My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of East Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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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Jesse L. Rogers, one of the most prominent members of the Jefferson County bar, at Dandridge, was born in Powell’s Valley, Claiborne County, April 9, 1855, the son of Jesse and Margaret (Wilson) Rogers, both natives of Powell’s Valley, and born October 6, 1811, and December 15, 1814, respectively. The father has followed farming for over a half century, on his present farm, in Claiborne County, serving two terms as trustee before the war, and being justice several years. David, the grandfather, was born in 1777, in Virginia, and came to Claiborne County in early days, and served as the first sheriff, being elected by the county court. He was ninety-four years old when he died. The mother, a daughter of David Wilson, of Claiborne County, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died November 29, 1857. Our subject worked for twelve years on the farm, when he became an invalid for three years, afflicted with white swelling. He finished his education at Tazewell Academy, and in February, 1873, began the study of law at home, and in October following entered the law department of Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tenn., from which he graduated in 1874. He then practiced in Tazewell, and in October began a three years’ career as clerk and master of Claiborne County Court. When twenty-one he was a successful candidate for representative of Claiborne and Hancock Counties in the Fortieth General Assembly, the youngest member of that body. He was a delegate to the famous Chicago Convention, and cast thirty-five ballots for Blaine, and the last for Garfield. Since September, 1881, he has been in a splendid practice at Dandridge, of which place he was elected mayor in 1882. Annie McFetridge, who was born in Milford, Ohio, February 25, 1860, became his wife October 24, 1877. Their children are Ralph L., born February 17, 1879, and Maggie, born August 10, 1880.

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This family biography is one of 938 biographies included in The History of East Tennessee published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: History of East Tennessee

To view additional Jefferson County, Tennessee family biographies, click here

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