Frank M. Rogers

As printed in 1901

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 Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.