Rhodes, Amos Giles, 1850-1928

Amos Giles Rhodes (1859-1928) was born in Henderson, Kentucky on December 29, 1859. In 1875, he came to Atlanta to work for the L and N Railroad. He married Amanda Dougherty in 1876. The couple had two children, Joseph D. and Louanna. In 1878, he opened a furniture store on Decatur Street. He is credited with being the originator of the installment payment plan because he allowed customers to make weekly payments on purchases. In the 1880s, A.G. Rhodes’s furniture business thrived, and he opened additional furniture stores all over the country. In 1890, he formed a partnership with J.J. Haverty, who also lived in Atlanta. Rhodes-Haverty Furniture opened its doors in St. Louis, Missouri in 1891, and it operated until 1912, when the partnership ended amicably. A.G. Rhodes died on June 16, 1928.