Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/334

308 National academy of sciences, and president of the Franklin institute in 1875-'9. Besides various articles in the transactions of the societies of which he was a member, and in scientific journals, he was associated with his brother James (q. v.) in editing &ldquo;Elements of Chemistry&rdquo; (Philadelphia, 1846), and edited Charles G. Lehman's &ldquo;Physiological Chemistry&rdquo; (2 vols., 1855). See &ldquo;The Brothers Rogers,&rdquo; by William S. W. Ruschenberger (Philadelphia, 1885).

ROGERS, James Webb, lawyer, b. in IlilN- borough, N. C., 11 July. 1822 : d. 2 Jan.. 1896. He was graduated at Princeton, and studied for the ministry. After taking orders in the Protestant Episcopal church, he became pastor of St. Paul's pari-Oi in Franklin, Tenn., and while in that state was instrumental in building six churches. He was a partisan of the south at the beginning of the civil war, and served in the Confederate army under Gen. Leonidas Polk. Subsequently he went to England, remaining there for some time, and in 1878 he became a Roman Catholic, but could not be admitted to the priesthood on account nf hi-* being married. On his return to the United Slates he settled at first in Xew York city, afterward in Indianapolis, Ind., where he edited " The Central Catholic," and then removed to Washington, where he studied law. After being admitted to practice, he became associated with his son as attorney in the protection ami -ale of the latter's inventions. His publications include ' Lafitte, or the Greek Slave " (Boston, 1870) ; " Madame Surratt. a Drama in Five Acts" (Washington. 1879); "Arlington, and other Poems" (1883); and "Parthenon" (Bal- timore, 1887). His son. James Harris, electrn -ian. b. in Franklin, Tenn., 13 July, LS'iii. was educated in this country and abroad. In 1877 he was ap- pointed electrician at the U. S. capitol in Wash- ington, I >. ( '.. and he continued in that office until 1883. He was the inventor of the secret telephone that was sold in New York for xSO.OOO, also of the national improved telephone, and of the pan-elec- tric system, comprising patents on electric mo- tors, lights, telegraphs, telephones, and telemorphs, which attracted greater attention from the circum- stance that Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Senator Au- gustus H. Garland, Senator Isham G. Harris, and other government officials capitalized the inven- tions at $15,000,000, and secured, it was alleged at the time, the interposition of the government to defend some of the patents. He has lately devised what he calls " visual synchronism."

ROGERS, John, founder of a sect,' b. in New London. Conn., in 1648 ; d. there in 1721. He be- came a dissenter from the Congregational church, assumed the ministerial offices of preaching and baptizing, and, having gained a few disciples, founded a sect whose members were called Roger- enes, and also Rogerene Baptists or Quakers. He and his followers were frequently fined and im- prisoned for profanation of the Sabbath, for, al- though they worshipped on that day, they regard- ed themselves free to labor. Rogers was put in the stocks for an insult to the assembled congrega- tion, and upon his release from prison rushed into the meeting-house and disturbed the services, for which he was sent to Hartford for trial and was seated on a gallows with a halter around his neck for several hours. He frequently came into collision with the town authorities, and his aggressive spirit did not cease with his old age, for in 1711 he was fined and imprisoned for misdemeanor in court, contempt of its authority, and vituperation of the judges. Upon his release he was charged with in- sanity and confined in a dark prison. The popu- lace became enraged, and several English officers applied to the town authorities to mitigate his treat- ment. He finally escaped in a boat to Long Island, went to New York, and begged the protection of Gov. Hunter. On his return to New London he prosecuted his judges, but was nonsuited and charged with a heavy fine. He wrote many books on theology, including " The Midnight Cry."

ROGERS, John, congressman, d. in Annapolis, Md.. -! Sept., 1789. His parentage and the date of his birth are unknown. He was a member of the committee of safety in 1774-'5, a trustee of the Lower Marlborough academy in 1 775, a delegate to the Continental congress in 1775-'G, one of the executive council on the organization of the si ale government in February, 1777, and chancellor of Maryland from 10 March, 1778, until his death.

ROGERS, John, sculptor, b. in Salem. Mass., 30 Oct.. 1829. He received his education at the Boston high-school, and afterward worked, first in a dry-goods store and later in a machine-shop, at Manchester, N. H. While at this latter place his attention was first drawn to sculpture, and he be- gan to model in clay in his leisure hours. In 1856 he sought work in Hannibal, Mo., and in 1858 he visited Europe. On his return in 1859 he went to Chicago, where he modelled, for a charity fair, "The Checker-Players." a group in clay, which at- tracted much attention. He produced also some other groups, but "The Slave Auction," which was exhibited in New York in 1860. first brought him to the notice of the general public. This was the forerunner of the well-known war series of statu- ettes (1860-'5), which included, among others, the " Picket Guard," " One more Shot " (1864), " Taking the Oath and drawing Rations" 1 1865), and "Union Refugees," " Wounded Scout." and " Council of War" (1867-'8). His works on social subjects, nio-t of which have been produced since the war. have also been very popular. Among these are " Com- ing to the Parson" (1870); "Checkers up at the Farm " ; ' The Charity Patient " ; " Fetching the Doctor"; and "Going for the Cows" (1873). He has produced also several statuettes in illustration of passages in the poets, particularly Shakespeare. They include "Ha! I like not that," from "Othel- lo " ; " Is it so nominated in the Bond ? " from the " Merchant of Venice " (I860) : " Why don't You speak for Yourself ?" from ' Miles Standish ": and a series of three groups illustrating Irving's Rip Van Winkle " (1870). These statuette groups, about fifty in number, and each from eighteen to twenty inches in height, have nearly all been reproduced in composition, and have had large sales. He has been most successful in illustrating every-day life in its humorous and pathetic aspects, and " Rogers's Groups " have had a large share in elevating the artistic taste of the masses. Mr. Rogers lias also executed an equestrian statue of Gen. John K. l.'ey- nolds (1881-'3), which stands before the city-hail, Philadelphia, and in 1887 he exhibited "Irhal'od Craneand the Headless Horseman,"a bronze group.

'''ROGERS. Mary Cecilia''', b. about 1820: d. in Weehawken, N. J.. 25 July, 1841. She was the daughter of a widow that kept a boarding-house in Nas-an street, and was engaged by John Anderson as a shop-girl in his tobacco-store on Broadway, near Dunne- street, where young men of fashion bought their cigars and tobacco. No suspicion had ever been attached to her character, and much excitement was manifested when she suddenly disappeared. A week later she reappeared at her accustomed place behind the counter, and in reply to all inquiries said that she had been on a visit toiler aunt in the country. Seeral years afterward she left her home one Sunday morning