Freestone County, Texas Biographies Biography of James Monroe Rogers, Sr. (May 14, 1826-?, buried unknown) Source - A Memorial and Biographical History of Hill County, Texas Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 pages 181-183 JAMES M. ROGERS, farmer and carpenter, Irene, Texas -- Mr. Rogers is one of the successful and substantial citizens of Hill county, who, notwithstanding many reverses and discouragements, has ever come boldly to the front, and, with the push and energy characteristic of him, surmounted all difficulties He was born in Perry county, Alabama, May 14, 1826, and is the seventh in order of birth of nine children born to Benjamin and Martha Rogers, both natives of Georgia. The father was a prosperous and influential farmer, and died in Mississippi, in 1844. After his death his widow ame to Texas and located in Limestone county, where her death occurred in 1862. Their children were named in order of their births as follows: William F., served in the late war, was captured at Arkansas Post by Union forces, was put on a boat as a prisoner of war, and there froze to death before he was noticed; he left a large family in Limestone county; he was a Royal Arch Mason; John also served in the Confederate army, and was killed at Vicksburg. He left six children: J. M. (subject); Jefferson served in the Southern army, and is now residing in Limestone county; M.C., served from the beginning to the end of the war, and was with General Bragg in all his campaigns; he was captured at Arkansas Post, remained a prisoner at Rock Island for eighteen months, and was then exchanged; he is now residing in Limestone county, engaged in farming; Betsey A., married Stuart McDonald, and three of her sons served in the army, one being killed; she and Mr. McDonald are now deceased; Mary, married George Pollock, and resides in Mississippi; Martha married Ed Pollock, who died in Limestone county; she has gone West; Sarah, married Mr. Alexander, and now resides in Indian Territory. James M. Rogers was reared on a farm, and has been identified with farming and carpentering all his life. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, and was married in 1844. In 1853 he came to Texas and settled first in Freestone county, where he remained three years, engaged in carpentering and cabinet-making. From there he moved to Limestone county, and followed farming there for fifteen years, after which he sold out and moved to Navarro county in 1866. He was engaged in farming and carpentering in that county until 1870, when he came to Hill county. He purchased 226 acres of raw land and began at once making improvements. There he has resided ever since. He has bought several other tracts, and has given his children considerable. When he fist settled in Hill county the country was sparsely settled, and Hillsboro was made up of a few shanties not worth mentioning. Bear, deer and other wild animals were quite numerous, and occasionally an Indian could be seen. Their nearest mill was thirty miles distant, and for groceries and supplies they were obliged to go 100 miles. At the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Rogers was Captain of the militia, but in 1862 he enlisted in the cavalry, and was engaged in guarding the coast of Texas. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and was recruiting officer, having gathered together 400 recruits, when the news of the surrender reached him. Returning home he resumed his farming operations. Mr. Roger's wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Germany, was a daughter of John Germany, a native of Tennessee, who moved to Mississippi at an early day, and died there in 1863. He was a prominent farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have been born eight chldren: Mary E., born in 1846, and married W. A. Hunter, a farmer of McLennan county; James A., born in 1849, resides on a farm in Hill county; Sarah, born in 1852, is the wife of W. W. Woodruff, a farmer of Hill county; Jefferson H., born in 1854, is engaged in farming in Hill county; Lou was born in 1861, and married J. G. White, a farmer and stockman of Hill county; Thomas, born in 1865, is at home; W. D., born in 1857, is farming in Greene county; and Cornelia, born in 1868 and died in 1880. The mother of these children was born December 24, 1829. She is a woman of more than ordinary intelligence, and is held in the highest estimation by those well acquainted with her. She has been a true helpmate to Mr. Rogers in his struggle for a home, and took her share of the burden during the pioneer days. During the war Mrs. Rogers' sister and the latter's husband died, leaving six small children unprovided for. Mrs. Rogers took the little orphans to her home, and fed and clothed them when it was a question where her own children's food and clothing were coming from. She had all the providing to do herself, for her husband was in the army, but she proved herself equal to the task and reared both families as though one. The orphans adopted by her are now grown to maturity, and still think their aunt, Harriet, one of the best of women. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have borne their burdens together, have been true companions and now in their declining years, are happy and contented. Both are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and Mr. Rogers is a Democrat in politics.