MICHAEL ROGERS

The late Michael Rogers, who resided on section 21, in Nemaha township, Nemaha county, was a representative of the Irish element in our national civihization, -- an element which is signally appreciative of the enterprise of the new world and which has contributed in no small degree to the work of public improvement and progress. He was born in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland, in September, 1823, and spent the first twenty years of his life in that locality. Bidding adieu to home and friends he sailed for America, in 1846, landing at New York city, whence he made his way to North Carolina and from there to Maryland, remaining in the latter state for three years. Subsequently he spent a year in Virginia and in 1852 he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope. The journey was made by water and across the isthmus of Panama where he boarded a steamer for San Francisco. Making his way to the mines he continued his search for the precious metal for six years, working a part of the time for himself and also a part of the time in the employ of others. He met with good success in his undertakings and on leaving California he returned by way of the Panama route to New York city and thence came across the country to Kansas, arriving in Nemaha county in 1858. He was one of the first residents in this locality and purchased a quit-claim deed, thus becoming the owner of the farm upon which he now resides. Erecting a log cabin he began life in Kansas in true pioneer style and experienced many of the hardships and difficulties incident to the settlement of the frontier. His wild land he transformed into richly cultivated fields and as his financial resources increased he added to the property until his landed possessions aggregate fifteen hundred acres, much of which he finally divided among his children. He made a specialty of stock-raising and feeding, having finally one hundred and fifty head of cattle and two hundred and eighty head of hogs upon his farm.

In California, in 1858, Mr. Rogers was united in marriage to Miss Mary Curry, a native of Ireland, born in the northern portion of the Emerald Isle. She died in April, 1887, leaving four children: Thomas, a leading agriculturist of Nemaha township; Michael, who was born November 18, 1861, in Nemaha township, and is now cultivating the homestead farm where he now resides with his wife, who bore the maiden name of Alice Flaherty, and by whom he had one child, Mary Edward, who was born in Nemaha township and is now residing on a farm there; and Mary, wife of John Madden, of Nemaha township. Mr. Rogers was a member of St. Mary's Catholic church at St. Benedict and aided in erecting all of the four churches of that place. He served as a member of the church committee and took a very prominent part in its work. He came to America a poor boy, having neither wealth nor influential friends to aid him in his new home, but steadily he worked his way upward, depending upon the reliable qualities of industry, enterprise and business sagacity. His business interests were always honorably conducted, and his efforts resulted in the acquirement of a handsome competence. He died January 19, 1900, leaving a vacancy difficult to fill.