The Rogers Families of Linn County, Iowa

This well-known retired farmer and prosperous citizen of Center Point was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, on the loth of April, 1840, and is a son of Samuel and

Eliza ( Cheedell ) Rogers, natives of Pennsylvariia and Ohio, respectively. The father was reared in the Buckeye state, and after reaching manhood he followed farming there for some years. In 185 1 he came to Iowa, and the following year took up his residence on a farm in Linn county, where he died about 1853. His wife still survives him, and is now eighty-four years of age.

'lien a lad of eleven years John Rogers came with the family to this state, and grew to manhood in Linn county, receiving but limited educational advantages. He began life fur himself liy working as a farm hand by the month and was thus employed for several Wears. His first purchase of land consisted of a small tract of unbroken prairie, on which he Iniilt a log house, where he Ined while fencing and improving his land. As time advanced and he prospered in his labors he added to his landed possessions from time to time until he now owns four hundred acres of rich and arable land, divided into two farms and supplied with two sets of buildings. He continued the operation of his land until 1900, when he removed to Center Point, where he bought a lot and built a neat residence. Here he is now living a retired life, enjoying a well-earned rest.

Mr. Rogers was married, in this county, in February, 1862, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Elizabeth Meanor, who was born and reared in Ohio. They have one son, William A., a farmer of Washington township, Linn county, who is married and has two children, Beth and Leo.

In politics Mr. Rogers is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and has never failed in his allegiance to that party since casting his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860. He is a stanch friend of education and our public school system, and was an active and capable member of the school board for some years. His estimable wife is a member of the Christian church, and both are held in high regard by all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance. For his success in life he deserves great credit, as it is due entirely to his own well-directed and energetic efforts.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. M. ROGERS.

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J. M. Rogers received his early education in the district schools of Putnam township] and later attended the ])public schools of Cedar Rapids. L'i)on leaving school he rented a farm of eighty acres from Art Skiles. Here he remained for two years and then took up threshing and corn shelling as a means of livelihood, at which he was employed during the summer months, while the winter months he spent in hauling wood to Cedar Rapids.

June 27,, 1873, Mr. Rogers married

Miss Margaret Russell, a daughter of William and Alargaret (Buchon) Russell, natives of Scotland. After leaving their native land the Russell family took up their residence in Canada and from there moved to Linn county, where the parents spent the remainder of their live/i. They had eight children: William (1), the oldest, died on shipboard on the way to Canada; William (2); Margaret; Anna; Jennie; Andrew, Jessie and Mary are still living.

To Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have been born ten children, of wIkiui William and (gertie died in infancy, while the others, still living, are as follows: Annie, Maggie, Jessie, Elsie, Norma, Orville, ]Mabel and Wallace.

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In politics Mr. Rogers is a stanch Democrat, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have often called him to office. For ten years he filled the office of township trustee and for twelve years

7i8 that of school director and '-.as been road supervisor since his residence in this district. He is one of the best known men in the community, and is held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens. He is a member of Lodge No. 364, A. F. & M., at Fairfax, in which he is holding the office of senior steward.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK M. ROGERS.

Numbered among the energetic and prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Bertram township is Frank M. Rogers, who carries on his chosen occupation on section 2. He was born on the 13th of April. 1844, in Allegany county, New York, of which state his parents, Stillman and Rachel { Soper) Rogers, were also natives. There the mother died in 1844 during the infancy of our subject, and four years later the father married Sallv Graves, who was born in the same state and died in 1884. The father's death occurred in 1892. By his first union he had seven children, namely: E. Mien, who served through the Civil war as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth New York WoIunteer Infantry, married Susan Graves and resided in Willing, Allegany county. New York. John, who served through the war as a member of the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, married Amelia Withey, and also lives in Willing, New York. Josiah. who was a member of the Sixty-fourth New York Regiment, married Amelia Withey and makes his home in Willing. [Maria married Charles Chaste, who served in the First Iowa Cavalry and afterward went west, dying in Wyoming. She now makes her home in Martin county, minnesota. She has two sons, one of whom is with the army in the Philippines, and the other is in the Klondike. Sarah married 'william Guinnip, who died in the service of his country while a member of a New York regiment, and in 1868 she wedded James George, now a resident of East Chain, Martin county, Minnesota. George, who served four years and nine months in the First Iowa Cavalry, wedded Mary Williams, who died in 1894, and he lives in Mt. Vernon, this county. Frank M. complete the family.

