User:Nicolejgaw/sandbox

John H. Rogers was a Texas Ranger,, Deputy and U.S. Marshall, a city police chief and a private sector as security. He is recognized in history for being one of the legendary “Four Captains” of the Ranger force that helped transition from the Frontier Battalion days into the twentieth century. Rogers was a man of the law and of God, this was a rare combination to come across during this time of the century. He married and had three children, however one passed away in a drowning accident.  Early life: 

John H. Rogers was born on October 19, 1863 and died on November 11, 1930. Rogers was married to Harriet Randolph Burwell, having three children, Pleas, Lucile and Lapsley. His parents are Pleasant W. Rogers and Mary Harris and his grandparents were Isaacs Samuel Rogers and Mahala Rogers. His siblings were Laura Henrietta born on March 25, 1866 and his brother Curren Lee born on April 2, 1869. Rogers lived with his grandparents until 1867 when his grandfather Isaac passes away, this same year his grandmother Mahala dies. Pleasent Rogers gained back sole custody of his children after his parents death. There was an auction with this land and personal items to pat of debt. A part of Rogers life was when he was 7, he recalls a memory about Rangers going door to door looking for Kiowas and Comanches from West, Texas. This memory follows him till he can enlist on his own. When John was 12, in 1875 his father passes away from an illness, when he was 18 his mother dies. Will, a cattle drive worker ended up in the Rogers family. He worked for the Rogers, and when Pleasant Roger passed away, Will offered to help raise the other children and help with the land. On the census for 16-year-old John Rogers said he was a farmer; however, he was not happy as a farmer. John wanted to be the best farmer I Guadalupe County, this meant he needed to go to school to learn and study the new tools, crop rotation, technology and more. He was accepted to the Concrete College that was 35 miles from home. This would force him to move out, living in a dormitory. He would travel home when he could to help with crops and farm. During his time in college he learned about Christianity, this would change his life forever, and give him a “guideline” to life. In 1881, the college shut down before he could finish. In 1882 he enlisted in the Rangers and reenlisted in 1884.

 Career with the Texas Rangers: 

Private Rogers first active duty as a Texas Ranger was with the Company B. On October 3, 1882 he and his crew took a train to El Paso to watch over the area while a local election was going on. These men stayed in El Paso till November 8th with no incidents, so they returned back home to Mitchell County. Over the year of 1883, Rogers worked in Mitchell County area and down the T&P line. There were incidents all up the area line of Midline, Big Springs and back to Abilene, keeping the Texas Rangers busy. Rogers did not earn his money by all the arrest he made, because he is not on record of having any. Instead he was more of the crowd control, helping keep the peace. By the fall of 1883, the Texas Rangers were in a budget cut which is why Rogers signs for another year as a Ranger in the Company B. On September 4th, 1883 he resigns. However, the budget cut hit him, he cashes out his last $30 paycheck and goes to live with him mom, figuring out his new life. By the start of the new year, the Rangers set out a call for recruits. The Eighteenth Texas Legislature added ten thousand dollars back to the rangers in February 1884. Rogers wrote a letter to Adjutant General King to ask to be reenlisted. Once he received the invite to join Captain Joe Shely’s Company F in Cotulla, Rogers arrives in March. Throughout the next year this group did their duties and made arrest to keep the county’s surrounding them safe. By 1889 he was promoted to sergeant and on October 19, 1892 he was then promoted to Captain. Capt. Rogers was ordered to travel to Brown County in 1897 to try and put a stop to the fence cutting. This was his first close rangers work involving outlaws. When he and other rangers came across the outlaws the rangers opened fire. This gun fight lead to two fence cutters dead. They kept going and ended up being injured by the Conners gang. Conners gang was a gang of family members who were wanted for murder. In 1901 Rogers successfully caught a known horse thief named Gregorio Cortez Lira. Cortez shot Texas Ranger Morris after an argument broke out about arresting Cortez for the thrift. Cortez then became one of the most wanted men at this time, being that he longest and deadliest manhunts in Texas. Rogers suspected Cortez would go to Laredo, and since Rogers was familiar with the area he would know places that Cortez could steal food from. Rogers found Cortez and had to "pounce" on him to wake up Cortez. Rogers and a few other men took Cortez to San Antonio to be handled with by the law. Rogers who was captain of company E who had just become Company C, John Hughes of Company D, John Brooks of Company A, and Bill McDonald of Company B rounded out the ranger captaincy. Rogers is known as one of the "Four Captains." of the Texas Rangers that helped make the transition from the frontier Battalion days into the twentieth century and would now lead the new "ranger force." Going home for a few days off to see his family, Rogers suffered a loss. Rogers lost his youngest son to a drowning in a dam. Rogers has never spoken about the accident since that day, and his grief was never talked about. Rogers had nightmares about that day, and his faith was tested. Everyone knew Rogers as a man of faith and carried his bible everywhere, but in this moment they did not know what he believed in. But he stayed true to his faith, he would still go on to teach bible lessons and lead small groups. two weeks after his sons death he went to Trinity County where there was word of a gambling ring in the piney woods. The ring was shut down and the leaders were arrested and put into jail. In July 1910, riots started in Navasota but Captain Rogers and Hall Avriett restored order. On July 18, two immigrants stole a horse and a car to try and get out of not having to go to jail for the riots. Avriett found another car and chased after them, this would be the first ever recored car chase in the history of the Texas Rangers. After July Rogers would take a personal leave for business to meet up with a friend who happened to be U.S. Marshal Eugene Nolte. Rogers returned to work, made an arrest then took another extended leave. No one knew why but they had their theories. the first week of November, Rogers was in Brownsville for the election.  Career in the U.S. Marshal: 

In 1911 Capt. Rogers resigned from the Ranger force and on January 31, 1911 he was appointed U.S. Marshal over the Western District in Texas. In February 1911, Rogers was to patrol the Texas-Mexican boarder to keep the peace, stop the smuggling and intervene in the up coming revolution. In 1912, there was a new election with kicked Nolte out of office forcing Rogers to be forced out as well. Rogers was replaced and unemployed. Roger wasn't unemployed for long, he was working for the peace office. After going back and forth and finding support, Rogers was appointed the U.S. Marshal of the Western District of Texas. He was in this position for eight years until 1927 were he was recalled being a Captain of the Rangers. He held this position until his death in Temple, Texas on November 11th, 1930.

Death:

He was a the U.S Marshall for eight years until 1927 were he was recalled being a Captain of the Rangers. He held this position till his death in Temple, Texas on November 11th, 1930.

Citations:  > "John H. Rogers". Texas Hall of Fame and Museum. Waco, Texas

Harold J. Weiss, Jr., “Rogers, John Harris,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed October 03, 2020, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/rogers-john-harris.

></

Spellman, Paul N. (2003). Captain John H. Rogers, Texas Ranger (1st ed ed.). Denton, Tex.: University of North

Lach, Jr., Edward L. (2000-02). Hegeman, John Rogers (1844-1919), insurance executive. American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press.