Bookmark
Us
Print Preview
William Francis Rogers
Born: November 20, 1867
Died: August 08, 1949 in St Joe, Arkansas
Mother: Martha Jane Russell
Father: John Wesley Rogers
Married: (1) Zora Ezell
Married: (2) Ida Jane McNair March 15, 1888.
She was born February 04, 1868, and died February 20, 1936. Burial: St Joe, Arkansas
Children:
- Nettie Maud
m. ? Williams - Martha Harriet
m. ? Coohran - Ida Inez
m. H.M. Walker - Dora Edith (Dora)
m. ? Bowman - Alice Mabel
b. May 23, 1890
d. December 07, 1973
m. (1) ? Davidson
m. (2) James Hall - William Joseph (Bill)
b. December 06, 1896
d. August 06, 1973, Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas
Sources and Additional Information:
Known as "the free physician of the hills". Lived in St. Joe Ark. See newspaper obit in notebook.
The following information was sent to me by a descendant of William Frances Rogers. (Feb 2001) William Frances married Zora after Ida Jane died. William Joseph was the only son of William Frances there were perhaps 5 daughters.
In 1926, Doctor W F Rogers wrote down information with names and the only dates included were dates for his father, Dr John Wesley Rogers. In the list of names were members of the family that dated back to John Rogers, a powder maker, in the Revolutionary War. The list included son, Jesse Rogers and a list of his children. Then from Ruben Rogers children to Rueben's son Dr John Wesley Rogers and the dates of his children and birth dates.
Along with this lists of descendants I received the following copy of the article posted in an Arkansas paper:
Arkansas News
Akansas "Free Physician of Hills" Dies In St Joe At The Age Of 82
Retired Circuit Riding Doctor Had Been Practicing Since He Was 17 Years Old---Had Office In His store.
Special to the Post Dispatch
St. Joe, Ark. Aug 8--The "Free Physician of the Hills", Dr. W. F. Rogers died in his home in St Joe Friday. He was 82 years old. Faithful to his declared mission to "minister to the sickness of my people," he stayed at his post in his little store and pharmacy until the last, although he had been in feeble health for more than a year.
Aside from his distinction gained for his charities, Dr Rogers recently had received his "50 year membership pin" from the Arkansas Medical Society, and had more than a year ago been made an honorary Mason by virtue of his 50 year membership in good standing in St Joe Lodge No. 317 (sic) A. F. and A.M.
Dr Rogers was the son of St Joe's pioneer doctor who bore the same name, and in his early practice was known affectionately to the folks in his area as "Young Dr. Willie," his Father being referred to as "old Dr. Willie." He had the distinction of being perhaps the youngest Doctor ever licensed when he was 17 years old. He appeared before the board after the then regular two-year college course and was licensed when he was 17 years old. "I feared the Board of Examiners would regard me as too juvenile, so I grew a long flowing mustache." Dr Rogers often said. He carried that mustache all through the intervening 65 years.
Former Railroad Physician
When the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad were built here at the turn of the century, Dr Rogers was the railroad physician and Surgeon. In his early career he practiced medicine for a short time in Texas, returning here to take up his Father's practice after the latter's death.
During WW I his health failed to the extent that he was forced to give up his long rides through the hills, fording rivers and creeks and enduring the hardship of blizzards.
He retired to his little store in St Joe and continued his office practice. He gained wide notice by donating his services free to the folks of the area after his retirement from riding the circuit.
This "Free Service to My People" consisted in making a Physician's diagnosis of the ailment and prescribing treatment. The doctor made no charge whatsoever for this service. Then he would fill the prescription from his own pharmacy, charging only for the drugs and medicines used. He once estimated that his free service to people of this trade territory amounted to $10,000.00 annually, measured by the cost of their going to a larger town and being treated at hospitals and clinics.
Rode Extensive Circuit.
Before his retirement to his office practice, the story of his ministrations to the widely scattered mountain cabins would be another epic of the hills. Often he rode his famous black stallion as much as 50 miles in a 24-hour period. His circuit extended from Water Creek, 15 miles east of St Joe to the headwaters of Richland Creek, 20 miles southwest of here. Sometimes he would ride home fast asleep, clinging to the saddle horn, the faithful horse bringing him safely through the forest over mountain trails and across swollen streams. The doctor once said that when he would "doze off" the horse would make a "bee line" for home from whatever point in the mountains they were.
The doctor is survived by his wife,
Mrs. Zora Rogers; one son William Rogers of Rogers, Arkansas; four daughters
Mrs. H M Walker and Mrs. James Hall of St Joe; Mrs. Dora Bowman of Albuquerque,
N. Mexico and Mrs. Nettie Williams of Gardena, California.
This page was last updated on: May 18 2008
