Clyde Burl Rhoad was born on April 5, 1894, in Hoytville, Wood County, Ohio. He was the son of William Myrtle Rhoad, born October 27, 1853, in Seneca County, Ohio, and Emma (Secrist) Rhoad, born in 1859. William and Emma were married on October 21, 1877, in Crawford County, Ohio. Children born to Emma and William include Anna, born in 1878, and Estella Mary, born in 1881.
It is not known whether William and Emma divorced, but she was still alive in 1880. William later met and married Frances (Wineland) Rhoad, born November 14, 1853, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. They were married on March 21, 1882, in North Shade, Gratiot County, Michigan. Children born to William and Frances include: Edward William (1882), Rosetta (1884), Val Henry (1886), Eva Frances (1889), John Archer (1891), Clyde Burl (1894), Roy Virgil (1896), and Floyd Herman (1900).
By 1900, the Rhoad family was living in Jackson, Wood County, Ohio. William was working as a farmer, and most of the children were attending school. Anna and Estella had married and moved out of the household. By 1910, the family had relocated to Blue Creek Township, Paulding County, Ohio. Clyde and his brothers were helping on the farm, while William worked as a railroad section hand laborer…