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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lee County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Capt. James W. Rodgers received a high school education in his native State of South Carolina, preparatory to entering the military academy at West Point, to which his father wished to send him, but having chosen a mercantile life rather than that of a military nature he engaged in merchandising at Byhalia, Miss., where he opened a stock of general merchandise, and was also proprietor of a blacksmith and wagon shop. At the breaking out of the war he joined the first troops organized in his county, Company D, of the Ninth Mississippi Infantry, and the first year served at Warrington, near Pensacola, Fla. He received his discharge within the year on account of sickness, and returned home, but as soon as able organized Company E, Thirty-fourth Mississippi Infantry, which he commanded until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Dalton, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and on to Atlanta, and then went back with Hood, but was taken sick and sent to the hospital at Columbus, Miss. After his recovery he was placed in command of 600 men, and started to join Gen. Johnston’s army in North Carolina, but receiving word of the surrender he paroled his men at Meridian, returned home, and again resumed his business. Upon remaining two years he came to Arkansas, and located in what is now Walnut Bend Township, Lee County, where he has since lived. Capt. Rodgers was born in Lawrence District, S. C, in 1834, being a son of Hon. James S. and Emily N. (Ware) Rodgers, also natives of that State. James S. Rodgers was a well-to-do farmer and a prominent citizen of his locality, and held the office of sheriff of Lawrence District for several years, and later for several terms was representative from that district to the State legislature. He served under Gen. Jackson in one of the early wars, and was a son of John Rodgers, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Rodgers was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and his death, which occurred in 1866, was much regretted by all who knew him. He was at that time a resident of Marshall County, Miss., to which he had removed in 1849. Mrs. Rodgers was a daughter of Gen. Edwin Ware, a merchant of Abbeville District, S. C., and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and died in 1862, leaving twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, four of whom are still living: James W. (the principal of this sketch), Amanda (now Mrs. DuPuy), Albert S. and Flora (now Mrs. Myers). Mr. Rodgers was married in 1872 to Miss Ella Newman, daughter of Augustus and Sallie Newman, who removed from Bolivar County, Miss., to this county in 1868, and both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers are the parents of eight children, five surviving, all sons. Mr. Rodgers has lived on his present farm since 1886, and has it well improved. It consisted of 640 acres, with over 400 acres under cultivation. Mrs. Rodgers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which her husband is a liberal contributor, strongly advocating Sunday-school work.

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This family biography is one of 104 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lee County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Lee County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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