Bethel Rhodes

  General Notes:

1881 Census shows their address as 38 Wells Street Keighley with Ann Baldwin living with them. Their six children are also shown.
http://www.bethelrhodes.co.uk/Bethel%20Rhodes%20Wire%20workers1_files/middle_files/bottom.htm.
Following copied from paper on file;
Prov G. M. Bethel Rhodes

whose portrait appears in this, the first issue of the Keighley Oddfellows, M U Year Book, was initiated into the Order in October, 1868, as a member of the Loyal Friendly Mechanic Lodge, in the Bradford District. He removed to Keighley to commence business on his own account, and in July, 1873 - four years after coming to Keighley- considering himself settled in the town, he obtained his clearance from the Friendly Mechanic Lodge, which was accepted by the Eboracum Lodge. He did not take an active part in the Lodge business until his turn to take inferior office came around in January 1876, since which time he has always been an active member, taking his part in everything that has been done for the best interest of the Lodge and the District generally.

In January 1877 he took office as the V. G. and in January District Meeting of 1878 he was elected to be the District Examining Officer, following on not long after with the office of Receiving Officer, both offices he still holds.

He took the Purple Lecture at the october meeting in 1878. I may add he was elected Prov Deputy G. M. in January 1900 and in the following January meeting, to Pro. G. M.

His wife is an Honorary Member of the Female Lodge; one daughter is Secretary of the same, and two other daughter are members; whilst four sons are also Oddfellows.

He was elected Treasurer of the Eboracum Lodge july 1st, 1892 and Treasurer for the District in 1901; so he holds the unique position of being Prov G. M.., Dist. Treasurer, Dist. Receiving and Examining Officer and Treasurer of the Eboracum Lodge.

In 1873, when he joined the Eboracum Lodge it numbered 200 members, and now it has about 420.. In 1873 the total value of the Lodge funds and property was £5,500, but now it is about £7,700. In 1873 the whole District funds were £12,000 and are now over £21,000, The number of members in the District in 1873 was 800, and now there are nearly 1600. This shows a good steady progress during all the 28 years membership of Bro Bethel Rhodes, Pro G. M. for 1901.

History of Wire works from Dennis Rhodes, Nov 2011
Bethel Rhodes Wire-Works started in Keighley in 1866. It was
originally a branch of his father Joseph's firm, Bradford.

By 1901 Bethel started the Halifax branch, putting in his eldest son
Arthur to run it. By 1960 Arthur's son Norman had expanded so much it
became even bigger than the original Keighley branch. The two branches
had been run independently since the death of Bethel. in1932
The Halifax branch finally closed down in 1982, due I believe to lack
of investment in modern machinery, which Keighley did and still
survives today.

Richard and Bethel were just 2 of the 5 sons of Joseph, who all
started wire-working for their father and then eventually branched out
on their own.

Concert given by Mayor Oct 17 1983 in mechanics Inst see Box 4 for program
Article on Line 3/4 June 1903 as ad director of Oddfellows

  Research Notes:

Burial, email 23 April 2004-see his daughter Sarah
1861 Census aged 14, born Halifax.
A letter written 19 Aril 1893 to his wife mentions family matters but talks about his wife at Woodhall looking after Ive, but it is not clear where Woodhall is or who Ive is.
6/16/09 Found info hand written by HR Pick with birth date.
Letter re will on file.
10/6/10 letter from HR Pick Jul 1977 talks of Bethel moving to Sefton Rd, Morecambe in 1913 or 14, built Dove Cottage on Heysham Rd. He went on then to Brentlea Crescent & died in 1931
10/9/10 Bethel Rhodes seems to have neem mentioned Nov 22, 1900 in Leeds Mercury.
6/6/11 Maybe a newspaper cutting Leeds mercury 22 Nov 1900

  Noted events in his life were:

• 1851 Census Bradford Rhodes Joseph: Bethel Rhodes, son aged 4, Born Shelf, 30 Mar 1851, Bar House, Shelf, Yorkshire. ¹⁷⁶

• 1861 Census Manningham Rhodes Joseph: Bethel Rhodes son aged 14 wire worker, born Halifax, 31 Mar 1861, 39 Lilly Street, Manningham, Bradford, Yorks. ¹⁷⁷

• 1871 Census Keighley Rhodes Bethel: Bethel Rhodes head aged 24 Master Wire Worker, born Halifax, 2 Apr 1871, Sandywood Villas, Keighley. ¹⁷⁸

• 1881 Census Keighley Rhodes Bethel: Bethel Rhodes aged 34, Master Wire worker, born Shelf, 3 Apr 1881, 38 Well Street, Keighley, Yorks, England. ¹⁷⁹

• 1891 Census Keighley Rhodes Bethel: Bethel Rhodes aged 44, Wire worker, born Shelf, 5 Apr 1891, 68 North Street, Keighley, Yorks, England. ¹⁸⁰

• Concert letter: Letter to his wife and son, 19 Apr 1893, Keighley, Yorkshire, England. ¹⁸¹

• 1901 Census Keighley Rhodes Bethel: Bethel Rhodes Head aged 54, Wire worker and wire brush maker, born Shelf, 31 Mar 1901, 274 Skipton Rd, Keighley.

• Letter to niece Hester Baldwin 1905: Bethel Rhodes to Hester Baldwin, 30 Jul 1905, 274 Leonard Terrace, Keighley. ¹⁸²

• Letter to Bethel and Annie in Morecambe: Dear Auntie and Grandpa, 17 Jul 1909, c/0 Calverly 7 WSwire, Queens Sq. Morecambe.

• 1911 Census Keighley Rhodes Bethel: Bethel Rhodes aged 64, widower, wire worker and wire weaver, born Shelf, 2 Apr 1911, 274 Beechcliffe, Keighley, Yorkshire. ¹⁸³

Bethel married Harriet Baldwin, daughter of Hugh Baldwin and Ann Bentley, on 21 Sep 1867 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. (Harriet Baldwin was born on 23 Dec 1846 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England,¹⁸⁴ died on 18 Jan 1903 in Keighley, Yorkshire, England and was buried on 20 Jan 1903 in Keighley, Yorkshire, England.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage, 21 Sep 1867, All Saints Church, Bradford. All Saints church, Bradford

  Marriage Notes:

All Saints Church