Rogers, Hepsa (Middlebrook) 1834 – 1910

ROGERS, MIDDLEBROOK, HAWLEY, PORTER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:23

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Jan. 21, 1910, FP, C1,2

ROGERS.
Hepsa Middlebrook, daughter of Dr. Stephen Middlebrook and Melissa Hawley, was born at Trumbull, Conn., Jan. 25, 1834. The earlier years of her life were spent in her native state, where she commenced teaching at the early age of sixteen. In the year 1859 she came to Iowa where most of her brothers and sisters had preceded her.
In the then newly settled state her services as a teacher were in good demand, and in the townships of Fremont, Bluffton and Orleans in Winnesheik{sp} county, and Vernon Springs and Howard county. Nearly all the scholars from 1861 to 1880 will remember her as a teacher who faithfully sought to inculcate good morals together with a good, practical knowledge in the common branches of learning, and in after years she was proud to see so many of her scholars fill places of honor and usefulness.
She was married to Orrin C. Rogers Nov. 25, 1875, who died Jan. 16, 1884.
The last twenty-five years of her life were spent in Cresco when with one of her nieces, Miss Minnie Porter, she established so pleasant and quiet a home that it became at different times an asylum for three of her aged brothers and one brother-in-law who were left widowers. Two of her brothers died at her home at the ages respectively of 77 and 81.
In June, 1905, she received a paralytic stroke which so affected her left side as to make her unable to walk without assistance and for the last five years she has gradually grown worse, and for the last year she has been confined to her bed perfectly helpless.
Her niece Miss Porter, proved herself to be a treasure, nursing and caring for her aunt with the greatest patience and tenderness and no one could do for her “as well as Minnie."
At last the end came peacefully. After so much suffering the battle of life is ended and Mrs. Rogers is at rest. She died Sunday, Jan. 10, 1910, at 6 p. m, at peace with the world and her Savior.
At the age of 18 she became a member of the Protestant Episcopal church in Connecticut, but after coming to Iowa she did not connect herself with any denominational church but always remained a strong believer in the bible, fully realizing its truths and was well versed in both the old and new testaments.
Her greatest pleasure consisted in rehearsing the beautiful stories contained therein to her little and big nephews and nieces of which they never tired. When the end came she died as she had lived trusting in the love and mercy of “The Only Name.”