My Genealogy Hound

IVISON T. RODES, station agent at Fayetteville, Tenn., for the Fayetteville Branch of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad, and the Fayetteville Branch of the Duck River Valley Railroad, is the son of Thomas J. and Mildred Martin (Dickerson) Rodes, born in Virginia in 1807 and 1811, respectively. They came to Tennessee in 1837, and the father died in Coffee County in 1864. After his death Mrs. Rodes married Ira Kinnaughan, and in 1885 she, too, passed away. Our subject was born January 19, 1838, and received an academical education in Coffee and Warren Counties. He resided with his parents until twenty-five years of age. October 16, 1860, he and Emma Miller were united in marriage. Mrs. Rodes is a daughter of Peter Miller, and was born in October, 1838. The following are the names of their children: Thomas M., James E., both railroad contractors; Mary M.; William C., telegraph operator at Fayetteville; Arthur S., who assists his father; Ivison T., Jr., and Henry Ernest. Mr. Rodes’ early life was spent in farming, and in the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company H, Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry, and in 1864 was appointed lieutenant of Company A, Twenty-eighth Regiment and served until the close of the war. He was at Murfreesboro and in numerous minor engagements, returning home in May, 1865, and soon after began his career on the railroad as conductor, express agent and mail agent on the McMinnville Branch for three years. In October, 1873, he came to Fayetteville, and for two years was conductor on the branch from Decherd to Fayetteville, and was then given his present-position. During his long career on and in the service of the road he has ever proved upright, straight forward and courteous. He is a Democrat, a Mason, a member of the K. of H., a Good Templar, and himself and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Rodes lost his wife in 1880, and March 24, 1882, he wedded Florida Lasater, of Manchester, Tenn.