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Print Preview1st Cousin Feud: John Franklin Rogers b. 1852 shoots James Rogers b. 1850
Provided by Carol Woodward Jan 05
" Homicide in Claiborne"
James Rogers
of Campbell County Killed by John
Rogers of Claiborne. Jacksboro, April 27, -- [Chronicle Correspondence.]
-- Last Saturday night at Beeler's saloon, in Claiborne County, John
Rogers of Claiborne County, shot and killed James
Rogers of Campbell County. It seems that James
Rogers and two of his brothers, Dave and Isaac Rogers, had gone up from
Campbell county into Claiborne, and while up there happened around at the
saloon, and found John
Rogers there, and two men with him who were his friends, and while all
were there drinking some, all got into a row which resulted as above stated.
He only lived about thirty minutes after he was shot. The deceased was a deputy
sheriff of Campbell County and was well thought of by all who knew him. He
leaves a wife and two or three children to mourn his loss. John
Rogers was arrested and placed in jail at Tazewell.
Knoxville Daily Chronicle
Wed., 28 Apr 1886, Vol. XV1, No.
"The Rogers Tragedy in Claiborne County."
From reliable sources we learn the following in reference to the homicide that occurred in Claiborne county on last Saturday in which James Rogers was killed. James Rogers, David Rogers and Isaac Rogers are engaged in running a steam sawmill, and some time since had a contract to saw a large bill of lumber for a Mr. Sharp, which was to be done by the first of April. They failed to do any of the sawing within the limited time, and Mr. Sharp gave the contract to another mill. When the Rogers heard of this they supposed that John Rogers had been instrumental in their loss of the job. On last Saturday there was a public sale of property of David Beeler, deceased, at his late residence near Speedwell post office in Powell's Valley. James, David and Isaac Rogers were there and were drinking. John was at Meyer's store, some 200 yards away, when the others sent for him saying they wanted to see him. He, in ignorance of their malice or purpose, went to where they were, and on meeting them shook hands first with David and then with James. When David, with an oath, accused him of having caused them to lose the job of sawing, which John denied and proposed to prove that he had nothing to do with it. Whereupon Dave caught him by the throat and James struck him, and in a moment they had him on the ground. John called twice for help. Harvey Meyers, his nephew, and Wm. Losley, his work hand, pulled James off, when Meyers and James became engaged, and Losley returned to free John from Dave, which he did, and Losley and Dave became engaged. Isaac started at John with a knife, who, by this time, was on his knees and had drawn his pistol which he snapped at Isaac while still on his knees, which caused Isaac to fall back and at which time James was advancing, and as quick as thought John shot him, the ball taking effect in the abdomen. James walked a few steps and laid down and died in about thirty minutes. This ended the difficulty. John surrendered to the sheriff, who was on the ground. Losley and Meyers were also under arrestedThe trial was set for Tuesday and C.H. Rogers of Tazewell, a brother of John, and Hon. Jesse L. Rogers, of Dandridge, another brother, were sent for to conduct the defense. The former reached Speedwell Sunday night and the latter Tuesday just after the case was taken up, and upon his own proposition an examination was waived and bail at once given and the defendants discharged. John, James and Dave were cousins. John is 35 years of age and has a wife and six children. James was 37 years and was married, but had no children. He was a man of undoubted courage and was very dangerous when aroused. His father Henderson Rogers, is living at the old Rogers homestead and is 70 years of age. John's father is also living and is 75 years old. The affair has caused a deep feeling of sadness in both families. Public opinion justifies the killing.
Knoxville Daily Chronicle
Sat., 1 May 1886, Vol. XV1, No.
NOTES by Jerry Rogers:
I first became aware of this tragedy when McKinzie Brantley, Jr. (1947-2000) wrote me in 1999 about his great grandfather, John Franklin Rogers. McKinzie wrote: “Glenna Isabelle Sharp Rogers* and her Aunt, Edith Elizabeth Rogers Carr**, were two of my High School teachers. Their Uncle, William H. (Harry Bill) Rogers, shot and killed my gr-grandfather, John F. Rogers, for killing his brother Jimmy (so the story goes).”
The victim in the story sent by Carol, “Homicide in Claiborne County”, was James "Jimmy" Rogers b. 12 Jun 1850. He was the son of Henderson Rogers b. 18 May 1820 and Anna (Annie) Cawood b. 26 Dec 1826. Henderson was the son of Major David Rogers b. 1779. Jimmy was married to Rhoda Lane b. ca. 1850.
John Rogers who shot Jimmy at Beeler’s saloon in Claiborne Co. was John Franklin Rogers b. 17 Feb 1852. He married Lucinda Malinda Cawood 12 Aug 1869 in Claiborne Co. John Franklin Rogers was the son of Jesse Lafayette (Mut) Rogers b. 6 Oct 1811 and Margaret (Peggy) Wilson b. 15 Dec 1814. Jesse L. (Mut) Rogers was the older brother of Henderson Rogers mentioned above.
Therefore, the two Rogers (Jimmy & John Franklin) involved in the shooting at Beeler’s saloon were 1st cousins and both were grandsons of Major David. The article mentions that Jimmy was with two of his brothers, Dave and Isaac. According to the information I have Jimmy did have a brother David C. Rogers b. 1859, but I have no brother named Isaac. There are several Isaacs in the family a couple of candidates are Jimmy’s uncle, Isaac Newton Rogers b. 1815 and Jimmy’s 1st cousin, Isaac L. Rogers b. 1856 who was the son of Canada Hodge Rogers b. 1826 who was another son of Major David. I’d say that his uncle, Isaac Newton Rogers was probably too old and the Isaac who was with him during the visit to Beeler’s saloon him and also his business partner was probably his cousin.
The article states that John Franklin Rogers’ defense councils, Jesse Rogers and C. H. Rogers, were also his brothers. Jesse was Jesse Lafayette Rogers (Jr) b . 9 Apr 1855. C. H. was actually was his half brother, Canada Hodge Rogers b. 15 Aug 1864. His mother was Annie Hayes who married Jesse Lafayette (Mut) Rogers about 1858 after his first wife died in 1857.
The last chapter is what McKenzie passed on from Glenna Isabelle Sharp Rogers and Edith Elizabeth Rogers Carr. Almost six months after the death of his brother Jimmy Rogers (12 Jun 1850 – 26 Apr 1886, William H. Rogers b. 30 Dec 1860 shot and killed his 1st cousin, John Franklin Rogers (17 Feb 1852 - 23 Oct 1886), for killing his brother, Jimmy.
I don’t have the details on the shooting of John Franklin Rogers by his 1st cousin, William H. Rogers. However, I suspect that there must have been a follow-up story in the local newspaper in late Oct 1886.
* Glenna Isabelle Sharp Rogers was the gr-gr-granddaughter of Major David Rogers. Her gr-grandfather was Henderson Rogers b. 1820. She married Boyd Kermit Rogers, but I don’t know how he is connected to our Rogers line.
** Edith Elizabeth Rogers Carr (1908-2000) as many of you know was the daughter of Stephen Henderson Rogers b. 1867, granddaughter of Henderson Rogers b. 1820, and gr-granddaughter of Major David.
This page was last updated on: May 16 2008
