Please note that Matilda spelled her name “Rhodes” though she had close relatives who spelled the same name “Rhoades”.

Matilda Cecelia Rhodes was born near the town of Center in Ralls County, Missouri on December 16, 1843. Her parents were:

1. Charles Rhoades who was born around 1806 (exact date unknown). Charles was gunned down four months after Matilda was born in December of 1843 in a dispute over a fence line.
2. Catherine "Kitty" Leake Rhoades. She was born November 23, 1806. She died on December 23rd, 1843 of childbirth complications -- one week after Matilda was borne.

After Kitty and Charles both died, their nine children were disbursed to various relatives and possibly to Catholic orphanages as well. Infant Matilda was taken by her grandparents who owned a nearby plantation. Her grandparents owned slaves and baby Matilda was placed in the care of a mammy. Though Matilda intensely disapproved of slavery from childhood onward, she was relieved of the chores assigned to most children. She was later to remark “I didn’t even have to braid my own hair.”

Matilda’s grandparents were as follows:

1. Raphael Leake . Born September 18, 1785.
2. Helen (Elon) Medley Leake. Born February 16, 1787.

Matilda and her sister Caroline married brothers. Caroline married Rees Jones. Matilda married his brother John Thomas Jones. Matilda and John married in Edina, Knox County, Missouri on December 3, 1861. Their children were as follows:

1. Infant (probably named Charles). Born August 31, 1862 or more likely February 10, 1863. Died one month later on March 10, 1863.
2. Caroline (Carrie) Belle Jones was born October 17, 1863. She later became Mrs. Frank E. Lowe of San Miguel, California.
3. Alexander (Alec) Oliver Jones was born June 4, 1866. He later married Viola Mae Redmond, sister of the famous artist, Granville Redmond
4. Martha (Mattie) Hester Jones was born February 14, 1872. She became Mrs. John R. Work of San Miguel, California and later of Pacific Grove, California.

When a local priest prevented Matilda from burying Infant Charles in the local Catholic graveyard because he had not yet been baptized, she disavowed Catholicism and joined the Christian Church. Her disapproving grandparents disinherited her when they died.

When Matilda’s oldest daughter (Carrie) grew up, she married a rancher from California (Frank Lowe) who was visiting relatives in Missouri. Carrie then accompanied her new husband back to California where they settled on his ranch near San Miguel. After the birth of her their first child (Guy Lowe), Matilda and her family moved to California too. The move took place circa 1887. Matilda and her husband settled on a homestead near the Lowe Ranch.

Matilda had a flair for nursing and she delivered 12 of her 13 grandchildren. After the death of her husband, in 1901, Matilda went back to school (at the age of 58) to study nursing. She became a nurse-midwife, supported herself thereafter and did not have to live with one of her children. In later life, she proudly pointed out that she never lost a baby.

Matilda remarried in 1912 at the age of 67. Her new husband was John L. Hanna. Divorce proceedings where initiated in 1923, approved by the court in 1924, but the record on finalization cannot be found.

Matilda died in 1927 at the age of 83.

There is a 17 page biography on Matilda -- who led an exceptionally interesting life. Contact family members for a copy. Her lineage (via her mother) goes back to James "Rebel" Leake whose biography can be found on the internet. James is known for having fought the British twice. First as a Scot at the Battle of Culloden (1746) in Scotland. And later as an American Colonist during the War of Independence (1775 – 1783).

Please note that Matilda spelled her name “Rhodes” though she had close relatives who spelled the same name “Rhoades”.

Matilda Cecelia Rhodes was born near the town of Center in Ralls County, Missouri on December 16, 1843. Her parents were:

1. Charles Rhoades who was born around 1806 (exact date unknown). Charles was gunned down four months after Matilda was born in December of 1843 in a dispute over a fence line.
2. Catherine "Kitty" Leake Rhoades. She was born November 23, 1806. She died on December 23rd, 1843 of childbirth complications -- one week after Matilda was borne.

After Kitty and Charles both died, their nine children were disbursed to various relatives and possibly to Catholic orphanages as well. Infant Matilda was taken by her grandparents who owned a nearby plantation. Her grandparents owned slaves and baby Matilda was placed in the care of a mammy. Though Matilda intensely disapproved of slavery from childhood onward, she was relieved of the chores assigned to most children. She was later to remark “I didn’t even have to braid my own hair.”

Matilda’s grandparents were as follows:

1. Raphael Leake . Born September 18, 1785.
2. Helen (Elon) Medley Leake. Born February 16, 1787.

Matilda and her sister Caroline married brothers. Caroline married Rees Jones. Matilda married his brother John Thomas Jones. Matilda and John married in Edina, Knox County, Missouri on December 3, 1861. Their children were as follows:

1. Infant (probably named Charles). Born August 31, 1862 or more likely February 10, 1863. Died one month later on March 10, 1863.
2. Caroline (Carrie) Belle Jones was born October 17, 1863. She later became Mrs. Frank E. Lowe of San Miguel, California.
3. Alexander (Alec) Oliver Jones was born June 4, 1866. He later married Viola Mae Redmond, sister of the famous artist, Granville Redmond
4. Martha (Mattie) Hester Jones was born February 14, 1872. She became Mrs. John R. Work of San Miguel, California and later of Pacific Grove, California.

When a local priest prevented Matilda from burying Infant Charles in the local Catholic graveyard because he had not yet been baptized, she disavowed Catholicism and joined the Christian Church. Her disapproving grandparents disinherited her when they died.

When Matilda’s oldest daughter (Carrie) grew up, she married a rancher from California (Frank Lowe) who was visiting relatives in Missouri. Carrie then accompanied her new husband back to California where they settled on his ranch near San Miguel. After the birth of her their first child (Guy Lowe), Matilda and her family moved to California too. The move took place circa 1887. Matilda and her husband settled on a homestead near the Lowe Ranch.

Matilda had a flair for nursing and she delivered 12 of her 13 grandchildren. After the death of her husband, in 1901, Matilda went back to school (at the age of 58) to study nursing. She became a nurse-midwife, supported herself thereafter and did not have to live with one of her children. In later life, she proudly pointed out that she never lost a baby.

Matilda remarried in 1912 at the age of 67. Her new husband was John L. Hanna. Divorce proceedings where initiated in 1923, approved by the court in 1924, but the record on finalization cannot be found.

Matilda died in 1927 at the age of 83.

There is a 17 page biography on Matilda -- who led an exceptionally interesting life. Contact family members for a copy. Her lineage (via her mother) goes back to James "Rebel" Leake whose biography can be found on the internet. James is known for having fought the British twice. First as a Scot at the Battle of Culloden (1746) in Scotland. And later as an American Colonist during the War of Independence (1775 – 1783).