GEORGE W. ROGERS

The following bio was taken from page 369 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Cemeteries of TX

George Washington Rogers, son of James Thomas Rogers and Anna Caroline Montgomery, was born December 2, 1874, in Rusk County, Texas. His grandfather was the Reverend George Washington Rogers, early Texas Baptist minister.

George’s father, who served as Sheriff of Rusk County, was drowned on April 23, 1890, leaving a family of six young children, George, the second child, left school in the seventh grade to help support his mother and brothers and sisters.

On January 24, 1895, George married Inez Lacy, daughter of G.R. Lacy and Jennie McNulty, 1010 South Main, Henderson, who was born October 20, 1875. The following account of their wedding appeared in the Rusk County News.

"Mr. Rogers is the junior member of the firm, Rogers Brothers of this city, and is a young man of superior business qualifications and fine moral and Christian character."

"Miss Inez is one of the most popular of the young ladies of the city, especially among the young people who regard her as one of the brightest shining jewels of their society. She is accomplished in both music and art and is highly educated. Inez Lacy attended Baylor University one year until George went to Waco and told her he had come to get her and take her home to they could be married."

This grand couple were my grandparents, and they enjoyed fifty-nine years of married life. My grandmother was born and raised and spent all of her life in the same block on South Main Street. The couple built their home three houses away from the home of Inez’s mother.

Granddaddy served his Lord faithfully, having been a member of the First Baptist Church from 1890, longer than any person at the time of his death. He was ordained a deacon in March 1912, and served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons as well as Sunday School Superintendent. He was chairman of four different building committees and saw two sanctuaries torn down and rebuilt into the one which stands today.

When the Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1926, Granddaddy was one of the first members of the Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of Directors of East Texas Baptist College in Marshall until his death. George Rogers passed away on September 23, 1956, and at that time he was Chairman of the Board of the Henderson Federal Savings and Loan Association, having served as president from 1945 t0 1955. He had been a director of this organization since its beginning in 1929. He was also a director of the Citizens National Bank and President of the Rusk County Lumber Company, which he established in 1907.

In his early years, Granddaddy worked at Mays and Harris and later went into business for himself at Lacy-Burnett Hardware Company. He commented that during this time he realized this business was not for him since an important part of the hardware business was the building of coffins and the undertaking business.

In 1907, Granddaddy formed the Rusk County Lumber Company, which operated continuously until 1961, supplying building materials and homes for countless Rusk Countians. An early entry in the ledger shows a transaction made to A.Crim of the following: November 1913 –100 #2 Brick - $2.15; 459 #1 Brick – 9.87; and One bale of shingles - $1.00.

There was probably no better loved man in Henderson than George Rogers, who by his way of life stood out in all his dealings as a truly consecrated Christian. He enjoyed the esteem and respect of all with whom he came in contact. He passed away at midnight on September 23, 1956. Inez Lacy Rogers passed away just nine months later on May 12, 1957.

A perfect gentleman, "Mr. George", and his gracious lady, " Miss Inez", had five children. Their first child, Thelma Rogers was born August 22, 1896, and died July 1, 1899. Alfred Mays Rogers, who was born April 23, 1898, married Ethel Mayfield. They had no children. Alfred died on May 9, 1933. Elise Rogers, born February 15, 1901, married Ben Condray, who died on March 17, 1934. Elise had one son, Ben Rogers Condray, born on July 4, 1925, and he married Mickey Grady of Port Arthur, Texas. Elise died on June 7, 1975.

Janice Rogers, a twin sister to Elise, born February 16, 1901, married P.J. McNee, Sr. of Henderson. They had no children. P.J. McNee died June 7, 1975, the same day as Janice’s twin sister, and Janice died April 4, 1981.

Anna Jane Rogers was born November 29, 1912, and married Frank Edward Bain. They had three children: Evelyn Bain, born July 24, 1935, married Salah Craig; Sarah Ann Bain, born March 24, 1942, married Gerald Leon Roper; and Frank Edward Bain, Jr., born July 19, 1943, married Linda Alsop. Frank Bain, Sr. passed away January 20, 1959.

Submitted by Evelyn Bain Craig.