Daniel Rhoads facts for kids

Daniel Rhoads was an American pioneer and rancher. He is famous for helping to rescue the Donner Party. He was born in Paris, Illinois, in 1821 and passed away in San Francisco in 1895.

Daniel Rhoads' Early Life and Journey West

Daniel Rhoads was born in Edgar County, Illinois. His family had English roots. His grandfather, also named Daniel, fought in the American Revolutionary War with George Washington.

Daniel Rhoads became very interested in California. He read about General John C. Frémont's trips there. In 1846, Daniel decided to move to the West Coast. He traveled with his wife, Amanda Esrey, and other family members. Their journey across the country took five months.

They arrived in Wheatland, California, on October 4, 1846. After about a month, they settled near Sutter's Fort in the Sacramento Valley. During their long trip, they met the Donner Party. The Donner Party invited Rhoads to join them on a new, supposedly shorter route. However, Daniel Rhoads chose not to use an unknown trail. He declined their offer.

Helping the Donner Party Survivors

That winter, news of the Donner Party's terrible situation reached the Sacramento area. Daniel Rhoads was part of the first rescue team. They had to walk about 80 kilometres (50 mi) through deep snow. They carried food and supplies on their backs.

On February 18, 1847, they found some survivors. The people were very weak and had not eaten for about three weeks. They greeted the rescuers by asking, "Are you men from California or do you come from heaven?"

Rhoads and his team helped twenty-one people leave the Sierra Nevada mountains. Most of them were women and children. Sadly, three people died on the way back. The rescuers had left food along the trail for their return trip. But animals had eaten one of their food stashes. For three days, they had to eat rawhide from their snowshoes. Finally, they made it back to their base camp.

Life as a Rancher and Miner

When gold was found at Sutter's Mill, the California Gold Rush began. Daniel Rhoads was working at a nearby ranch at that time. Over the next few years, he mined for gold in the American River. He earned about $8,000 in gold.

In 1851, Rhoads and his family went back to Missouri. But Daniel was not happy there. He soon returned to California. He bought a ranch outside of Gilroy, California. In 1857, during a drought, he moved his livestock to the Kings River.

His family joined him in 1860. They moved into an adobe house he built. This house was on 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of land in Kingston. This home, called El Adobe de los Robles Rancho, is still standing today. It is the second oldest adobe in the San Joaquin Valley. People have lived in it continuously since it was built. It is now a California Historical Landmark #206.

Later Life and Banking

While living in Lemoore, Daniel Rhoads became involved in banking. He served as the vice-president of the Bank of Hanford. He was also the president of the Bank of Lemoore.

He enjoyed banking so much that he later moved to San Francisco. There, he became one of the directors of the Grangers' Bank of San Francisco. Daniel Rhoads passed away in San Francisco. He is buried in Lemoore.