Rogers, Alvah C. 1817-1884

ROGERS, PLUM, FOX, MCGREGOR, CLARK

Posted By: A. Haught (email)
Date: 3/26/2015 at 14:57:52

On Saturday last the sad news was received in Elkader that Alvah Clark Rogers, one of the pioneers of this county, had completed his life work, and gone to his reward in the great hereafter.

It is a strange coincidence that his first residence in the county; and the closing scenes of his life, some 37 years later, should occur in the same place, McGregor.

His death which occurred on Saturday morning, March 29, 1884 and caused by old age and general debility and was not entirely unexpected, as he had been failing fast for some months past.

From the history of Clayton county we glean the following facts in regard to Mr. R.’s, early life: He was born at Whiting, Addison county, Tb., September 15th, 1817, being at the time of his death 67 years of age. When he was 5 years of age his father moved to Westport, N.Y., buying a farm on the shore of Lake Champlain, and it was here that the subject of this sketch lived until his 21st year.

In 1838, he came west. Locating in Mineral Point, Wis., and the next spring he went to Green Bay where he worked in stores until the fall of 1840, when he went to Prairie du Chien. The following winter he was employed by the Register of Deeds, and at the death of the Register was appointed to the position by the board of supervisors of Crawford county, and in 1841 was made a Justice of the Peace by Gov. Henry Dodge, it being an appointed office and his commission was renewed by Gov. James D. Doty. He was afterwards elected clerk of the board of supervisors.

While at Green Bay, he became acquainted with Miss Maria A. Plum, and on the 29th of August, 1842, they were married at Green Lake, Wis., and as the issue of said marriage there are three children living, all of whom were born at Garnavillo, and who, with their mother are left to mourn the departure of a kind father and a dear companion.

He resided at Prairie du Chien until November, 1847 and while there studied law, but never applied for admission to the bar. In November of 1847, he moved to McGregor, which then had but one frame dwelling house, and which was occupied jointly by Mrs. Rogers and Alexander McGregor.

In April 1848, he removed to Garnavillo, then the county seat of the county, and with S. A. Clark, of Prairie du Chien, engaged in selling merchandise. In 1853, he with his partner moved to Clayton, where they engaged in the general forwarding and commission business. It was through their efforts that the town of Clayton was pushed to the front, they having expended some $50,000 in improving the town.

In 1858 Mr. Rogers sold out to his partner, and at the request of his brother-in-law, B.F. Fox, who was then recorder and treasurer of the county, opened the first set of double entry accounts. He was afterwards employed as the deputy treasurer and deputy clerk of court until January, 1862, when he entered upon the duties of county judge, to which he was elected three terms, leaving the office in 1868.

Besides the public offices mentioned, Mr. Rogers was also one of the leading spirits in the agricultural society and the old settler’s association. Strictly honest and upright in all his dealings, he goes to his long home with no enemies, and universally mourned. The funeral which was conducted by the Masonic order, was held at McGregor yesterday, March 31, 1884.

Elkader Register: April 1, 1884