Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/165

 ROGERS

ROGERS

her Majesty's instructions to the governor in re- gard to liis salary and other topics. Jolin Rogers died in Cambridge, Mass., July 2, 1084.

ROGERS, John, sculptor, was born in Salem, Mass., Oct. 30, 1S29; son of John and Sarah Ellen (Derby) Rogers; grandson of Daniel Denison and Elizabeth (Bromfield) Rogers, and of John and Eleanor (Coffin) Derby, and a descendant of Nathaniel Rogers, born at Haverhill, England, about 1598, who came to Boston in 1633, and was pas- tor of a church in Ipswich, Mass.; also of Mary Chilton of the Mayflower. He attended the public Bchools of Boston; was employed in a dry goods store, and later in a machine shop at Manchester, N.H. He gave his attention to model- ing in clay and executed several small groups. In 1858 he visited Europe, and in 1859 he removed to New York, where he established himself as a sculptor. He was married, April 26, 1865, to Harriet Moore, daughter of Charles Stephen and Catherine (Jewett) Francis of New York. His statuette groups, which made liim famous, where reproduced in a composition plaster of his own invention and had a large sale. During the civil war he executed a series of statuettes illustrating incidents of the conflict. These included: The Slave Auction (iSGO); Picket Guard (1861); Union Refugees (1863); Wounded Scout (18G-4); One More Sliot ( 1861); Taking the Oath and Drawing Rations (1865); and The Council of War (1868). Among his other groups are: The Checker Play- ers (1859); The Charity Patient (1867); Coming to the Parson (1870); a series of tliree groups illustrating Irving's " Rip Van "Winkle " (1870); Going for the Cows (1873); Checkers up at the Farm (1877); Ha! I like not that,trom Othello (1880); Is it so nominated in the bond? from the Merchant of Venice (1880); Fetching the Doctor (18S1); Why Don't you Speak for Yourself, John? from Miles Standish (1885). He also executed the equestrian statue of Gen. John F. Reynolds, which stands before the city hall, Philadelphia; a statue of Abraham Lincoln; two large bronze groups entitled: Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman (1887), and The Landing of the Norse- men (1893), and many other small ones.

ROGERS, John Almanza Rowley, educator, was born in Cornwall, Conn., Nov. 12, 1828; son of John C. and Elizabeth (Hamlin) Rogers;

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grandson of Deacon Noah and Lydia (Cornwell) Rogers and of Benjamin and Deborah (Rowley) Hamlin, and a direct lineal descendant of Jolin Rogers, burned at the stake in Smithfield, Lon- don, 1555. He prepared for college at Williams academy in Stock- bridge, Mass.; was graduated from Ober- lincollege,A.B.,1851, A.M., 1855; taught in New York city, 1851- 53, and was graduated from the Oberlin Theological seminary in 1855, entering the Congregational min- istry, and preached in Roseville, 111., 1855-58. He was mar- ried, Jan. 24, 1856, to Elizabeth, daughter of Norris and Eliza

Embree of Philadelphia, Pa. In 1868, under tho commission of the American Missionary society, he went to Berea, Ky., where in a rude building he opened a school with fifteen pupils, the num- ber increasing to ninety-six by the close of the first term. His wife assisted him in his labors. In September, 1858, he was made chairman of a committee to draw up a constitution for the pro- posed Berea college. The school met with great favor in the community and grew rapidly. The question arising in a school debate as to whether colored persons should be admitted to the scliool, Mr. Rogers expressed his opinion in the affirma- tive, and in consequence most of the sous of slave-holding parents withdrew from the school. At the time of John Brown's raid in 1859 it was decided at a mass meeting of the citizens to " se- cure the removal from the state within ten days of Rev. John G. Fee, Rev. J. A. R. Rogers and such others as the committee think necessary for public quiet and safety." Thereupon they left the town and remained away until the close of the war. In 1865 Professor Rogers returned and the school was re-opened and colored students were admitted, this being the first white institu- tion to take such action. Professor Rogers re- mained its principal until July, 1868, when E. H. Fairchild (q.v.) was called to the presidency. Professor Rogers remained at Berea college as professor of Greek, 1868-78, and was a trustee of the institution from its origin. On leaving Kentucky, he went to Decatur, Ohio, where he founded the Ohio Valley academy, and while re- siding there he was made examiner for Marietta college and Lane Theological seminary. In 1878 he removed to Shawano, Wis., where he was pastor of the Presbyterian church till 1884, mean-