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Stephen Cawood Rogers
Born: 20 March 1848 in Claiborne
County, Tennessee
Died: 29 July 1935 in Kingston, Clinton County, Missouri
Burial: Kingston Cemetery, Kingston, Missouri
Mother: Barbara B. Cawood
Father: Hu Lawson White Rogers
Married: Mattie Edwards 24 December 1874 in Boone County, Missouri?.
She died Abt. 1880 in Kingston, Clinton County, Missouri.
Children:
- Bessie
- Lallah
b. 1875
Sources and Additional Information:
Subject: Stephen C. Rogers
Date: 06/19/2000 1:20:15 PM GMT Daylight Time
From: wellmanj@idir.net (Richard & Joy Wellman)
To: JRogers722@aol.com (Jerry Rogers)
CC: JsharkM@aol.com (Jim & Marilyn Sharkey)
Included in the listing the Rogers family that came west to Clinton Co. Missouri was Hugh Lawson White Rogers and his son Albert G. Rogers. Another son of H.L.W. Rogers was born in Claiborne Co. also. See the following for info. about Stephen C. Rogers and comments on the Rogers ancestry. This biographical sketch is from: A HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI, Edited by Walter Williams, The Lewis Publishing Co, 1915 pgs. 1668-9
Note: Stephen C. Rogers later lived at Kingston, Mo. which is in Caldwell Co., immediately east of Clinton Co.
Jerry, since I can't respond to all the group addressees, would you please forward.
Thanks,
Richard
STEPHEN C. ROGERS. The gentleman whose name heads this review is one of the best known citizens of Kingston, as well as one of the most familiar figures on its busy streets. He may not have earned the distinction of being one of the earliest settlers, but fifty-eight years of residence in Missouri will at least entitle him to a place among its representative citizens. An early teacher, for many years a leading member of the bar, a successful operator in the line of agricultural endeavor, and a public-spirited citizen who has contributed to his community's welfare in various ways, Stephen C. Rogers in each of these varied capacities has shown himself a man of resource and ability, and is entitled to the esteem and respect in which he is universally held.
Born in Claiborne County, Tennessee, March 20, 1848, Mr. Rogers is a son of Hugh L. W. Rogers. His great-grandfather, John Rogers, was a soldier under General Washington during the Revolutionary war, while Maj. David Rogers, the grandfather of Stephen C. Rogers, was an officer during the War of 1812, and fought under the redoubtable General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. Hugh L. W. Rogers was a farmer by vocation, and in his native State of Tennessee married Miss Barbara Cawood, a daughter of Stephen Cawood, a son of a Revolutionary officer and a member of an old and honored Virginia family. In 1856 Hugh L. W. Rogers migrated to Missouri, settling in Clinton County, and engaging in farming until the Civil War, when he took the Union side and had a brilliant record as a soldier and officer. Returning to his farm at the close of hostilities, he continued as a tiller of the soil until his death in 1875. Their children were as follows: Albert G., Stephen C., Rhoda J., David H., Hugh L., Mary and Alice.
Stephen C. Rogers was reared a farmer and his early education was secured in the public schools, following which he became a student in the University of Missouri, from which he was graduated in 1873, with a good record as a student. At that time he accepted a call to take charge of the Kingston school, which had just been established in its new brick building, and entered upon his duties in 1874 as superintendent, a position in which he secured the approbation of the people of the community and in which he remained until increasing interests in other directions demanded his undivided attention. He studied law while engaged in this capacity, and in 1875 was admitted to the bar, since which time he has continued in practice as one of his community's leading lawyers. In recent years Mr. Rogers has engaged in farming and real estate operations, and at this time is one of Kingston's large land holders and heaviest taxpayers. He is also widely interested in business interests of varied character, including the proposed interurban railroad, of which he has made the survey from Excelsior Springs to Kingston. A man of intense public spirit, he has served in various positions of trust and responsibility, giving of his best efforts in behalf of the community welfare. He served as county prosecuting attorney, as mayor of Kingston, as school commissioner and was president of the school board, and county surveyor and highway engineer. In 1914, at the solicitation of friends, accepted the superintendency of the public schools of Kingston, of which he has since had charge. Under his able direction, the school system of this thriving city is being developed into one of the finest in this part of the state. As is evident. even from this brief sketch, thoroughness is one of Mr. Rogers' most prominent characteristics. No rolling stone, he has evinced exceptional perseverance and patience, as well as talent, in every position which he has been called upon to fill. His support is given to the republican party in affairs of a political character.
