided here
for some time but receiving the ap-
pointment of superintendent of the
State Lunatic Asylum at Fulton, he
went there to take charge. He was in
that city until 1891 when he moved
back to Mexico where he has lived
ever since.
He married Miss Artemesia Edmon-
ston, of this city, November "a, 1864
while he was located in Santa Fe. She
died suddenly a little over a year ago.
DIR. Rodes was a member Of the Pres
byterian church and as long as his
health permitted was a regular at
tendant. He also was a Mason of the
Knight Templar order.
During the civil war DR.. Rodes tried
time and again to get to the south
where he could enlist to fight for the
Confederacy and his native state Ten
nessee, but was unable to on account
of the union troops occupying Mis-
souri,. He was cut off several times
ir his attempt to get through the lines.
Before he succeeded in getting to his
state the war was over and he was
unable to fight for the cause he be-
lieved right.
DIR. Rodes was one of the best
known physicians in Audrain County.
AS long as he was able he continued
his practice and many people in Mex
leo and this county have been benefit
ed by his care. He was one of the
most efficient and popular physicians
in the county while he kept up his
practice and his many friends will
learn with sorrow of his death.
Four brothers and two sisters sur
vive him beside his sons, Drs. N. R.,
and Landon Rodes, the latter of Skies
ton. They are: John C. Rodes, of
Clarence, Mo-; T. T. Rodes, of Paris;
C. B. Rodes, of Kansas City; ]. H.
Rodes, of st. Louis; Mrs. John Null
drow, of Hannibal; and Mrs. Sallie
Carpenter, of Moberly.
The funeral will be held from the
home Thursday. The exact time has
not been set. Rev. A. A. Wallace will
officiate. The body will be buried at
Elmwood cemetery.