Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 462] the widely known proprietor of the Rural House at New Bedford, Pa., has passed the three-score and ten years mark, his birth dating back to March 25, 1823. A district school education was the first step in preparing him for active manhood's work. He learned the trade of saddler from his father, and kept at work at that vocation for twenty years. He next engaged in the buying and selling of stock of various kinds-horses, cattle, etc., and during the late war was employed by the government to buy horses, such was his superior knowledge of horses and their fitness for good work. He has always held firmly to Democratic principles. In 1851, Mr. Rogers took for a partner in the conjugal state Maria Louisa Swisher, daughter of Dr. Phillip Swisher of Petersburg, Ohio. The only son of this union, Norman, married Salome V. Shaffner of Harrisburg, Pa., and became the fond parent of seven children: Roxie R., deceased; Jesse H.; Philip S.; Howard E.; M. Ruby; Mark M.; and Norman N.
Viola V. and Cora C. were the daughters of our subject. Mr. Rogers and his family favor the Presbyterian Church, and may be found among the regular worshippers in the church of their choice.
Samuel Rogers, the father of John N., obtained the rudiments of an education in Columbiana Co., Ohio, and then learned the saddler's trade. He had been employed at that vocation but a short time, when the War of 1812 broke out, and he left home to help guard American interests and to vindicate the right of American sailors to traverse the seas and carry on commerce with other nations. He enlisted as a private, and by brave service earned an officer's commission at the close of hostilities. After his return to civil life, he again took up his trade and worked at it the rest of his life in New Bedford. He was somewhat of a politician, and followed the leadership of the Jeffersonian school; was a postmaster for some years, and held in addition to that federal position a number of township offices. He allied himself with Sarah Waugh, daughter of John Waugh of Uniontown, Pa., and seven children gathered about their board in course of time; they were named as follows: Thomas; James M.; John N., the subject of this personal notice; Sarah, wife of James Wright of Illinois; Alexander; Warren; and Samuel; all of whom, save Mrs. Wright and John N., are deceased. The family were Presbyterians in religous faith. Samuel Rogers passed over the dark river in 1872, aged eighty-two; his wife survived until 1880 when at the age of eighty-nine she was laid to rest by her husband's side.
Thomas Rogers, the grandfather of John N., was of Irish nationality, and came to America about 1770, landing in Philadelphia. His brother, William, who had emigrated with him, settled in Maryland on the Brandywine, and Thomas went west to the State of Ohio, where he bought and cleared a farm. Time proved the wisdom of his choice, and rendered him satisfied to remain on that farm, which had blessed him by its productiveness with many bountiful things. He was a man of good parts, and possessed ability as a manager, accordingly rising to a position of some local prominence. His descendants were: John, Alexander; Thomas; Samuel; Andrew, a daughter who became Mrs. Simpson; another who became Mrs. Woods, and a third, Susan, who became Mrs. Hatcher.
As is seen by the foregoing account, our subject comes of a race of hardy farmers, worthy men who by the nature of their vocations lived near to nature's heart. They were of a religious turn of mind and an ancestry of whom to be proud.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 7 Jul 2001