In 1876, Mr. Rogers was married to Miss Mattie Edwards, of Boon County, Missouri, and to this union there has been born one child: Miss L. R., a graduate of the University of Missouri, and a well-known Government educator, who has spent some time teaching in the schools of the Philippine Islands, and is now stationed at Ponce, Porto Rico.
THE OLD LOG POST OFFICE AT KINGSTON
Narrator: Stephen S. Rogers, 88, Kingston
Mr. Rogers was long a local narrator in Kingston on local history. He died in the summer of 1935. He gives the following about the much discussed old log post office at Kingston. There seems to be some question as to whether the old P.O. building in the county seat of Caldwell county was log or frame. It stood on the site now occupied by the Ferrill cafe (1935). If it was log, it was later sided with weatherboarding, which is the appearance it presented to old timers yet alive.
To enter the building, one had to go between two buildings for a distance of twenty or thirty feet before coming to the P.O. door. Mrs. Ella Cook had the drug store in the front of the east building and later moved the office to the front part, of her drug store. Clara Van Winkle was the assistant in the P.O. Later Dave Young had a grocery store in the building west of the drug store. An old frame building stood where Deal's store is now located, and the corner now occupied by the Kingston post office was then a vacant lot.
At that time, only two brick buildings stood on Main st. A story and a half brick stood where the Anderson grocery store is now located, and a one story brick was on the present bank building location. In the corner brick, J.B. Gudgell owned a drug store for some time. This was in the 70s.
Interview 1934.
SOME ODD CASES AT THE CALDWELL COUNTY POOR FARM
Narrator S.C. Roger, 87, Kingston
The following narrative came from Mr. Rogers who lived for 60 years at Kingston near the poor farm.
The most noted case ever down there was Crazy Billy Bond, who came to the poor house 1876, died there and is buried on the place. An attack of meningitis changed him from a bright child to a demented one. He had to be kept in a cage especially built for him at some distance from the main building. He had no language and made his wants known by signs. He was not dangerous in his idiocy. Almost every one who lived around there spoke of Billy Bond. He lived till about 1890.
Before the 80s, another waif was brought there. He was found at Log Creek and never did learn to talk. Those were two of the worst cases to deal with. Another pretty bad one was Friday. He died 1901. He had been there since 1875. He was found wondering, a blank imbecile, never able to give any trace of his identity and because he was found on Friday, some one with a keen sense of Robinson Crusoe called him Friday. He also was buried in the little plot for the homeless and friendless inmates.
Old Mike Keif was deluded and thought that he was a partner with the superintendent in managing the poor farm. He was happy if he had his "bacco." An old man hopelessly blind, Mr. Price, had been there since in the 70s at his death in the 90s. He was in his senses, but helpless. A Hubbard woman who was there in the 70s had formerly been in the St. Joseph hospital for the insane, but she was sent home from there to the poor farm as harmlessly incapable.
The other two women whom Mr. Rogers recalled as long inmates were just broken down by age and hard work with no friends to take care of them. One was called Martha Duncan and the other Virginia Taylor.
There were at least two cases where babies abandoned on the public roads were taken there when no homes could be found for them. In one case, a babe was taken into a private home, only to be brought back to the poor farm when it was discovered that she was an idiot. These cases show that the tendency 45 or 50 years ago was to take mentally weak cases to the poor farm, if they were not dangerous.
