MARY ROGERS
DESCENDANTS IN MARENGO
(NO.7-43, A series appearing in THE DEMOPOLIS TIMES, APRIL 12, 1979.)
Joseph Alston Rogers was one of four sons of Jonah and Caroline Rogers who joined the Confederate Army during the War between the States, and he was one of the two who did not return. In fact, he died at Strawberry Plains, Tenn. on May 2, 1862, and was buried there in what is now the National Cemetary. Indications are that he was in Gracie's Brigade, but we do not find his name listed in the 43rd Alabama as was two of his brothers Jonah and Jesse. Gracie's Brigade had operated in Kentucky in 1861 and wintered at Cumberland Gap, Tenn. Then they moved southward to Strawberry Plains, a few miles northeast of Knoxville, where Joseph died. He had been born on May 1, 1822 in Clarke County, Alabama, and had come to Marengo County with his parents during the 1830's.
On November 9, 1849, he married Catherine E. Barnes in this county and took her to live on his snall farm near Nanafalia. They were the parents of five or more children of whose names we are not certain as we have before us three listings that do not entirely agree. All three have Ellen, Amelia, and Joseph. Only one has Martha. Another has Alston. Still another has Catherine and Susan. Some of these children may have had double names that were listed in different ways from time to time. Like many other wives of Confederate soldiers who were serving their country in other states,Catherine Barnes Rogers continued on the farm, working and raising the children while her husband was away. Her task may not have been as great as some of the other women because she lived close to the family of her husband and her own. Yet she had faced all of her neighbors, and she lost her husband in the early years of the war. It is apparent that since Joseph A. Rogers was almost 40 years of age with a family of children he did not have to go into the army. Being of sturdy pioneer stock he must have had strong feelings toward the invading armies from the north and joined his brothers in the army. He was only a farmer on a small scale and owned no slaves, although his father had a few. Had he lived he would have been amazed, as were other southern people, when a few years later the Lincoln government spread the propaganda that the war was to free the slaves. When Lincoln did this his own family owned slaves, and his aim was to influence the English to break off relations with the Confederacy. Joseph Rogers had only on aim, to defend his country, and be gave his life.
Mrs Catherine Rogers had great fortitude and remained a widow for the balance of her life, having had such a devoted love for her soldier husband. She was born in Alabama, either Clarke or Marengo, and was a resident here all of her life. We are not certain of the names of her parents, but surely sher was one of the large family of Barnes that settled early in that area. She was born on June 10, 1833 and died November 29, 1911 and was buried in the cemetary at Nanafalia by the Baptist Church. Her daughter Amelia, married J. A. Miller in 1874. According to census records Amelia was Born in 1844. There is a tombstone at Nanafalia for one Frances Miller 1844-1908. And there are markers for other Millers as well. Another daughter was Ellen Rogers. She was mentioned by that name in the court records of her grandmother, Caroline in 1872 and it was there stated she was the wife of Obedie Anderson and living in Clarke County. Her tombstone at Nanafalia has Caroline E. Anderson, Feb 20, 1852 - March 10, 1925. For O. B. Anderson there is November 14, 1843 (8) -September 19, 1934. Buried nearby are Obadiah, Conrad C., and Rogers Anderson. All of these graves are adjacent, or in the same lot. Another descendant of this family was James Marvin Rogers, 1889 - 1973 who was a veteran of World War I and a resident of Nanafalia. His widow, Mrs Irene Murray Rogers, unfortunately lost her life when struck by a truck near Butler in 1975. Their children are Mrs Elizabeth Henderson of Hattisburg, Mrs Margaret Davis of Montigomery and James M. (Buck) Rogers Jr. of Nanafalia. Conrad C. Anderson, and Erle Rogers Anderson, daughter of James Rogers, a cousin, were the parents of Connie Anderson was one of several children of "Obie" and Ellen Rogers Anderson. Aunt "Dinky" Johnson was a sister of Ellen Rogers Anderson. She was Kate A. Rogers who married Thomas G. Johnson in 1880. M.S. Rogers married John C. Grantham in 1880. Kate and Miss M.S. both married at the home of Mrs Catherine Rogers at Nanafalia. Joseph Rogers, a brother, was the father of Perry, Marvin, David and Robert Rogers. Maybe others. Is this the J.H. Rogers who married Miss S.C. Grantham in 1879.
It can be seen that the account on the descendants of Joseph and Catherine Rogers given above is subject to correction and completion. These and other descendants have a proud Marengo County heritage in this couple and their parents. Should any desire to add to this information, please take time to write to us of anything you know.
