My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS RODGERS. Agricultural life affords abundant illustration of the power of perseverance, and perhaps no career is more instructive, viewed in this light, than that of Mr. Rodgers, a prosperous farmer of Cass County residing on section 31, Pokagon Township. He is of direct Scotch descent, his grandfather. Dr. John Rodgers, having been born in Scotland, whence he emigrated to America accompanied by his wife and one son. He was a skilled physician, having graduated from a medical school in his native land, and after coming to the United States he conducted a general practice in Rockbridge County, Va., until his death. He was a well-informed man, possessing enlarged views, enlightened mind and broad professional knowledge.

In Grandfather Rodgers’ family there were the following children: Thomas, John, William, Aide, Aniel, Samuel, Andrew, Alexander and two daughters. He and all his children with the exception of Alexander were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and active workers in that denomination. Alexander, father of our subject, was born in 1792, and was reared to manhood in Rockbridge County, Va. His school education was of the slenderest kind, scarcely even perfecting him in the “three R’s;” but by self-culture he became a well-informed man, an accurate accountant and a good penman.

When twenty years of age, in the year 1808, Alexander Rodgers married Margaret Culton, and soon afterward, with all his earthly effects packed on two horses, he moved to Ohio and entered of the Government a tract of land in Preble County, Ohio. On arriving at the place he camped the first night and cooked his first meal on the farm by a large log. It was no easy task to clear the farm and subdue the forest growth, but his industry and perseverance accomplished the desired results. Selling that place in 1828, accompanied by his wife and nine children he came to Michigan, making the trip with three wagons, and driving his sheep, hogs, cattle, one span of horses and three yoke of oxen in front of the wagons during the entire trip.

Arriving in Cass County, Mr. Rodgers entered sixteen hundred acres of Government land, to which he soon added several hundred acres. A portion of the property was located in Berrien County, though the larger part was in Cass County. While in Ohio he operated a mill and distillery, but throughout life made agriculture his principal business. In his politics, he was first a Whig and later a Republican. Interested in all local affairs, he served in several minor offices, including that of Township Assessor. He passed away in 1867, having survived his wife twenty years. Their nine children were as follows: Rebecca, deceased; Samuel, who served in the Black Hawk War and is now deceased; Alexander; John; Margaret, Mrs. Andrew L. Burk; Isabella, Mrs. E. Jackson; Alery, deceased; Thomas and William A.

The subject of this sketch was born in Preble County, Ohio, on the 1st of January, 1825. His education was gained in the log schoolhouses of Pokagon Township and he remained with his parents until he established his own home. At the time of his marriage his father gave him two hundred and seventy-seven acres of unimproved land, which he cleared through his own exertions. He and his relatives have probably cleared more land in Pokagon Township than any other family residing here. In 1852, Mr. Rodgers began to clear seventeen acres in the woods, on the 28th of May, and in fourteen days he had the entire tract cleared and the trees cut down, while one-half had been logged and burned.

The first marriage of Mr. Rodgers occurred in 1818 and united him with Miss Sarah J., daughter of Casper Ellis. Unto them were born three children: T. Corwin; Mary, the wife of George McCormick, and Rosabelle, Mrs. Arthur Hudson. After the death of Mrs. Sarah Rodgers, which occurred in 1871, our subject married Miss Mattie Montgomery, an estimable lady, who is highly regarded in this community. In his social connections, Mr. Rodgers is identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Pokagon Lodge No. 136. Politically, he is a Republican and is interested in local politics, believing it to be the duty of every citizen to aid in securing the best officials for positions of trust and responsibility.