JAMES RODGERS
The following bio
was taken from page 368 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
James Rodgers, son of W. J. Rodgers and Mary Jane
Owens Rodgers, was born in Mississippi March 2, 1857. His father died in a Yankee prison during the Civil War.
Henry Owens, brother of Mary Jane, took James Rodgers at the age of
twelve to raise and brought him to Texas in 1874 by ox wagon.
It took six months to travel from Mississippi to Texas.
They settled in Rusk County, where James met and married Serena Larisle
Crow at the home of Joshua Crow and Mary Elizabeth Barton Crow, her parents, on
December 11, 1884 with Reverend W.H.H. Hays officiating.
Fourteen children were born to this union.
The Rodgers children and information
concerning them are listed below. Marshall Elbert, born January 27, 1887,
married Mattie Osborn. They had
seven children; Ada Mae, May 21, 1910; Alfred, August 11, 1911, Monnie J.
January 20, 1915; K.B., July 4, 1913; Emily Juanita, April 10, 1918; Lois Ray,
June 2, 1921, and Mattie Florence, August 24, 1925.
Joshua Virgil Rodgers, born November 29,
1888, married Eunice Hendon. They
had six children: Margie, July 11, 1911; Duval, February 2, 1912; Ray, December
23, 1916; Raymond, December 26, 1918; Estell, August 12, 1920; and Wanah, April
28, 1926.
Virginia Lavanna Elizabeth Rodgers, born December
12, 1890, married Henry Sarquet. They
had seven children: Gladys, September 23, 1904; Irene, August 2, 1910; Lucy (?);
Evelyn, February 19, 1917; Algene, December 26, 1926; Billy John, February 22,
1930.
James Weaver, born May 9, 1893 married Birtie
Harrison and had no children. They
were divorced.
John Henry, born April 11, 1895, married Virginia (Jinnie)
Griffith. They had six children:
Ruby, September 9, 1915; H.W. (Dick), May 17, 1917; W. Chester, October 22,
1919; R.T. (Bill), February 24, 1924; Marjorie, February 22, 1922; James G.,
October 25, 1935.
Aaron Jewel, born December 4, 1897, married Annie
Little. They had seven children:
Angus K., May 23, 1919; Evon, June 10, 1922; Adell, March 10 1924; Carl, October
10, 1931, Will H., April 2, 1935; Varis, May 23, 1939; Wanda, October 10, 1941.
Ottis Enel, born April 2, 1899, married Della
Griffith. Their children are:
Evelyn Francis, June 19, 1919; Evett, September 23, 1920; Betty Sue, October 2,
1922; Colleen, June 7, 1927; James K., January 23, 1929; Jodie M., March 30,
1932; Bobbie, January 18, 1934; Ray and Ramon, twins, January 18, 1942.
Rufus Edward (R.E.), born January 27, 1901, married
Genetta Deason. They had five
children: Inez, April 24, 1921; Geraldine, August 28, 1923; Imogene, June 26,
1925; R.E., Jr. (Buddy), October 28, 1929 and A.D. (Roddy), May 5, 1943.
Ola Moss Rodgers born February 20, 1903, married
O.B. Bellah. They had nine
children: D.D., November 8, 1921; Panzy, March 24, 1922; L.Z., September 20,
1925; Velda Louise, March 28, 1929; Norman, August 4, 1927; David, March 10,
1936; Donnie, August 3, 1937; Elvin C., March 27, 1939, and Linda Ruth, November
8, 1944.
Birdie L. Rodgers, born December 6, 1904, married
Burleson Wallace. They had one son,
Richard Allen, February 27, 1931, and then were divorced. Birdie married Michael Long and they had two children,
Michael, Jr., November 27, 1948: and Margaret, September 28, 1948.
Burnice O. Rodgers, born December 6, 1904,
married Irene Wilkerson and they had no children.
Bessie Mae Rodgers, born March 3, 1906, married
John Hyder. They had one daughter,
Mary Francis, April 6, 1926. The
couple were divorced and Bessie married Frank Ash, by whom she had no children.
Talmedge G. was born December 17, 1907 and
died December 17, 1917.
Audrey T. Rodgers, born July 10, 1911,
married Jarrell Deason. They had
four children; Hershall Niel, February 18, 1930; Angelica Charlyn, December 18,
1934; Sherry Ann, September 8, 1937 and Charles Rodney, August 13, 1941.
Submitted by Audrey Deason