The Portland daily press., 1879-12-27
In ManlOriam.

In Portland, Dec &c, 1876 Charles Rogers, aged
80 years and months.
Charles Rogers was born in Portland Sept
1st, 1897. By his death our city loses another
from its rapidly diminishing band of old ma
tive Portlanders whose faces and forms have
ever been familiar landmarks with the present
generation.
Mr.. Rogers commenced his business life as
clerk with Joseph Hazard, prominent dry
goods merchant of Portland, in the early part
of this century.
About the year 1919, Mr.. Rogers started IN
the dry goods business, on Exchange street,
with Josiah Cox, under the firm name OF
Rogers & Cox. This firm continued IN trade
for several years. He afterwards engaged Ill
the wholesale and retail dry goods business,
with Samuel Cutler, (who subsequently en-
tered the ministerial field as an Episcopal cier-
gyman and after this he went into the whole
sale grocery business on Fore street, with 2. f.
Varnum.
Charles Rogers early appreciated the adyan-
tages offered by Commercial street, as whole
sale business thoroughfare, and having formed
a partnership with VIM. Moulton, John L.
Rogers and P. f. Varnum, under the firm
name of Charles Rogers & Co., moved to Com
mercial street and opened wholesale grocery
store in the building now occupied by w. 20
c. R. Milliken.
The firm of Charles Rogers & Co. met with
deserved success, and did the largest grocery
business Of any firm in the city. They closed
up their affairs about fifteen years ago, since
which time Mr. r 1gers has not been actively
engaged in commercial pursuits.
Mr.. Rogers at different times served as
member of each branch of cur City Govern
ment. He leaves widow, and one son by his
first wife, our fellow citizen, Charles 3.
Rogers, Esq
He was Unitarian, having been from his
youth, an attendant at the First Parish church,
and he always manifested deep interest in its
welfare.
The subject of this sketch was self-made
man. Commencing at the bottom round of
the commercial ladder, he worked his way up
step By step until at the time of his retirement
from business he was the leading partner of
the largest wholesale firm upon Commercial
street. He was the architect of his own for
tunes. Starting in life without means, he accu-
INFLATED competency by his own industry and
sagacity. He was generous man. Fiom his
early youth he had always relatives and friends
dependent upon him for their support. To the
comfort of these be ever contributed with an
unstinted hand To the end of his life Mr.
Rogers was youthful in his feelings. He al
ways greatly enjoyed the society OF young peo-
pie, and never seemed SO happy as when filling
his house with party of them, he Joined IN
their sports and merriment,
He took q keen interest in everything that
pertained TO the welfare of his native city, his
country and his fellow men. During the last
few years of his life he was confined to his
house, yet his lively interest in everything
around him continued undated
Mr.. Rogers was eminently genial, SYM
pathetic, kindhearted man. He spoke i'll Of
no one. He had q smile and kindly greeting
for all. The person does not live TO whom he
ever uttered harsh or unlzind word. Those
who knew him best, loved him most. He
possessed we'll balanced mind; the equipose
of his faculties was rarely if ever disturbed.
He was always serene. His intellect was per-
fectly clear and keen to the very last moments
of his life.
He was pre-eminentlya cheerful man. His
sposition was one of sunshine, and his
cAeerfulness shone not on himself alone, 1t
illuminated the circle of his home and friends.
Many well, strong man has OF late years
visited the old gentleman, sitting in the chair
Of the invalid, and come away cheered, COM
forted and strengthened by the happy philoso-
ply that fell from the scks mans lips
He was never SO weak or sick, but that ne
would say with a cheerful smile, II haze so
many blessings, so many kind friends, 50 much
to be thankful for, that it seems as if could
not be half grateful enough If philosophy
consists in Keeping the even, serene, cheerful
tenor Of our way through life, and approach
ing calm, trustful and confident the gates of
death Mr. Rogers was the most of philosopher
the writer of this humble tribute ever met.
But few days since he spoke OF his own
rapidly approaching dissolution with smile.
a result perfectly natural, and absolutely
necessary for the higher life beyond" and SO
calm and sustained, with no regrets for the
past and no fears for the future, he fell asleep.
A kind friend good citizen, an honest man,
he filed out the full measure of his days
among us, "and was not"