“...early moved to the West, for a time living in Ohio, and in 1826 moved to Champaign county, Ill.” “In 1824, just two years prior to his location in Illinois, he married Miss Mary Rhinehart, and by her became the father of ten children...”

“With the exception of Frances, all the children were born in Champaign county, Illinois.”404

“March 4, 1834, the first grand and petit juries were appointed as follows: Grand Jury—Thomas Deer, Jefferson Huss, Wm. Nox, sr., Joseph Thomas, Henry Thomas, Robert Trickle, James Brownfield, Walter Rhodes, James Johnson, Samuel G. Beckley, John W. Swearingen, John B. Swearingen, John Zanes, Robert Prather, Valentine Hiff, Gabriel G. Rice, Matthew Busey, John Tineman, Samuel Bromley, Arthur Beaird, Harris Wilson, William Corray, and James Osbourne.”320, pg 107

“First land Entries.
The first entry in Urbana was made by Fielder, as above stated, in 1828, and the first in Somer was made by Sarah Coe, who, in 1829, entered the W1/2 SE1/4 Sec. 27, now in William Roberts’ farm. During the three years following, entries of lands now lying in both townships, wre made by Mijamin Byers, Isaac Busey, John Whitaker, William Tompkins, Philip Stanford, Charles Busey, Martin Rhineheart, Walter Rhodes, John Light, John Brownfield, Robert Trickle and others.”320, pg 112

“...The first Methodist class and the germ of the present society in Urbana, was organized in 1836, at the house of Walter Rhodes, the first leader...”320, pg 114

Document, original filed in Urbana Library Archives:

“Know all men by these presents the ___ John Craig Principal and Walter Rhoades _________ of the County of Champaign and State of Illinois are held and firmly bound to the County Commissioners of said County and their successors in office for the use of the people of said County, in the _____ sum of Two Hundred and Ninety Six Dollars current money of the United States for the payment of which will and truly to be made _______ ourselves over ____ executors and administrators, finally, severally and firmly by these presents.

Witness our hands and seals this Twenty-Ninth day of March A.D. 1836.

The condition of the above bond is such that if the above bounder John Craig shall on or before the first Monday in June next, complete the erection of a temporary court house on Lot No. 25 in the Town of Urbanna [sp] of the description following to wit: Of Hewn Logs of good size and durable quality Twenty four Feet long and Twenty feet wide, one story and a half high, raised on six good stone pillars—shingle roof—sawn or hewn joists and sleepers — an under floor of _____ inch plank, laid with square joints - one door and two windows in each side, the windows and doors well faced and cased; the window to receive sash for 12 lights of 8 ___ 10 ____ the cracks in the walls to be stopped with lime and sand mortar - the doors to be furnished with good _____ shutters hung with ____ and furnished with iron latches, then and in that care this obligation to be void, otherwise remain in full force and virtue

John Craig
Walter Rhoades

Signed and acknowledged before me at my office at Urbanna [sp] the 29th day of March A.D. 1836.

T. R. Webber, Clerk
Com Court Champaign County Ill”