Rhoads, J. Edgar (Joseph Edgar), 1883-1981

J. Edgar Rhoads was born in Plainfield, Ind., on September 11, 1883, the son of Joseph Rhoads, the principal of the local Friends' academy. The family returned to Wilmington, Del., the following year. After attending the Westtown School and William Penn Charter School, Rhoads was persuaded to abandon a career in medicine to join the family leather manufacturing business in 1903, the only other male heirs of his generation being infants. J.E. Rhoads & Sons, which traced its roots to 1702, specialized in leather belting and maintained a factory in Wilmington, Del., and sales offices in Philadelphia. Rhoads became a partner in 1915 and eventually head of the firm. He died in 1981.

J. Edgar Rhoads was a birthright Quaker. The son of Joseph and Harriet Rhoads, and the grandson of Johathan Evans Rhoads, he was born in 1883. In 1909 he married Edith Chambers. He ran the family tanning business, J.E. Rhoads & Sons, and was an active member of Wilmington (De.) Monthly Meeting of Friends. He died in 1981.