BIOS: Franklin Rodgers, Shade Twp., Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading 
Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, 
Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp 35-36.

  Franklin Rodgers, a prosperous farmer and a veteran of the Civil War, 
was born in the township of Shade, Pa., where he now resides, on 
February 28, 1843, son of David and Susan (Wolford) Rodgers.  His 
paternal grandfather, John Rodgers, was born in 1771 in Liff, 
Forfarshire, Scotland, and resided there all of his life.  He was a 
weaver by trade and the beadle of the parish.  His wife also, Elizabeth 
Bissett, was a native of Liff.  Both lived to be about sixty-four years 
old.  They were the parents of six children, namely: Catherine who 
married George Berry, an Englishman; Betty, who became Mrs. Small; 
David, named above; Agnes, who married Thomas Anderson, of Liff; James, 
who married Sarah Bell, of Newcastle, England; and Robert.
  David Rodgers, son of John, was born in Liff, June, 1800.  At the age 
of nineteen he emigrated to the United States in order to escape 
compulsory military service, and settling in Shade found employment as 
a wood-chopper at the iron furnace.  He later leased a tract of wild 
land, which he cleared and afterward bought, and he subsequently owned 
several farms in this locality.  Thrift and industry were his principal 
characteristics.  He died at the age of eight-seven years, leaving a 
good estate.  By his first wife, Susan Wolford, who was born in Shade 
in 1805, daughter of Conrad Wolford, he had thirteen children, six of 
whom are living - Catherine, James, Elizabeth, David L., Franklin, and 
Elmore.  Catherine married Jacob Leighton, and has five children -
Elizabeth, John, William, Elsarah, and Susan Leighton.  James married 
Elizabeth McGregor, and has nine children - Ellen, Susan, Willis, 
Alamanda, Rebecca, Robert, John, Lewis, and Annie Rodgers.  Elizabeth 
married Jonathan Cable, of this town, and has ten children, nine of 
whom are living, namely: Mary Jane, James Monroe, Huldah, Norman N., 
David R., Jeremiah, Elza, Naomi M., and Joseph Russell Cable.  David L. 
married Mary Metzler, and has four children - Susan F., William, 
Bathilda, and Morris Rodgers.  Elmore and his wife, Fannie, have three 
children.  David Rodger's first wife died in her sixty-fifth year; and 
he married for his second wife Mrs. Susan Cable, born Specht, widow of 
Henry Cable.
  Franklin Rodgers was educated in the common schools of his native 
town.  He was brought up on the homestead farm, and assisted in its 
cultivation until 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Company D, One 
Hundred and forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for 
service in the Civil War.  He participated in several notable 
engagements, including the battle of Fredericksburg, and was mustered 
out with his regiment at the close of the war.  He resided at the 
parental home until his marriage, when he settled upon one of his 
father-s farms.  He has since tilled the soil energetically and with 
prosperous results.
  Mr. Rodgers contracted the first of his two marriages on January 1, 
1867, with Mary Jane Lohr, who was born in Shade, February 2, 1847, 
daughter of Andrew J. and Ellen (Penrod) Lohr.  Her parents had eight 
children, of whom the only survivor is Edward Lohr, who married Mary 
Smith, and has four children.  Mr. Rodgers-s first wife died March 23, 
1884.  She was the mother of nine children, seven of whom are living, 
namely: Minnie M., who married Joseph King, and has seven children - 
Charles, Fred, Frank, Ethel, Arthur, Clarence, and Dewey; Malliebothia, 
who married Oliver J. Berkey, and has six children - Calvin, John, 
Ralph, Fannie, Bertha, and Norah; Grace G., who married Noah Berkey, 
and has two children - Stella and Harvey; Axie, who married Austin 
Berkey, and has one son, Miles; Gurtha, who married Isaac Gashaw, and 
has one daughter, Cora S.; Quinnie, who married Sylvester Powell, and 
has one child, Rush; and Fanny Rodgers.  On September 16, 1886, Mr. 
Rodgers married for his second wife Mrs. Lydia M. Horner, daughter of 
John R. and Harriet (Braucher) Leiber.  Her parents had four children, 
but only one beside herself is now living, namely: Adeline, who married 
Frank Rhodes, and has five children - John, Agnes, Minnie, Hattie, and 
Harry Rhodes.  By her former marriage Mrs. Rodgers has one daughter, 
Laura M., who married Robert Lohr, and has one son, Lester Lohr.  By 
her second union she has one son, Oscar Carl Rodgers.
  Politically, Mr. Rodgers is a Republican, and has served with ability 
as Supervisor of Elections.