Interview 1933.
AUGUSTUS MACK, HARNESS MAKER OF KINGSTON 1856
Narrator: S.C. Rogers of Kingston
Augustus Mack is one of the most interesting characters ever living in Kingston. At the time of his death 1904, he was the oldest citizen, in point of residence. He was born in 1831 in Germany and came over here partly to escape military service, compulsory there, and partly to better his condition, for a workman in that country had little chance to be independent.
He arrived in America at 18 (1849). He stayed a while in the east then he heard of the new land to the west where jobs were to be had. He struck Kingston 1856, with his trade of harness maker, but was not satisfied with what he made, so he went away. It must be told how he worked. He was working more or less as a journeyman in the harness making. He had taken his apprenticeship in the east, and the plan was to follow this with several years when he would go from place to place hunting work, without a shop. While at Kingston, he was still doing "jour" work. He picked out Plattsburg as his place for a permanent shop for saddles and harness work. He stayed there four years, but was not satisfied. So he again came back to Kingston in 1861 with the idea of having a saddler's shop. He stayed there 43 years. He began in partnership with Wm. Goodman, the early hotel man, who sold out his interest in 1864 and went to Hamilton to run a hotel. Mack went on by himself.
During the Civil War, he was strongly Union and was postmaster. During the Thrailkill raid Confederate), he hid the government funds safely which was not the case with some of the officials. He served repeatedly as justice of the peace and was familiar with the law as it concerned his position. He was also elected as mayor of Kingston and was very proud of the honor. In true German spirit, he insisted on a strict carrying out of the law and woe to the offender who was brought into his court.
He spoke with a very decided German brogue, which he never did overcome, perhaps he might have been proud of it. He got exuberant in his talk and motions and that made him appear different from the rest of Kingstonites. Then his English was even worse than before. He would fall into the talk of his youth.
He is buried in the Kingston cemetery. He had children: Fred, J.F., William, Mrs. Anna Warren of Cowgill, Miss Nellie Mack, a high school teacher well known in this and other counties. Interview 1934.
STEPHEN A. ROGERS, EARLY TEACHER, LAWYER & ENGINEER OF KINGSTON, MISSOURI
Narrator: Stephen C. Rogers and Others
Much of the following was given to the interviewer in his last year of life. He was one of the outstanding characters of the town of Kingston and of Caldwell county. He was born in Claiborne co. Tenn. March 20 1848 and died in Kingston July 29 1935. His parents, farmer folk, moved from Tenn. to Clinton county
1856. There Steve grew up and decided to have an education. He graduated from the University of Missouri 1873 when M.S.U. graduates were rare and got his law degree there 1875. He had fallen in love with a Columbia girl Mattie Edwards and married her Dec 1874. He was teaching school when he got his law degree, for it did not take so long those days to get one when you had a university degree.
In Sept. 1874, he took charge of the Kingston schools which he found ungraded. He graded them and organized the high school. Hence, he is known as the father of the Kingston high school. In that first year, he had the second floor, and the lower rooms were under William McAfee and Parker Platt, no women even for the primer class! He taught for several years and in 1883, he resolved to use his law degree and practice law. He ran for prosecuting attorney and was elected, for many of his pupils were voters. Then too, he had been county school commissioner while teaching.
Then his versatile mind turned to surveying and he was county surveyor for many years, in fact he surveyed for the old Hamilton and Kingston railroad. This was his favorite profession. In his last days, when pain racked his body and took away his mind, his talk was on those surveys.
In intellect, he was unusual. At a time in 1874 when many school heads were not half way thru college, he had one college degree and soon had two. He was able to talk on any subject easily to those whom he liked - but to others he was quite uncongenial. That was a part of his peculiar make-up. He had Caldwell co. history at his command. He was a bit proud of his learning, but he had every reason to be so. People called him big headed, and self opinionated. There was one child who grew up, Lalla Rookh, who was naturally of her father's bent mentally. She has an excellent education, has taught in the Phillipines and in college work. Her health is poor and she lives in California.