By James and Emogene Armistead
"White men have heap big horses"
(No. 6-41 in a series appearing in THE DEMOPOLIS TIMES, March 29, 1979)
During the first 30 years of the dominon of the United States over the lands that is now Alabama this area was a huge wilderness in the hands of the Indians. Beginning about 1800 a rapid flow of American settlers moved into Mississippi Territory (present day Alabama and Mississippi). From the beginning they were disturbed by the arrival of the Americans, or Virginians as the Indians chose to refer to all regardless of what state they came from. Grudgingly, they allowed the settlers to move along what was known as bridle paths. Their intent was that only one horse at a time would move on these paths. They didn't want to be hemmed in between Georgians and settlers in the Tombigbee District in southwest Alabama. No wagons were allowed at all. A few two-wheel carts managed to get through, but most swttlers came with their belongings in rolling hogsheads, barrels with a shaft through the center pulled by an ox. As the travelers came, the paths widened, causing the Indians to comment, "White man have heap big horses." The English and Spandiards, anxious to force the United States from the area, sent agents here to forment distrust and distribute arms and ammuninition to dicourage settlement. Although they came in groups led by experienced scouts such as Colonel Sm Dale and Tandy Walker, they frequently fell upon by the savages who killed and robbed. It was during this time and under these situations that Jonah Rogers brought his family into the Bigbee District, picking up along the way two orphaned boys whose parents had been killed by the Indians. He raised them in his family, and they later married two of his daughters. This family tradition has been passed down, but we are not certain of the names of the two boys. Jonah Rogers was born August 2, 1782 in South Carolina, probably Georgetown District. There he married Caroline (some think her maiden name was Alston.) By 1816 he and his family were living in Clarke County, Mississippi Territory (late to Alabama). His name may be found among others on petitions relating to establishing the boundary line between the states of Alabama and Mississippi.
This family was still in Clarke County in 1830, but by 1840 had moved to Marengo County near Nanafalia. There were several other Roger families in early Clarke and Marengo, but if there was any relation to do that of Jonah we do not know at this time. It was here that he remained for the balance of his life, farming the soil. In 1840 he had under his care and protection eight slaves that he owned. By 1850 there were 11, and in 1860 he had 14. The value of his stated real estate in 1850 was $250, and in 1860 it was $3,000 with $15,000 personal property. By 1870 Jonah Rogers was 87 years. He had experienced a loss in his value due to the War Between the States. His value was now $1000. Jonah was now a blind retired farmer. Caroline (Alston) Rogers, his wife, was born in South Carolina on January 30, 1790, and died at Nanafalia on February 11, 1873. The following are the children of this pioneering couple, who endured the trials and tribulations of settling here, weathering Indian difficulties, hard times, and the privations of the War Between the States.
(1) Martha Ann Rogers, born 1803 in South Carolina and died in 1847. In 1825 she married Nathaniel Walker in Clarke County and they had a son named Nathaniel.
(2) John David Rogers, born 1810 in South Carolina and married Desley Roberts in Marengo County in 1841.
(3) Mary Elizabeth Rogers, born 1813 in South Carolina, and married John M. Singleton in Clarke County in 1833. They raised their large family in Marengo County.
(4) Caroline Rebecca, born 1815 in Clarke County, Alabama and married Colonel William Thomas Freeman, Marengo County Militia, died at Nanafalia in 1892.
(5) Jonah M. Rogers, Jr. born 1817, was a member of Company A., 43rd Alabama and died at Bridgeport, Alabama in 1862.
(6)Jesse Clay Rogers, born 1820, married Lenora V. Bannister. He was a member of Company A, 43rd Alabama.
(7)Joseph Alston Rogers, born 1822. Died at Strawberry Plains, Tenn., in 1863 while in Confederate service. He is buried in the National Cemetary there.
(8) Charlotte Amelia Rogers, born in 1826, and did not marry.,
(9) Jane Willie Rogers, born 1826 in Clarke County and married George W. Keese in Marengo County. She died in 1902 in Commache County, Texas. They were the ancestors of Mrs Phyllis Almond of Llano, Texas, who graciously supplied some of this information.
(10) Thomas Jefferson Rogers, born 1829, according to some records. Another says was born in 1835 at Nanafalia. He was a member of Company E, Jeff Davis Legion, Hampdens Brigade. This was the Marengo County Calvary under Ivey F. Lewis that rode around the entire Union army with J.E.B. Stuart. He was living at Aimwell in 1907.
It can be noted that this Rogers family migrated from south Carolina between March 1813 when Mary Elizabeth was born and May 1815 when Caroline Rebecca was born in Clarke County. We can better appreciate the difficulty they must have had as we realize the fact that brought along a babe in its mother's arms, a toddler of three and six. This should have been a burden in itself, yet they found the orphan boys and brought them, too. These were the sturdy type of people that made America great, and of whom their many descendents in Marengo should be justly proud. (at a later date we intend to tell more about the descendents of the children of this couple. We have additional data already, but there are gaps to be filled in.)
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2/14/2000 Copyright © byC.A. Wood. All rights reserved.