Until nineteen years of age the subject of this sketch attended the district school of New York, and worked in a sawmill for a number of years, after which he purchased twenty-five acres of land ami turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. On the 19th of June, 1864. he, too, joined the boys in lille, becoming a member of Company I, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, which was mustered in at Elmira. New York, and was then ordered to Washington. D. C. From there they went to Center Fount, near Richinnnd. Wirgiiiia, and did scout duty in that locahty until Lee's surrender. Mr. Rogers participated in the battle of Hatchie's Run, the Weldon Railroad raid, and the engagements at Five Forks and Gravel Run, and was mustered out and discharged at Elmira, New York, June 10, 1865.

]\Mr. Rogers was married, September 30, 1863, to-Miss Margaret M. Sawyer, who was born in Independence, Allegany county, New York, February 9, 1846, a daughter of Elder Joel C. and Almira Kimbel Sawyer, also natives of the Empire state, where they made their home throughout life. The father, who was a minister of the Universalist church, died in 1882, and the mother departed this life in 1881. Mrs. Rogers was the second in order of birth in their family of three children. Her brother. Rev. Charles Sawyer, married and one night just four weeks after his marriage he, his wife ami his wife's father were accidentally drowned in the Connecticut river by driving off a ferryboat. Mrs. Roger's sister, Mary, wedded Chester Brownson, and for her second husband married George Keeler. She died at their home in Blaine, Washington.

Our subject and his wife are the parents of seven children: (1) Lenora A., born in Allegany county. New York, May 6, 1865, is now the wife of C. H. Emerson, of Rockford, Illinois, and they have one child, Blanche. (2) Lillian E., born in New York, May 21, 1867, is the wife of Charles Linder, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and they have two children, Pearl and Isabella. (3) Herbert L., born in Minnesota, July 3, 1871, wedded Mary Mattine ami lives in Minneapolis. (4) Chester C, born in Minnesota, October 31, 1875, assists his father in the operation of the home farm. During the Spanish-American war, he enlisted June 27, 189S. in Company F, Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and contracting typhoid fever while in the service, he was sent home on a furlough and was ill for seven weeks. He was finally discharged on account of disability December 26, 1898. (5) George W' born in Minnesota, September 13, 1878. (6) Elsworth L., born in Wisconsin, June 12, 1886, and (7) Hazel E., born in Bertram, Linn county, Iowa, June 7, 1892, are all at home.

In 1869 Mr. Rogers removed from New York to Martin county, Minnesota, where he took a homestead and [iroxed up his claim, remaining" there until 1883, when he sold his farm and went to East Tro\ Walworth count\'. Wisconsin. There he purchased a gristmill, which he operated for nearly six years, and on disposing of that came to Linn county. Iowa. He first bought a farm of one hundred and one acres on "section 2, Bertram township, and on selling that purchased another farm of one hundred and eighty-four acres near Marion, known as the Andy Safely farm, which he subsequently sold. He next bought a part of the Blaine estate, consisting of one lunulred and sixty-nine acres on section 4, Bertram township, and later purchased eighty and a half acres where he nciw resides. This is within the cor])rate limits of Bertram and has been laid off in town lots. Here he has a nice liDnie, a good orchard and all modern impnwements, and is now practically living a retired life, while his sons carry on the farm. In connection with general farming he has engaged in raisiiig a high grade of horses, cattle and hogs for market. and has met with good success in his undertakings.

