Greenbrier County, West Virginia Biography of JAMES M. RODGERS. This biography was submitted by Sandy Spradling, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm History of Greenbrier County J. R. Cole Lewisburg, WV 1917 p. 92-94 JAMES M. RODGERS. The Rodgers family in Greenbrier county is a very old one. Michael Rodgers and his wife, Catherine, emigrated from Ireland and settled in Irish Corner on about 1,000 acres of woodland before the Revolution. It is almost certain that Michael Rodgers was a soldier in that war. The family located where J. Harrison Burdette now lives and the old house stood until just a few years ago. The orchard served the family well and faithfully; some of the trees, true to life, are still bearing fruit. A record of this entry can probably be found in Richmond, Va. In the general index of deeds, in the Greenbrier records, is found a grant of land by Samuel Carrell to Michael Rodgers of 123 acres on Second Creek. Deed made in the year 1797. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rodgers were: Sally, Michael, James, John, Ibbie, Ida, Eli, Daniel, most of whom settled in the West and all now dead. Daniel Rodgers married Elizabeth Coffman. Children born to this union were: (1) Sarah Ann, now Mrs. Robert McDowell; (2) Christopher M., deceased; (3) Catherine, Mrs. J. Harrison Burdette, residents of the old home place; (4) James Madison; (5)Mrs. Mary Humphries; (6) Samuel Eli, his wife was Emma Williams, now dead; (7) Mrs. Susan J., wife of Nelson White. Daniel Rodgers, son of Michael, was born August 16, 1813, and died May 7, 1882. He was a farmer and stock raiser, and lived where Samuel Rodgers lives now. Farming and stock raising has been, and is yet, the business of all of the Rodgers family. Eli Rodgers married Charlotte Hoke, and to this union were born six children: Nathan, now in Missouri; Nannie, married John Crawford and is dead; Michael, of Covington, Va., married twice, Miss Nickell and Mrs. McCormic; Sarah C., married twice, first to Samuel Coffman, second to John McCoy, now living in Ohio. James Madison Rodgers is known as one of Greenbrier's substantial farmers and stock raisers. His farm, consisting of 800 acres of land, is well adapted for agricultural purposes and fruit culture, and with its annual income proportionate to its area, is valuable property. The place was bought of Eli Rodgers in April, 1883. October 24, 1902, a destructive fire burned three barns, two granaries and other outbuildings, making a loss of about $7,000, but during the year following they were all rebuilt. James Madison Rodgers was born January 15, 1850. On November 29, 1877, he married Miss Emma Dunsmore, born January 2, 1858, and for six years following a residence was maintained in the Ft. Spring vicinity before moving to their present one. Mrs. Rodgers was a native of Monroe county. Her grandfather, James Dunsmore, died there about fifty years ago. His son, Andrew Lewis Dunsmore, born in 1826, married Miss Martha Evens. He diedNovmeber 22, 1896. She died December i6, 1907. While a young man he spent some years in the West, but at the request of his parents returned finally to the old homestead. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James Madison Rodgers: Emory Earl, August 1, 1879; Sidney Burton, May 21, 1881; Ethel Gray, November 28, 1882, died October 28, 1886; Homer Dale, October 31, 1884; Cecil Carl, August 25, 1886; Martha Estelle, December 5, 1889; Dessie Alma, November 3, 1891; James Lester, January 14, 1894; Mary Leon, December 13, 1898. Emory Earl Rodgers was married to Miss Lelia Ethel Bowles, September 24, 1904. They have three children, two now living: Lillian Ethel and Jessie Leona. Sidney Burton Rodgers was married to Miss Lelia Christie June 2, 1908, and they are the parents of three children: Lucile, Edith and Frank. Homer D. Rodgers married Miss Bertha Byrd December 22, 1908, and they have two children: Fred and Ethel. Martha Estelle Rodgers married Rev. R. M. Millard, of Chattanooga. They are now living at Athens, Tenn. No children. Rev. Mr. Millard is dean of the college at Athens.