JAMES THOMAS ROGERS

The following bio was taken from page 371 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 Thomas Rogers was born June 23, 1850, in Rusk County to George Washington Rogers and Mary Elizabeth Davenport.

 At the early age of forty while serving as Sheriff of Rusk County, James T. was drowned in swollen Hardy Creek one-half mile West of Henderson on April 22, 1890.  The following is an excerpt from his obituary published in an early Henderson newspaper:

 “The sad ending of this noble man has cast a gloom of sorrow over the entire county.  No man within the precincts had aught against him but deeply impressioned in the hearts of all, was imbedded a strong personal attachment for him.  He was kind, generous and self-sacrificing, a model husband, and an exemplary father.  For him there is nothing good or praiseworthy we cannot say.  His service in behalf of his county has been marked with patient servitude, patriotic impulses, and a devotion to the principles of right and duty never before exhibited and which arouses the highest plaudits of the people.” 

Truly loved and missed by his town and his young family, the second son, George, left school at age fourteen to help earn a living for his mother and his brothers and sisters.

 James T. Rogers married Anna Caroline Montgomery, born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on August 8, 1848, and to the marriage were born seven children.  Anna Caroline died in Henderson on August 24, 1929.

 The first child, Franklin Montgomery (Monnie) Rogers was born May 6, 1871.  He married Mollie Gladney of Henderson.  They lived in Fort Worth for several years where he operated a flour mill.  They moved to Chicago where his wife died.  They had two children. J.T. married and had one son, Lillian, the daughter married Jack Agar of Chicago and they had three sons and one adopted daughter -  John Agar, Joyce Agar, Jimmy Agar, and Kipper Agar.

 George Washington Rogers was born December 2, 1874.  He married Inez Lacy, January 24, 1895, in Henderson, Texas.  To this union five children were born.  Thelma Rogers was born August 22, 1896 and died July 1, 1899.  Alfred Mays Rogers, who was born April 23, 1898, married Ethel Mayfield on April 23, 1925.  They had no children.  He died on May 9, 1933.  Elise Rogers was born February 16, 1901.  Janice Rogers, a twin sister to Elise, was born February 16, 1901.  Anna Jane Rogers was born November 29, 1912.

 Hattie Rogers, born August 11, 1877, married W.W. Mays in Henderson, Texas on December 14, 1904.  W.W. Mays was born June 18, 1875 at New Salem, Texas.  To this union two children were born: Anna Elizabeth, who lived only twenty-two months, and Williams Rogers Mays, known as “Jack,” who was born December 25, 1910.  The latter married Elizabeth Chapman Jones on January 28, 1938, in Pecos Texas.

 Maud Rogers, born January 1, 1880, died November 1, 1883.

Oscar Scott Rogers was born September 25, 1882, and married Clevie Jarrell on January 26, 1910, in San Antonio, Texas.  They had two children. Aileen, born June 18, 1916, married C.E. Middleton.  Oscar Scott Rogers, Jr., born December 16, 1922, married Elizabeth Gates.  Oscar, Sr. was a large man, standing well over six feet four inches.  He served as Mayor of Henderson from 1926 to 1936.

 Anna May Rogers, born May 12, 1886, died in November 1979, married William Eugene Norvell in Henderson, Texas, March 26, 1913.  Mr. Norvell was born November 1, 1815, and died March 1, 1930.  Mary, their only child, was born October 14, 1919.  She married Fred Bidelspach of Waco, Texas on June 11, 1944.  They had one child, Fred Jr.

 Blanch Rogers was born November 15, 1888 and died February 28, 1978.  She married T.N. Wathen in Henderson, Texas on December 16, 1914.  T.N. Wathen was born February 11, 1888, in Henderson, Texas.  Their first child, Thomas Neal Wathen, Fr., was born January 8, 1920 in Dallas Texas.  He married Tilda Jayne Grover, born October 31, 1922 in Taylor Texas.  Elizabeth Ann Wathen, who was born August 30, 1923, married Reverend Charles Merrick, Walton, born November 4, 1921, in Dallas, Texas.

 Submitted by Evelyn Craig