Fraternally Mr. Rogers is a member of

Marion Lodge, Xo. 6, A. F. & A. M.; is a charter member of Bertram Lodge, No. 534, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs; and also belongs to W. C. Dimmit Post, No. 400, G. A. R. In his political affiliations he is a stanch Republican, and was the second trustee ever elected on his party ticket in Bertram township. While a resident of Silver Lake, Martin county, Minnesota, he served as justice of the peace for a number of years, and was also supervisor for four years. He is a public spirited citizen, and takes a deep and commendable interest in all enterprises calculated to prove of public benefit.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Many ofLthe most substantial and well-to-do citizens of Linn county are found among her farmers and stock-raisers and Thomas Rogers, whose name introduces this review, is classed with this number. He has accumulated two hundred and ninety acres of the finest land to be found in the rich agricultural districts of Iowa, and although he has made his home in this county for only a few years he has already gained an honorable place among its representative men. He is, however, a native of the state, his birth, having occurred on a farm in Clinton comity, May 31, 1860.

His parents. William and Isabelle (Harris) Rogers, were both natives of Perthshire, Scotland, whence they emigrated to the new world in 185S, settling on a farm in Clinton county, Iowa. There the father developed and improved new land and was identified with the agricultural interests of that section of the state during his remaining years. Unto him and his wife were born eight children, namely: Isabel, a resident of Wapello, Iowa; May A., who became the wife of H. M. Davis of Tama county and died in 1896, leaving a daughter; Thomas, of this review; Alexander, who died in infancy; Jessie, who died when in her ninth year; "William, who lives on a farm near Wapello; Mrs. Elizabeth Holmes, of Muscatine, Iowa; and James, who lives in Wapello. The mother lived only about twelve years after coming to Iowa, her death occurring in 1870. The father survived for many years and departed this life in 1895.

Thomas Rogers, the third in order of birth in his father's family, remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-three years and from the period of his early boyhood was trained in the work of the home farm. At that age he started out to make his own way in the world and for one year was employed at farm labor by the month. He then purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land in Clinton county, operating the same until 1897. He then disposed of that property to advantage and invested his money in two hundred and forty acres in Louisa county, this state. He made his home thereon for five years, or until 1901, when he-made another change in location and, disposing of (hat farm, came to Linn county, purchasing one hundred and seventy acres. thereon he made his home until the fall of 1910. In the meantime, in 1909, he purchased a second tract, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, and it was upon the latter place that he took up his above in October, 1910. His possessions in Linn county now embrace two hundred and ninety acres, all lying in Linn township, and thus his time is fully occupied in the work of general farming and stock-raising. He is meeting with very desirable success in his undertakings and his capable management and keen foresight have enabled him to add not a little to his income in the buying and selling of various farm properties. He lias made many improvements upon his laud and he and his family now occupy nice modern residence, in the rear of which are seen substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. Every change he has made in his business life has given him broader scope for the exercise of his energy, ambition and industry, his dominant powers, and thus he stands today among the men of affluence in Linn county.

On the 19th of December, iSSS, Mr. Rogers was married to Miss Nettie L. Dunham, who has proved to him a most faithful and helpful companion. She is the only living daughter of Wesley II. and Celia (Clapp) Dunham, both of whom were natives of Xew York. In 1868 they removed to the middle west and located on a farm in Clinton county. For many years they were numbered among the worthy farming people of that section of the state but spent their last years in honorable retirement, the father passing away in 1905. The mother survived for only a brief period, her demise occurring the following year, in 1906.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have been born two sons and three daughters, namely: "Wesley W.. who was born December 2, 18S9, and is a high-school student at Mount Vernon, being a member of the graduating class of 1911; Glenn II., who was born May 29, 1891, and is a member of the same class; Celia, who was born December 13, 1893. and who will likewise graduate from high school in 1911; Dorothy D., who was born February 25, 1896, and is a high-school student; and Mary, who Mas born July 31, 1901, and is in school at Mount Vernno.

Politically Mr. Rogers is a republican, while his fraternal relations are with the Odd Fellows, his membership being in Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 551. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He owes his success to his own thrift, energy and economy. In his earlier years he had many difficulties and obstacles to overcome but despite that fact he has made steady progress along well defined lines of labor and in accordance with honorable methods and is today one of the most prominent and representative agriculturists of Linn county.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.