Rogers, William

ROGERS, HARRIS, DAVIS, MCLEAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 2/17/2003 at 14:45:34

PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA 1886 (CHAPMAN BROS.)  Containing full page portraits & biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. (Also available on FHL film 1036331 Item 9)
WILLIAM ROGERS, a successful stock-raiser and farmer, now living on section 10, in Elk River Townships, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, Dec. 6, 1834. His father, Thomas Rogers, who was Supervisor of a certain portion of the public highways of his shire, lived at the same place where he was born, and was there married. It was in this same neighborhood that for over two hundred and fifty years the family through its various generation had lived. It appears that at one period there was an infusion of Irish blood by marriage, but they were usually considered of purely Scotch ancestry. The mother of our subject bore the same name as her husband, but there was no relation between them. Her Christian name was Mary, and she was born of Scotch lineage, in Perth. She had become the mother of seven children in Scotland, one of whom died in childhood. Five came to the United States, but one lived in Scotland all his days. All the children were married and established homes of their own, but only two survived—our subject and his younger brother John, who is now County Treasurer at Plankington, Aurora Co., Dak. Their parents came to the Untied States about 1863, and settled in Elk River Township, whither our subject had come on the spring of 1858. The father and mother, in the latter part of their lives, lived with their son William, and died about 1873 and 1875 respectively.
Mr. Rogers of this notice spent his early life at school and at home, and gained a good education by steady application. At the age of 15 he apprenticed himself to learn the wagon-maker’s trade under John Campbell, of Perth, and went thence to Glasgow, Scotland, where he completed his trade and worked at it as a business in that city for about five years. Cabinet-fitters were required on the steamers that were being built there, and he did such work for them.
Our subject was married in June, 1855, in Glasgow, to Miss Isabella Harris, a native of Perthshire, born in September, 1833. She was reared to womanhood before she went to Glasgow. Before leaving their native land, having settled in Sterling, two children were born to Mr. And Mrs. Rogers. In the spring of 1858 they removed from Sterling to Quebec, and thence to the United States, locating at once within the border of Elk River Township. Mr. Rogers established himself as a wagon-maker at Teed’s Grove and for two years followed the trade. He afterward began farming pursuits, and in 1861 he bought his first land, consisting of a small lot. His possessions at this time amount to 170 acres, ten of which are good timber. The remainder is well improved, with a good residence and barns and convenient outbuildings. He has given quite largely of his time to the dairy trade, and was the first person to introduce the deep-set creamer of Cooley’s patent, for which he is agent. He was the only one within seven counties adjoining Clinton who had introduced the modern method of feeding cattle from ensilage fodder. However, he holds strongly to his belief in this principle of feeding over all others. His silo holds over eighty tons and has proved a great success. He has been a dairyman for about eight years, and has shown himself an expert in any venture which he undertakes.
Mr. Rogers’ first wife died Dec. 24, 1870. She was the mother of eight children, two of whom are deceased. The names of the family of children are as follows: Isabella, who resides at home; May, wife of Henry Davis, residing in Tama County, Iowa, her husband being a farmer; Thomas, living at home; William , a teacher in the Tama County Iowa schools; Bessie and James A, at home. The deceased are Jessie and Alexander. Mr. Rogers was married the second time, Sept. 29, 1872, in Perthshire, Scotland, to Miss Margaret McLean, a lady born and reared in Almont Bank, Perth County, Scotland. Her parents and entire lineage were Scotch. Her mother died when she was a small child, and her father came to this country in 1884, and now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Rogers.           
Mr. Rogers has been a Justice of the Peace for four years, and has filled many minor offices. He is a man of much influence and prominence in this county, and both he and his wife are earnest, devoted members of the Congregational Church, living the grand principles of a true religion which shines as a light through the lives of those who love God. Mr. Rogers is Church Clerk and an able assistant in the Sabbath-school. In politics he was formerly a Republican, but his last vote for President was for Cleveland.