In touching upon the life history of the subject of this sketch the
writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extravagant praise, yet he desires
to hold up for consideration those facts, which have shown the distinction
of a true, useful and honorable life — a life characterized by perseverance,
energy, broad charity and well defined purpose. To do this will be but to
reiterate the dictum pronounced upon Mr. Rogers by the people who have known
him so long and well.
Frank A. Rogers, the present popular County
Treasurer of Marion county, was born in Omega, this county, April 1, 1871,
and while still a young man has left the indelible imprint of his strong
personality upon the locality where he has spent his life. The father of the
subject was William A. Rogers, a native of Tennessee, who came to this
county in 1854. He was engaged all his life in agricultural pursuits, and he
was a man of great influence in his community, and was Supervisor of his
township for fifteen years, also Justice of the Peace for twenty years, and
he was chairman of the County Board at the time of his death, February 24,
1891. The subject's mother was Rebecca Chapman in her maidenhood. She was
born in Omega township, this county, November 25, 1846, and is still living
in 1908 on the old homestead. She is a woman of refinement and gracious
personality which has won hosts of friends. To Mr. and Mrs. William A.
Rogers the following children were born: Leva, who died in infancy; the
second in order of birth was our subject; Luther A., living at Welling-ton,
Kansas; Giles N., of Iuka, Illinois; Daniel C., deceased; Leo Delbert, of
Pocahontas, Iowa; Paul, of Omega township.
The subject's father was
twice married. His first wife was Minerva Jane Craig.
Frank A. Rogers
lived at home until he was twenty-one years old, assisting with the work
about the farm until he had acquired sufficient education to begin teaching.
Being an ambitious lad he always applied himself diligently to his
text-books and consequently outstripped most of the common plodders that
made up the roll of contemporaneous school-fellows in his neighborhood, and
he has since greatly added to his early foundation in educational matters by
coming in contact with the world and by systematic home study. But few men
are to be met with in the state of Illinois who are any better informed on
current topics of a general nature than Mr. Rogers, for he has always been a
close student of the trend of events, politically, scientifically and in
other leading issues. He followed teaching for a period of seventeen years
in Marion county, during which time he established an envied reputation as
an instructor and his services were in great demand. He was not only popular
for his superior text-book learning, but his kind and pleasing personality,
his peculiar insight in the characters of his pupils, which made it easy for
him to control and properly direct each pupil, made him popular with all
classes of people.
Mr. Rogers always took a deep interest in
political movements, being a stanch advocate of the principles and policies
of the Democratic party, with which he has been affiliated from the time of
attaining his majority, and he has ever lent his aid in furthering the
party's cause and is well fortified in his political convictions, while he
is essentially public-spirited and progressive. Being animated with the
laudable ambition for political preferment and his general popularity having
been long ago well established, it is not strange that his fellow citizens
singled him out for offices of public trust, and he held the office of
Supervisor of Omega township for two terms. He was also chairman of the
County Board and County Board of Review in 1903. He was nominated for County
Treasurer on the Democratic ticket August 4, 1906, by a majority of eight
hundred and was easily elected over a strong opponent the following
November, and is serving the duties of the office with great credit to
himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, not only his
constituents but members of other parties as well, being generally regarded
as one of the best officials the county has ever had, especially in the
Treasurer's office. The subject has made his home in Salem since December,
following the election.
The subject's happy and harmonious domestic
life dates from September 25, 1892, when he was united in marriage to Lillie
M. Kagy, who was born April 7, 1875, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William B.
Kagy, a well-known, highly respected and influential family of Marion
county. Mrs. Rogers is a highly cultured and accomplished lady of pleasing
manner and many commendable attributes of mind and heart and she presides
over their comfortable and cozy home with grace and dignity and she is
popular among the best class of Marion county's estimable women.
The
following bright and interesting children have come into the home of our
subject and wife, thereby adding cheer and sunshine to the family circle:
Herschell, born June 28, 1894; Hazel, born October 5, 1897; Vernon V., born
April 15, 1902, surviving only till October 4th, the same year; Rolla, who
was born August 5, 1904.
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are consistent members
of the Methodist Episcopal church. They are both held in high esteem for
their friendly manners, wholesome domestic life and upright public lives
which have resulted in winning and retaining the friendship of all who know
them.
Extracted 03 Nov 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 60-61.