CHARLES B. ROGERS
One
of the most enterprising, progressive and substantial business
men of Lucas is Charles B. Rogers, a partner in the firm of
McKlveen Brothers & Rogers, who are connected with
commercial and industrial interests as dealers in lumber,
hardware, farm implements and grain. They have built up an extensive trade
and their enterprising methods and careful management promise
further success in the future.
Mr. Rogers has always lived in Lucas county with the
exception of seven years spent in Marion county, Iowa, his
birth having occurred in Lincoln township, December 31, 1870. He is a son of T.
S. and Frederika (Grand-Girard) Rogers, the former of whom was
born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1825, and the
latter in Ohio, November 22, 1842. The father came to Iowa in 1867 with a
view to making a permanent location in the state and, being
satisfied with his investments, returned for his wife and
together they took up their home in Chariton in 1868. The father bought
land just south of the city, in Lincoln township, and engaged
in farming for a number of years. They now reside in Fresno, California. In their family
were four children, all of whom were born in Lincoln township;
Mrs. Mary Porter, whose birth occurred July 9, 1869, and who
is now residing in Fresno, California; Charles B., of this
review; Mrs. Nellie Gillespie, who was born December 6, 1872,
and who makes her home in Fowler, California; and Mrs. Emily
Williams, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, born September 21, 1878. All of these
children were reared in Lucas county and acquired their
education in the local schools, all graduating from the
Chariton high school.
Charles
B. Rogers grew to manhood upon his father’s farm in Lincoln
township and after completing his high-school course in 1887
continued to reside upon the homestead for two years. In the fall of 1889
he turned his attention to business pursuits, obtaining a
position in the employ of Eikenberry & Company, of
Chariton, Iowa, with whom he continued at Chariton until July,
1891, when he was made manager at Pleasantville, Iowa, for the
same company. While
still thus engaged the name of the firm was changed to G. J.
Stewart & Company, Mr. Rogers continuing as manager at
Pleasantville until February 1, 1900, when he formed a
partnership with McKlveen Brothers in the lumber, hardware,
farm implement and grain business at Lucas. They are accorded a
liberal patronage in each line and their business is annually
growing in volume and importance. The success of the undertaking is
attributable in no small measure to the manager, Mr. Rogers,
whose careful and systematic methods and keen business
discernment constitute important elements in the attainment of
prosperity. He
owns an attractive and well furnished home in Lucas and
important business interests here, besides a profitable fruit
ranch in California.
On
November 28, 1893, Mr. Rogers married Miss Cynthia Litchfield,
whose birth occurred in Pleasantville, Iowa, October 26, 1871,
and who passed away April 29, 1913. She was a daughter of A. N. and Mahala
(Thompson) Litchfield, the former born in Ohio and the latter
in Marion county, Iowa, where her birth occurred October 29,
1851. They came
as early settlers to Marion county. The father was a veteran of the Civil
war, serving in that conflict as a member of the famous Ohio
Third Cavalry under the command of General George Custer. For fear that the
famous order issued by General Custer at the time of Lee’s
surrender at Appomattox Courthouse has not been preserved it
will be inserted in this review. Mr. Rogers is in possession of the
original, of which the following is a copy:
“Soldiers
of the Third Cavalry Division:
“With profound gratitude toward the God of battles, by whose blessings our enemies have been humbled and our arms rendered triumphant, your commanding general avails himself of this, his first opportunity, to express to you his admiration of the heroic manner in which you have passed through the series of battles which today resulted in the surrender of the enemy’s entire army. The record established by your indomitable courage is unparalleled in the annals of war. Your prowess has won for you even the respect and admiration of your enemies. During the past six months, although in most instances confronted by superior numbers, you have captured from the enemy in open battle one hundred and eleven pieces of artillery, sixty-five battle flags and upwards of ten thousand prisoners of war, including seven general officers. Within the past ten days and included within the above you have captured forty-six pieces of field artillery and thirty-seven battle flags. You have never lost a gun, never lost a color, and have never been defeated. And, notwithstanding the numerous engagements in which you have borne a prominent part—including those memorable battles of the Shenandoah—you have captured every piece of artillery the enemy has dared to open upon you. The near approach of peace renders it improbable that you will again be called upon to undergo the fatigue of the toilsome march or the exposure of the battlefield; but should the assistance of keen blades wielded by your sturdy arms be required to hasten the coming of that glorious peace for which we have been so long contending, the general commanding is proudly confident that in the future, as well as in the past, every demand will meet with a hearty and willing response. Let us hope that our work is done and that, blessed with the comforts of peace, we may soon be permitted to enjoy the pleasures of home and friends. For our comrades who have fallen let us cherish a grateful remembrance. To the wounded and those who languish in southern prisons let our heartfelt sympathies be tendered. And now, speaking for myself alone, when the war is ended and the task of the historian begins, when those deeds of daring which have rendered the name and fame of the Third Cavalry Division imperishable are inscribed upon the bright pages of history, I only ask that my name be written as that of the commander of the Third Cavalry Division.
“(Signed) G. A. Custer,
“Brevet Major General.”
In
the Litchfield family were four children, as follows: Bertha, who was
born October 18, 1869, and who died May 6, 1913; Mrs. Rogers,
of this sketch; A. J., who was born July 22, 1873, and who is
now a resident of Dallas, Texas; and Addie, who was born
September 10, 1884, and who died at Pleasantville, Iowa. Mrs. Rogers was a
native of Pleasantville and grew to womanhood there, attending
the public schools. This
was later supplemented by a course in Drake University and by
attendance at a private normal school in Des Moines. She and her husband
had three children: Helen,
whose birth occurred November 8, 1894, and who was graduated
from the Lucas high school with the class of 1911 and from the
Chariton high school with the class of 1912, and who is now
attending college at Grinnell, Iowa; Harold A., who was born
in Lucas, May 4, 1900, and who is now attending the public
schools; and Rodney S., born April 27, 1905, a student in the
Lucas public schools. Mrs.
Rogers was a devout adherent of the Christian church, making
her life the embodiment of its teachings.
Fraternally Mr. Rogers is connected with Good Shepherd Lodge, No. 414, A. F. & A. M., of Lucas, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias of Pleasantville, and he is affiliated also with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeomen in Lucas. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is one of its most active supporters in the county. He served as a member of the town council and is at present on the board of education, his loyalty and public spirit being proven by earnest work in the public service. Broad, liberal-minded and progressive, a man of modern views, he is ever ready to give his aid and material support to progressive public enterprises and to any movement which tends to advance the community interests. He is numbered among the most prominent and influential citizens of Lucas county and his is an excellent example of the power and force of honorable manhood, of earnest effort and high principles.