Help with biography

I am doing some family history and have largely drawn a blank after the 1880s.

Is there some way to get biographical information on Captain William H Rhodes Co D 162nd NYVI? he may be my G grandfather but I need more details, marriage, children, etc.

I do a lot of genealogy work and the best luck I've had is bite the bullet and pay the monthly fee for Ancestry.com. They do have military records. Found more information there and also could tap into other peoples trees they had put on there that had a family connection to mine. You don't have to pay it forever, after a couple of months you can find all that is of any importance to you and you can drop it.

I don't know if you are aware of this, but the 1890 census records were largely destroyed in a fire. That's probably why you're hitting a wall.

I been researching my family for some time. I advise Ancestry. Also when you on Ancestry check out Ancestry World Trees. I found so much information on my family. I have several Revolutionary War Ancestors and War of 1812 by checking Ancestry World Trees.

Some libraries, like the one I go to have subscription to Ancestry. You can use them for free at the library. Our library has computers in History area that are just for people doing research. We have people who work in that area and they help you for no charge.

I also found different message boards very helpful. If you have idea of state he from or may have lived go on message board and put in his name or surname Rhodes. You will be surprised what will come up.

In checking genealogy.com I found there is Rhodes Genealogy forum. There are many messages and saw name like his William H. Rhodes. You may want to check this out. Go to http://genforum.genealogy.com/rhodes/all.html

I also saw several William H. Rhodes listed on find a grave. I always check find a grave. I have found a lot of leads there.

I found several William H. Rhodes who served in N.Y. infantry, but, so far, only one record that served with 162nd, and his wife's name was Harriet G.(?-not sure about the m.i.).

If you know that "your" William H. Rhodes' wife's name was Harriet, I can pursue further research from there.

The only thing that I've found is that he previously served as a private in the 83rd New York and was initially dismissed from the 162nd in April 1863 but then the record was changed to discharged.

R

If he later married a Cecilia Lundy and had a son William in 1885 and a daughter Cecilia in 1886 +/- 1 year. I am trying to establish if he is my g grandfather. Was he born in 1841 or 42?

His Pension Records list his wife as Harriet. I will take a look at the other William H. Rhodes, and see what I can find.

when was his pension dated? Was it after 1885?

The record is dated Sept. 24, 1891. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 Record for William H. Rhodes; Co. D, 162nd, NY infantry; widow, Harriet E. Rhodes; application # 527011

Thanks for your efforts. You saved me a trip to the national Archives

Could this be your William H Rhodes....He starts off a private and ends up a Captain...

http://books.google.com/books?id=Hg...n William H Rhodes, New York Infantry&f=false

This is saame fellow from the 162nd NYVI that we have eliminated. Thanks for your efforts.

Besides the William H. Rhodes who served in both the 83rd NY and 162nd NY, I have, so far, found the following William H. Doyles serving in -
158th NY inf; 142nd NY inf; 124 NY inf; 90 NY inf; 8 NY cav
Also, some born in NY who served in other states.

It would be much easier to track your ancestor, if I knew where your trail went cold.