Sitting high on a hill, about two miles East of the Courthouse in Waynesburg, is what is now one of our most interesting historical sites.  The Rhodes Cemetery, at the top of Miller Lane, just off of PA Route 21 and within sight of I-79 has been witness to almost two hundred years of progress.  

Just a small family plot, with a wonderfully preserved stone wall containing just eight marked graves, the Rhodes Cemetery is the final resting place of William Rhodes Sr., the progenitor of the Rhodes Family of Greene County, Pennsylvania.  William Rhodes it seems was quite the character in his day, all of the early Greene County Histories make note of him, Andrew Waychoff presents the most detailed and interesting history, where he states that:

 “Mr Rhodes was born in Rhode Island in 1759.  He became a sailor at sixteen years of age.  In 1778 he was taken prisoner by the French and kept prisoner for two years.  After his release he was captured on a voyage from London, but was liberated through the influence of Americans, by reason of his American Citizenship.  In October of 1780, he accompanied a large fleet of trading vessels to the Barbadoes, from which voyage he seems to have returned safely.  The next year he was again captured by the French.  After his release, he was captured by the British during the Revolutionary war and kept prisoner in New York for five months, at the end of which time he was exchanged.  In 1784 he was wrecked off the coast of Cape Cod.

Thinking himself unfortunate on the sea, he determined to live on the land.  He arrived at Old Fort Redstone, now Brownsville, in 1788.  He first engaged in peddling through the country.   He later opened a small store at Fort Jackson, one-fourth miles east of Waynesburg.  He, in 1791, patented land nearby and engaged in farming during his later life.”

According to Waychoff, the Rhodes family of Dotysburg (The area we would now call “Morrisville” where the Rhodes Cemetery is located) preserved his books and journals from his life at sea.

 In his book, “The Tenmile County and It’s Pioneer Families”  Howard Lecky makes mention that he rescued some of William Rhodes papers and documents from being destroyed, and that “photostated” copies were preserved by the Library of Congress.  At the time of the Tenmile County’s publication, Lecky still retained possession of these records which included accounts of William Rhodes from 1789 through 1794.  Whether these papers that Lecky mentions are the same that are spoken of by Waychoff is uncertain.

William Rhodes died on January 1st 1844, and a large white marble Marker was placed to commemorate his life and death.  The Inscription reads:

“William Rhodes Sr. / Born at Newport Rhode Island / March 15 1759 / Died Jan. 1 1844.”

His wife, Eleanor Porter Rhodes is buried beside him, her inscription reads:

“Eleanor / Wife of /William Rhodes Sr. / Born Sept. 24 1772 / Died June 1834.”

The Following is a record of the other persons interred here at the Rhodes Cemetery:

Thomas I. Rhodes / Died / Dec. 16, 1869 / in Wappella Co. / Iowa in the 59th / Year of his age. / His remains were removed to / this place by his brother / James.

Joseph Rhodes / Died / July 12, 1845 / Aged 51 Years 10 / mo & 2 days.

Mary / Daughter of / Charles & Mercy Norcross / and wife of James Rhodes/ Died / Sept. 11, 1849 / Aged 34 Years / 2 Months.

Lydia Ann Rhodes (Marker no longer present) Died March 10th 1857, Aged 24 Years, 1 Month and 5 Days.  Daughter of J. R. and S. Rhodes.   (Record provided by the Hennen Cemetery Records, as recorded by Dorothy and James Hennen on April 18th 1976.)

Levi B / Son of / James and Mary Rhodes / Died / July 2, 1862 / Aged / 9 Years 2 Mo.

William I.  / Son of / N & C. A. Quigley, / Died / Jan 21, 1858 aged 6 yrs 3 / mos & 2 days.

Both Howard Leckey and Andrew Waychoff in their respective histories mention that Robert Morris, who patented a plot of land that adjoined William Rhodes land may also be buried here.

The location of the Rhodes Cemetery, once offered a commanding view of the Rhodes Family Farm (or as it is sometimes cited the “Rhodes Plantation”) and it is easy to imagine William Rhodes Sr. standing atop this hill viewing his land, and choosing this site to be his final resting place.  Little did he know of the changes that would take place over the next two centuries.  What was once a very prosperous farm has now grown into a very prosperous business area.  In April of 2014, the land around the Rhodes Cemetery was heavily excavated, and for a time the cemetery became completely inaccessible.  Plans to develop a new hotel interrupted the peaceful setting of this ancient burial ground, and forever changed its geography.  However, measures were taken to preserve the Cemetery, and the results of that are what we see here before us now.  In May of 2014, the Rhodes Cemetery was featured in a local newspaper, Greene Speak, with a very informative article by Cindy Bailey that details the local concern for this historic site and her investigation into the actions being taken to ensure it’s safety.  A copy of that article is preserved here, courtesy of Cindy Bailey, Editor of Greene Speak.

Matthew W. Cumberledge

May 2014