William M. Rogers Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 853-854

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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WILLIAM M. ROGERS, who for many years has filled the more important 
public offices of Beadle county, South Dakota, is a native of 
Dorchestershire, England, city of Stalbridge, and was born September 
13, 1844. His parents, both of whom are deceased, were James and Jane 
(Morey) Rogers, and of the five children born to them our subject is 
the second in order of birth. In 1848 his father moved with his family 
to Chicago, where he followed the trade of shoemaker. After some years 
he located in Ogle county, Illinois, where he resided until his death. 

Our subject had very poor health as a boy, and when thirteen years of 
age was sent to his uncle's in Chicago for treatment, and upon leaving 
his uncle's went to Sterling, Illinois, and during the war was engaged 
in the post office. In 1873 he established a restaurant business in 
Milford, Illinois. In 1882 he located in Dakota, in Richland township, 
where he followed the life of an agriculturist until 1889, when his 
health failed and he located in Huron, being appointed the same year 
deputy clerk of courts. Then followed four years as deputy auditor, 
after which for two terms he served as auditor of Beadle county. He 
carried on the work efficiently with less help than at any previous 
time and proved an economical officer at all times working for the 
welfare of his county. He has served his county more years in 
succession than any other man in the county, and "Billy, " as he is 
familiarly called, has become identical with the court house building, 
and 'his hearty laugh and pleasant ways give a cheery touch to the old 
brick edifice. He is a Republican and has served as a member of the 
county central committee. He is a communicant of the church of England.