THE WILLIAM ROGERS FAMILY, Our Yesterdays, Jefferson Co., MT

USGENWEB NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied
for personal use only.

"List transcribed and organized by Ellen Rae Thiel, thieljl@aol.com All rights 
        reserved."

  Copyright, 1998 by Ellen Rae Thiel. This file may be freely copied for non-profit 
        purposes. All other rights reserved.

                         THE WILLIAM ROGERS FAMILY

William Rogers and his wife, Ann, were born in Ireland. While
still very young, they came to "The States", first locating in
Denver, Colorado. They traveled on from there to Montana and were
among the earliest of the pioneers to settle in Boulder Valley. 
Listed according to the first census of this section of "The
Territory", taken in 1870, are 'William Rogers, age 33, 'Farmer';
Ann Rogers, age 30, 'Keeper of the House'; 'Children at Home':
William H., nine years old, born in Colorado; John T., four years
old, born in Boulder Valley. There is no record of what became of
the sons. The Rogers also had a daughter, who died at the age of
three, from "Mountain Fever". Later, the Rogers' adopted Alice
Kennedy, who they sent to High School in Helena. Alice married a
James Reiley, and they had a son, Willard. Later Mrs Reiley
married Mr. Parker and there were two sons born of this union;
Tom Parker, who now resides in Basin, Montana and Ed Parker, who
lives in Butte, Montana.

Mr. Rogers was a most successful rancher. He raised fine cattle. 
In the year 1890, when there was drought in the Boulder Valley,
he moved his stock to the Missouri Valley. The drive to the new
pasture took a week, with many cowboys "ridin' herd". William
Rogers was also noted for the excellent saddle horses he raised. 
He was also renowned for being an outstanding horseman. The story
is told of how one day, mounted on one of high spirited horses,
Mr Rogers rode to where a neighbor was digging potatoes. In a
friendly manner he heckled his neighbor for working while he was
enjoying riding the countryside. His working neighbor attempted
to pelt William and his horse with potatoes, but so skillful was
Mr. Rogers, reigning and turning his horse, that the "potato
pickin'" rancher never managed to get even one mashed potato on
Rogers and his steed.

Ann Rogers and her husband, William, are buried with the rest of
their pioneer friends in the Boulder Valley Cemetery - a Large,
beautiful, impressive monument marking their places of final
rest.

SUBMITTED BY MR. AND MRS. PAUL T. SMITH