Biography of Hugh L Rogers, Sebastian Co, AR ********************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ********************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- page 1361 Capt. Hugh L. Rogers, of Fort Smith, Ark., was born in County Armah, Ireland, in 1812, and is an old and prominent citizen of Sebastian County. His parents, James and Alis (Cassly) Rogers, were natives of Ireland, and came to America in 1824, locating in Pittsburgh, Penn., where they both received their final summons. They were the parents of ten children. Hugh L. Rogers received a good practical education in Pittsburgh, learned the engineer's trade, went on the Ohio River, and navigated on the Mississippi and its branches for several years. He was a jndicious financier, saved his money, and finally left the river, going to Washington City, where he worked as overseer for his brother, I. C. Rogers, on the Alexander Canal for some time. Abandoning this he went with his brother on the railroad from Hicksford, Va., to North Carolina, where they took a forty-two mile contract on the Raleigh & Garton Railroad. He had by this become the owner of many slaves, and when this contract was finished he moved his force into South Carolina and took a contract on the Louisville, Cincinnati & Charleston Road, and with a brother-in-law of Wade Hampton took a contract on the Central Railroad, the same road being torn up by Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea. He next moved his forces on James River Canal, Va., and took a contract that lasted one year. After this he went through to Raleigh, N. C., and gathered up the blooded horses he had been purchasing. He then made an extensive trip over the South, visiting all the [p.1361] principal marts, and selling all kinds of stock, including negroes. He had become the owner of some of the fastest running horses of the day, and visited the principal race courses of the country, matching races for fabulous sums. In Galena, Ill., he beat O'Kelly and Maurice O'Connell with his stock. He next went to Mineral Point, Wis., won a race and sold stock, selling one filly for $2,000. After this he went to Raleigh, N. C., and rode horseback from Nashville, Tenn., to that place. Mr. Rogers was familiarly known as one of the leading sportsmen of his day. On reaching North Carolina he found his experience as a sportsman had not been very successful financially, so he returned to the river. The first steamer he owned was the “Osprey,” and on her he moved the Mormons from Nauvoo, Ill., to Iowa. He finally sunk her. He afterward owned several boats, but finally built the “General Shield,” and ran her for many years, doing much shipping on the Arkansas River with her to Fort Smith. After this he made an extensive trip over the West, and saw many of the Mormons, at Salt Lake, whom he had moved some years before from Nauvoo, Ill. Capt. Rogers finally settled down in Fort Smith, where he still resides as an object of interest to all who know him. The Captain is a member of the Catholic Church.