My Genealogy Hound

John M. Rodgers, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, March 28, 1820, the third of eight children of Benjamin and Catherine (Greger) Rodgers, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father went to Kentucky, and then to Clermont County, where the mother had preceded him, and where they were married about 1815. Our subject was four years old when they went to Ripley County, Ind. They remained there as pioneer settlers until 1847, when they located in Dane County, Wis. Three years later they came to Lee County, Iowa, and the following year removed across the river to Clark County; the parents lived here until about 1875 and 1876, respectively. Our subject lived at home with his parents until the age of twenty-four, when he married and began farming in Indiana; he went with his parents, however, to Wisconsin, but when they removed to Iowa he returned to Indiana. In 1851 he came to Missouri, and located on the farm now owned by his sons, Benjamin and William; since 1857 he has been on his present farm. He built a house in his yard, and as age rendered his parents unable to work, they came and resided in this house until the father died, when the mother took up her residence with our subject. His first wife, Nancy Hodges, a native of South Carolina, was born about 1823, and became his wife in Indiana about 1844. They had seven children (three deceased), and her death occurred in 1862. His second wife, Susanna (Taylor) Jerles, the widow of A. Jerles, died in 1864. His third wife was Mrs. Emma (Ramsey) Schoonover, the widow of Jacob Schoonover, who was a native of Virginia. His children are Benjamin, Margaret C., Mary and William, by his first marriage, and David, Robert, Hetty and John, by his third. Our subject has acquired a fine estate of 369 acres of well-improved land, in two farms. Politically he is a Republican, and voted for the Whig candidate in 1844, and now is a very loyal man to his party. Our subject and part of his family belong to the Missionary Baptist Church.