Rodgers, Andrew J.

RODGERS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 17:29:53

ANDREW JACKSON RODGERS
born Mar 24, 1842, Indiana

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.689
RODGERS, ANDREW J., farmer, East Washington Township, Sec. 31; P. O. Indianola; born in Fayette Co., Ind., March 24, 1842; when six years of age his father came to this county and located near Hartford, where he grew to manhood. He enlisted Dec. 24th, 1863, in Co. C, 34th Iowa Infantry, and served to the close of the war and was discharged Aug. 15, 1865, at Houston, Texas. He was in the battles of Fort Blakely and Graham's Plantation, and numerous skirmishes in which the regiment was engaged. He owns a fine farm in White Breast township that is well improved, and shows the hands of experience in its management. He was married Sept. 29th, 1867, to Miss Mary Isabelle Pennington, who died July 1st, 1879, leaving a family of four children: Martha T., Benjamin F., George and Waitie M., all living, and Harrie, who died Feb. 18, 1878.

A. J. Rodger, a popular business man and much respected citizen of Lacona, Iowa, is at the head of one of the finest furniture establishments in Warren county, and also is a funeral director and embalmer. Of his life, nearly all of which has been passed in Iowa, we make record as follows: A. J. Rodgers was born in Fayette county, Indiana, March 24, 1842, son of Chesley and Martha (Gerrald) Rodgers, he being the youngest of their five children, and the others as follows: Elizabeth Ann, who married C. W. Smith, now a resident of Des Moines, Iowa; Joseph N., a resident of Warren county; William C., also of this county, and one that died in infancy. Chesley Rodgers, the father, who late in life became a well-known figure in Warren county, Iowa , was born and reared in Virginia, his birthplace being in Greenbrier county, and his parents poor but respected people. When a boy he served an apprenticeship under his father to the trade of shoemaker, and made for himself the first pair of boots he ever wore. He was married in Virginia to Miss Martha GerraId, like himself, a native of Greenbrier county, and shortly after their marriage they removed to Fayette county Indiana, where he was engaged in farming until his removal to Iowa in 1849. His journey from Indiana to Iowa was made with three horses and a covered wagon, and he was accompanied by his wife and seven children. Travel in this way was slow and tedious; but the distance was covered in due time, the Mississippi being crossed at Burlington and the Des Moines at La Fayette, and June 19, 1849, the Rodgers family landed in Warren county. On his arrival here, the father's entire cash capital amounted to only seventy-five cents. He at once entered some land, later bought a few acres more, and still later made a second entry. Here he improved a fine farm of 120 acres, and on it spent the rest of his life. His age at death was eighty-seven years, eight months and nine days, and to the last, although nearly blind, he retained his mental faculties, and that genial cordiality which had characterized his whole life. When a young man, he was an expert hunter. His unerring shot brought down many a bear and deer, to say nothing of the wild turkeys and other game, and in this way he did his part toward supplying the family larder. An old flintlock rifle which he bought in Indiana is still in the possession of one of the Rodgers boys, and it is, needless to say, highly treasured. Mr. Rodgers’ first wife died in Fayette county, Indiana when the subject of our sketch was but six months old. Some time later he married Miss Esther Wise, a native of Indiana, who bore him two children. Her death occurred some years before his, at the age of seventy-tw years, eight months, and ten days, and husband and wife rest side by side in Cochran cemetery, a monument marking the spot. After the death of his mother, the subject of our sketch was turned over to the kind care of relatives, with whom he remained a few years. At the time he came with his father and family to Iowa, he was seven years old, but young as he was, he has a vivid memory of their pilgrimage to what was, at that time, regarded as the far West. Reared on the frontier, his advantages were of a necessity limited and he was early put to work. In the Higby school-house, a log structure, he learned his lessons. And here, too, at night he attended a writing school, paying for his lessons by shucking corn for a neighbor, and in this writing school received one of the prizes offered for the best penmanship. As he grew older he was of much assistance to his father in the farm work, and when he left home to do for himself it was as a farm hand for Mr. Benjamin Pennington, near Ackworth. Thus passed his youth, and when on the verge of manhood he found his native land overshadowed by a heavy war cloud, and when the general call was made for volunteers he was among those who responded. His enlistment is recorded December 24, 1863, as a member of Company B, Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry, and he joined his regiment at Matagorda, Texas. In the engagements at Gresham Plantation and Fort Blakely he was an active participant. An amusing incident is often related to him by his comrades, and runs as follows: While the command was advancing the shot from the enemy fell thick about them. The boys were often ordered “Down on your levels!” but on two occasions young Rodgers remained near erect. Soon, however, he learned the folly of this recklessness, and on the next order “down” he gladly obeyed. In this act of dropping he came in contact with the gun, or, rather, the gun came in contact with his head, causing him to exclaim, “ I’m hit!” So he was, but it was the gun that hit him. The “boys” occasionally remind him of the incident, and he heartily joins them in the laugh which always follows. Mr. Rodgers was honorably discharged at Houston, Texas, August 15, 1865, after which he returned to his home in Iowa. He resumed farm work, later rented a farm near Ackworth, where he lived for twenty years. Then he spent two years in White Breast township, but returned to his former home, and then a few years later came back to White Breast township. He owned a half section of land near Lacona. June 16, 1893, he moved into town and established himself in the business referred to at the beginning of this sketch.
For his first wife Mr. Rodgers wedded Mary I. Pennington, the daughter of his former employer, Benjamin Pennington, she a native of Ohio. The children of this union are as follows: Martha T., wife of Samuel Landers, a jeweler of Lacona; Benjamin F., a resident of Milo, Iowa; George, at home; Harry, who died in infancy; and Watie M., wife of Dr. Hooper of Milo. The loving wife and mother did not survive the birth of her last child, and she rests beside her little Harry in the cemetery near Ackworth. For his second wife, Mr. Rodgers chose Miss Sylvia A Keeney, a native of Indiana and a daughter Alva and Mary (Bryant) Keeney, and to them have been born two promising boys: Chesley, born February 18, 1885 and Andrew C., May 6 1886. Politically Mr. Rodgers is a Republican, and while he has never sought official preferment, he has been honored with local office and has served acceptably as Township Trustee and as a member of the School Board. He affiliates with Lacona Post, No. 309, G. A. R. and with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the latter he for years served as Treasurer. Thus is briefly reviewed the life of one of Lacona's worthy citizens. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.494