Charles E Rogers

ROGERS

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/21/2010 at 14:19:40

Charles E Rogers, senior member of the firm of Rogers & Dodge of Boone, is profitably engaged in the auto repair and general machinery business and enjoys a reputation as one of the most substatntial business men of the city. He was born January 6, 1875, at Fort Dodge, Cooper township, Webster county, Iowa, his parents being George W and Emma R (Wood) Rogers. The paternal grandfather Daniel Rogers, was born in Engalnd near the Wales line, and was a farmer by occupation. He came to the United States with his wife and three chidlren, the family landing in New York, whence they came to Balitmore, making their home near that city four about then years. They subsequently located on a farm near Wheeling, West Virginaia, where the grandfather remained until his death in 1896, at the age of ninety-three years. His wife , Elizbaeth Rogers, attained the remarkable age of one hundred and three years, passing away at the ome of her son John in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In their family were the following children: May who married John Hirschberger and resides at Elk Garden ,West Virgina at the age of eigthy-three, George W the father of our subject, Sarah who married John Gildden and lives at Cherokee, Iowa, at the age of seventy-one, Elizabeth who died at the age of eighteen years, James of Portland, Oregon who married Lucy Johnson, John of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Benjamin of Pipestone, Minnesota, David of Minneapolis, and Lucy who married John Bailey, their residence being Elk Gardens, West Virginia.
George W Rogers, who was born in England in 1839, came with his parents to the United States when ten years old. He attended the common schools of his native country and America, but his educational advantages were limited by circumstances and conditions of the time. He earned his first wages as a driver of a supply team in Wheeling, West Virginia, delivering goods to points within a radius of one hundred and fifty to two hundred miles of that city. In April 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company H, Eleventh West Virginia Volunteer Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war, being veteranized after eighteen months. He held the rank of chief gunner at the time of his discharge and after the war was over became a bridge builder for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In 1866 he removed to Fort Dodge, Iowa, homesteading 160 acres in Cooper township and proving up his claim. However, he never developed the land but for two years engaged in the cigar business in Fort Dodge. He then turned his attention to the coal business there until 1907, but now lives retired at Marshalltown, Iowa. The father has been a lifelong republican, stanchly upholding the principles of that party. Altough prominent in his community he has never sought office, preferring to work for the good of his fellowmen as a private citizen. Both he and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church.They had the following children: Charles E of this review, Gertrude who died at the age of nine years, Nettie who was three years old when she passed away, Henry who died in infancy, William G a resident of Superior Wisconsin, who married Mary Dyson, Ellen C who married Charles Wolcott and resides in New Hampshire, and Edith I the wife of Melvin Wooley of Ceylon, Minnesota.
Charles E Rogers was educated in the schools of Fort Dodge, which he attended until sixteen years of age. He entered upon his business career in the employ of the Northwestern Railway, remaining with that company for some time. He was then for six months a seaman on the great Lakes, being subsequently promoted to the positon of mate on the sailing vessel Driver, a schooner going out of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. After this he was connected with a machine shop in Sheboygan and subsequently held similar positons in Des Moines, various places in Minnesota and in other parts of the country. In September 1912, he became independent by opening his present repair shop as a member of the firm of Rogers & Dodge in Feburary 1914. They do a general repair business and enjoy a high reputation for excellent workmanship. Moreover, both are business men of no mean qualiafcations and enjoy the confidence and respect of all those who have transactions with them. Good work at fair prices has been their motto and they have gained a large patronage by adhering to this policy.
On June 21, 1905, Mr Rogers married Miss Ellen Taylor of Des Moines, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Kavanaugh) Taylor. Mr and Mrs Rogers have two sons. Gilbert T born October 26 1907, and William Charles July 16, 1910. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr Rogers gives his adherence to the republican party. He is interested in all movements undertaken to promote the growth of the city and readily gives his support toward material and moral advancement. Although he has not lived in Boone many years, he has already made many friends who esteem him as an earnest, conscientious and progressive business man and citizen.

1914 Boone County History Book