The list of leading citizens of West Lafayette contains the name of

James L. Rogers, one of the representative and honored itizens of

Coshocton county. His record as a soldier and as a business man has

been so honorable that he has gained the confidence and good will of

all with whom he has been brought in contact, and now in the evening

of his days he can look back over a life well spent, for he is now

living retired, deriving a good financial income from three hundred and

fifteen acres of rich and valuable land in Lafayette township.

Mr. Rogers was born in Harrison county, Ohio, February 19, 1940, a

son of Joseph and Mary (Burkhead) Rogers, both of whom where natives

of Maryland, the former born in 1806 of English descent, and the latter

born August 28, 1807, of Scotch descent. The parents took up their

abode in Harrison county at an early day, removing to this state from

Maryland in a covered wagon. The father was a miller by trade but

after coming to Ohio he engaged in farming and began life here in true

pioneer style, living for some years in a log cabin. Both are now

deceased, the father passing away in 1882, when he had reached the age

of seventy-six years, while the mother died in 1864, at eht comparatively

early age of fifty-seven. Their family numbered ten children: Actie,

deceased; Maria Jane, the wife of Robert Bell, of West Lafayette;

Wesley M., who was woulded during his service in the Civil War and

died in 1893; Elizabeth, who has departed this life; Parmelia, the

wife of William Finney, of Ohio; James L., of this review; Nancy, who

wedded George Sproul and died in 1906; John B., of Uhrichsville, this

state; William S., a resident of Tuscarawas, Ohio; and Hannah, the

wife of John Milliken, of Kansas.

James L. Rogers, the subject of this review, was reared on the home farm

and remained under the parental roof until he atained his majority,

when he offered hisservices to the government during the Civil war,

becoming a member of Company F, Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,

which was orgainzed in Harrison county in August, 1862. He served for

two years and ten months, and took part in many of the hotly contested

engagements of the war, these including the battles of Perryville,

Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro,

Peach Tree Creek, Rome, Georgia, Bentonville, North Carolina and many

others of minor importance. He was also with Sherman on his celebrated

march to the sea and after traveling over five thousand miles he

participated in the grand review of Washington. He was commissioned

second lieutenant and mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, having made a

most honorable and creditable military record.

Following his return from the war James L. Rogers resumed agricultural

pursuits in Coshocton county, operating rented land for a few years. He,

with is wife, then purchased the farm which he still owns,this comprising

three hundred and fifteen acres of rich and improved land situated in

Lafayette twonship. For many years he followed farming and made a

specialty of raising and feeding stock but his energy, economy and careful

management in former years now enable him to put aside business cares

and he is living retired in a pleasant and modern home in West Lafayette,

deriving a good income from his landed possessions.

Mr. Rogers was married April 15, 1867, the lady of his choice being

Miss Harriet Burt, who was born in Lafayette township, June 14, 1845,

a daughter of James M. and Mary A. (Bradner) Burt, both of whom were

natives of Orange county, New York, and made the overland journey from

that state to Coshocton county in 1836. Here the father entered a tract

of land from the government and engaged in farming. He also took a prominent

and active part in political circles, serving for two terms in the

legislature and for a similar period in the senate. The family of Mr. and

Mrs. Burt numbered twelve children, seven daughters and five sons, but

the latter are now deceased. Both the father and mother have also

passed to their final reward, the former passing away March 7, 1893, and

the latter on the 25th of October, 1899.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rogers has been blessed with four children

two sons and two daughters, namely:Joseph B., who graduated from the

Ohio Wesleyan College and died October 25, 1901; Margaret, the wife of

Rev. S. L. Stewart, of Mansfield, Ohio; Anna M., at home; and Louis B.,

who died when four years of age.

Mr. Rogers is independent in his political views, voting for men and measures

rather than adhering to party ties. He and his wife are devoted and faithful

members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has filled all the

offices, while his fraternal relations are with the Grand Army of the

Republic. Mr. Rogers has ever been ready tolend his aid and influence in the

cause of every good movement for the progress and advancement of the

community, andnow at the age of sixty-eight years he is enjoying in

retirement the accumulation of a profitable. successful and honorable career.

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