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ROGERS, a native of Vermont, born August 3, 1841, was the son of Thomas and
Lucinda (Gardner) Rogers. The family resided, during our classmate's college days, in
Pownal, Vermont, Clifton Springs and Schenectady, New York. He prepared for college at
the academy in Pownal, which had for its principals while Rogers was a pupil two men who
later held the highest office in the gift of the nation - James A. Garfield (W. C., 1856) and
Chester A. Arthur. Our classmate's father was a clergyman and pastor of a Baptist church
in Pownal. Rogers entered our Class in 1859, and passed the full course with it, receiving
the appointment of an oration on the Commencement program. In college, he joined the
Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity; was a member of the 'Logian Literary Society; a disputant
on the Adelphic Union Debate, October, 1862, and one of the orators on the Adelphic
Union Exhibition, July, 1863; a member of the committee on songs, Biennial Celebration,
July, 1861; and a member of the Greylock Baseball Club.
After graduation, Rogers taught school for one year in Ohio; then, in 1864, entered
Newton Theological Seminary, Newton Center, Massachusetts, and was graduated in 1867.
A few months later, in January, 1868, he was called to the pastorate of the Tabernacle
Baptist Church, Cleveland, Ohio, a new enterprise, and here had a successful pastorate of
three years. In the spring of 1871, soon after his resignation, he went with his wife to
Europe; returning in August, he became pastor of the Baptist church in Scituate,
Massachusetts, and remained there until 1875. During the last year of this pastorate, Rogers
became connected, as editor, with a Baptist denominational paper, the Christian Era, of
Boston. About a year later, this paper was consolidated with The Watchman, another
Baptist weekly paper. Our classmate resigned as pastor at Scituate and became literary
editor and manager of The Watchman in 1876, and so continued until 1882.
After his newspaper career, Rogers went into business. While on a pleasure and
prospecting excursion in California, he became interested in developing the railroad systems
of the southern portion of that State, and in 1882, or thereabouts, was made vice-president
of the California Southern Railroad Company. Later, he was actively interested in opening
Mexico to the outside world by establishing and extending railroads through that republic.
He was active in the construction of the Mexican Central Railroad; traveled over its
territory; wrote and published, in 1893, a book entitled, "Mexico? Si, Senor," descriptive
of the regions traversed by this railway system; was interested in the educational
development of the country and in making known abroad its resources. He was an industrious worker in securing material for the Mexican exhibit at the Chicago Exposition,
1893, and had charge of this exhibit during the Exposition. Our classmate passed the closing
years of his life in Newton Center and Longwood, Brookline, Massachusetts, and died at the
latter place, June 19, 1901. He was a member of The Neighbors' Club, of Newton.
In August, 1868, Rogers married Miss Ella Sophia, daughter of Thomas Nickerson,
of Newton Center, who, with six children, survives him. These children are:
Charles Thomas, born in Cleveland, Ohio, June 7, 1869. Educated in the Newton
public schools; married, 1902, Alice L. Lardner, of London, England, and is now in business
with the Burrows Adding Machine Company, London, England
Howard Lewis, born at Newton Center, September 7, 1871. Educated in the Newton
public schools and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is an electrical expert with
Stone and Webster, Boston.
Alice May, born at Scituate, Massachusetts, May 23, 1873. Married to Lawrence J.
Webster, son of F. G. Webster, of Boston.
Edith Sylvina, born at Newton Center, September 12, 1875. Married to Lansing C.
Holden, Jr., a prominent architect of New York City, and they have two children.
Carrie Nickerson, born at Newton Center, November, 1876.
Gardner, born 1880. Educated at Newton public school, Brookline High School, and
in Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Class of 1902, ranking among the first scholars in
the department of electrical chemistry and engineering. He is with Stone and Webster,
Electrical Railway Engineers, Boston.
Source:
Class of Sixty-Three Williams College Fortieth Year Report, by
the Class Historian, Thomas Todd Printer, Boston, 1903
Related Genealogy Resources:
Rogers
Surname Genealogy
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