He was the son of Joseph Rhoades and Salome (Rust) Rhoades. He graduated from Williams College in 1813. On March 4, 1818, he married Louisa Gardiner, a sister of Chief Judge Addison Gardiner (1797–1883). They had no children, but adopted a daughter. He was Clerk of Onondaga County from 1838 to 1840. He was a member of the New York State Senate (7th D.) from 1841 to 1844, sitting in the 64th, 65th, 66th and 67th New York State Legislatures. At the New York state election, 1844, he ran on the Whig ticket for one of four vacancies as Canal Commissioner, but was defeated by the Democratic candidates. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846.