Mr. Rogers had a strong desire to own property and possessed several pieces of Kingston property. He requested that his body be taken to the Masonic Hall to lie in state till his burial which was done. This seemed a part of his eccentric life.
He was buried in his lot at the Kingston cemetery where his wife lies who died about 1880. There also lies his well-known sister-in-law Mrs. Mary E. Griffin, a teacher in the K.C. schools.
S.C. Rogers was kin to the Eugene D. Rogers family of Lathrop who was a son of David and Mary Rogers, David being a native of Clairborne county Tenn. who moved to Clinton county Mo. Interview 1935.
Children of STEPHEN ROGERS and MATTIE EDWARDS are:
i. LALLAH6 ROGERS, b. 1875; m. UNKNOWN ROOKH.
ii. BESSIE ROGERS, b. Bef. 1880.
STEPHEN C ROGERS RELATES PETREE-BEELER DOULBE SWISS ROMANCE
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 1932 By Stephen C Rogers
Peter Petree and Adam Beeler-about the year, 1790 or 1792, there were two young men, herdsman and they grazed their cows, sheep, and goats on the Alps Mountains in Switzerland, nexted to Austria. They had procurred a pamplet sent to Switzerland by the Revolutionary fathers, to induce people to come to America, the land of freedom and liberty.
The pamphlet gave a fine description of East Tennessee, telling of all kinds of trees growing on the Cumberland Mountains, producing all kinds of nuts and berries, that grow wothout culture, the rich soil in the valleys producing all kninds of food for man and cattle could live on the grass and cane that grew along the streams.
Peter Petree said to Adam Beeler: "You have a sister named Winney and I have a sister, Elizabeth--I will marry your sister, Winney, and you can marry my sister Elizabeth--and we will go to that new world called America." And that impulsive program was carried out.
The Petree and Adam Beelers landed in Charleston, S. Carolina. They spoke a dialect of the German Language and --at Charleston they found a man who could understand their language. He told them the place they had read about was East Tennessee. The Cherokee Indians had been driven out of Tennessee, so that the country was then open to settlement. So, Peter Petree and Adam Beeler, with their young wives, reached Powell's Valley at the foot of Cumberland Mountains.
My great-grandfather, Stephen Kaywood (Cawood) had received a land grant for a "league of land", which located him in Clairborne Co Tn. So ancester Kaywood fixed up Peter Petree and Adam Beeler with 20 acres each, on Davis Creek in Powell's Valley Tn.
The first child born to Adam Beeler was a girl, named Winnie Beeler. The first and only boy born to Stephen Kaywood, who came into Tennessee from Virginia was a Stephen Cawood, Jr. Stephen Kaywood changed the spelling of the name from "Kaywood" to "Cawood", the name I bear as my middle name. He was born in 1800 and married Winnie Beeler, the Swiss girl, in 1819.
My mother, Barbara Cawood, was born in 1825 and married Hugh L.W. Rogers in 1843. The Adam Beelers had in all (I think) boys and girls, 14 children. Their second daughter married a man by the name of Grimes, a cousin of the major John Grimes of Knoxville, Missouri.
One of my father's brothers, Pleasand Rogers, a Methodist Preacher, married a third daughter of Adam Beeler.
The Beeler girls all married prominent men, and were noted for the number of children they bore. Mrs. Grimes had fourteen. My grandmother Rogers had 13 children, twelve boys and a girl. Grandmother Cawood had thirteen children-six boys and seven girls.
All these double cousins of the Swiss Petree and Bellers have made me akin to many of the people in and about Knoxville Mo. From the Rogers side I am akin to most of the Mayes family.
This page was last updated on: May 18 2008
