William Henry Rhodes was born in Windsor, North Carolina, July 16, 1822. In 1844, his father, Colonel E.A. Rhodes, was appointed United States Consul to Texas.
Possessing a great ambition, and a mind superior to his companions, he became a leader among the young men of Galveston, where his father was located in his office as Consul.
After he completed his study at Harvard he returned to Galveston, where he entered upon the practice of his profession.
Rhodes was then just budding into manhood. Here he gathered around him an Association of young men, whose zealous natures were congenial to his lofty ambition
In 1844, he entered Harvard law school, where he remained for two years. In 1847 he was elevated to a Probate Judgeship.
He filled this office with distinction for one term, at the close of which he returned to his native state and entered upon the practice of his profession.
He remained in North Carolina but a short time when he caught the inspiration of adventure in the new El Dorado, and sailed for California. On July 2, 1869, Rhodes was invited to the first powered flight in America at San Jose"s Shellmount Park racetrack.
The flight was of an unmanned, steam powered dirigible operated by Frederick Marriott. Was published in the Sacramento Union newspaper in 1871 and included a character named Black Baronet which later became the alias for Charles Bolles.
At the time of its publication, this story was the talk of the town more for the concept of being able to set water on fire then for the idea of Black Baronet.
lieutenant was the story"s villain, however, that caught Charles Bolles" attention and he later used the intimidating name which would be familiar to many in California as an alias in his poems left behind at crime scenes.
