Reverend John Roads, a Mennonite minister, who along with his wife, Catherine and seven children were among the first pioneers in Massanutten in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in the early 1700's. For more than 20 years, the settlers lived in peace with the native Indians, but as the white population grew, the Indians became more hostile and aggressive.

John was a Mennonite minister who, along with his wife and six children, were massacred by the Indians in the Shenandoah Valley in Aug, 1764, at his home, later known as "Fort Rhodes" or "Hope Farm." Eight Indians and one white man came down over the Massanutten Mountains and biding their time, stealthily crept up on the Rhodes family home on the banks of the south branch of the Shenandoah and murdered the father, mother, and one son in or near the house. Two sons were working in a nearby cornfield near the river and hearing the great commotion, one of them climbed up into a pear tree to see what was going on. He was spied by the Indians and shot. The other boy attempted to escape across the river, but was followed and killed in the water, the place being called "Blood Ford" to this day. In the meantime, Elizabeth, one of the older daughters had picked up the baby, Esther, and escaped with her to the barn and through it to a field and thence to the river which she crossed to the safety of the neighboring home of the Stauffer family. The Indians took as captives two boys and two girls of the Roads family and led them up over the mountain west of the home where they killed all but Michael, whom they took away with them and kept prisoner for three years when he was permitted to return home. He later married Ann Strickler, a daughter of Benjamin Strickler. Elizabeth Roads, the heroine, married Jacob Gouchenour, while the baby, Esther, grew up and married Dr. Jacob Kaufman. The motive of this raid was evidently robbery as it was thought that the Rev. Roads had money hidden in his home. In August, 1924, on the 160th anniversary of this massacre, about five hundred people, many of them descendants of the Roads children who had been spared, met at "Hope Farm" the present name of the old Roads home and unveiled a monument to the memory of those who had been so ruthlessly and cruelly killed. The name of this family is frequently spelled "Rhodes." ("Genealogy of the Stukey, Ream, Grove, Clem, and Denniston Families" by Elmer Leonidas Denniston, published in 1939, pp. 393)

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In August 1764, John Rhodes, his wife and six of their children were killed in the last Indian Massacre in what is now Page County. It is believed that the Indians intent was robbery. His son Michael (1749-1819) escaped and was held captive by the Indians for three years.∼John Roads was one of the first settlers in the Shenandoah Valley at Massanutten. In August 1764 John and his wife Eva and six of their children were killed by Indians at their farm. After the attack they were buried along the river at the Bloody Ford. According to Samuel Kercheval they were buried the next day on the bank of the Shenandoah River, each grave having been marked by a rough limestone rock. A single shaft about two feet high marks the place. Another monument is near where the house stood. Another memorial is located close to the White House Family graveyard.
Seven children survived, several of whom were grown and not living at home. Michael was captured by the Indians and lived with them for a few months before being turned over to Colonel Bouquet and returning home. Michael served in the Revolutionary War.

Children: Adults not living at home included Joseph, 1735-1766 m. to Mary Elizabeth Strickler; Anna 1738-1774 m to Christian Grove and Susannah 1740-1770 m to Mark Grove. Survived included Elizabeth 1752-1818 m.to Jacob Gochenour; baby Esther 1764 - m to Dr. Jacob Kauffmam; Michael. Killed and buried by the river were 2 daughters including Mary and 4 boys.