Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-09-25
RoGERsvILLE NOTES.

~, loi9.-lt has been intimated in
former letters of this series that Rog-
ersville, while a place of business and
an important county seat, is also an
old place full of ancient and sugges-
tive landmarks, The student of our
early history finds much here that is
interesting and calculated to stimulate
both fancy and reflection. This place
was founded in 1856 by an Irishman
named Joseph Rogers, who kept the
first tavern in the town. The Rogers
vile centennial therefore cannot be
celebrated for seven years. The old
Rogers mansion, remodeled, is occu-
pied by the hale and respected Col.
Heiskell, father of the two Memphis
Heiskells. Near by is a splendid
spring and just west of this in the
middle of the valley is the neatly
inclosed and well shaded burying
ground of the Rogers family, some of
whose descendants live here and are
prominent people. One tombstone
reads Joseph Rogers, born in the
county of Tyrone, Ireland, August 81,
1854, came to the United States of
America in 1881, settled here and
founded the village of Rogersyille in
l786, where he lived until his death
November 6, 1888" The next slab
reads, I'm memory Of Mary Rogers,
daughter of Thomas Amis, and con-
sort Of Joseph Rogers. Born in the
county Of Daplin, North Carolina
August p, ITO, and died November
30, 1893 1t will be noticed as a
coincidence that they were both born
in the month of August though .six
years apart and both died in the same
month and same year. When they
were married is not set forth on these
slabs. But they we're together in life
and in death. Grand old elms keep
watch over them where they sleep
side by side, and a murmuring brook
near by, named after Davy Crockett's
father, sings their perpetual requiem.
This is not the first burying place of
the neighborhood, yet it appears from
another tombstone that one of the
Rogers children died in 1909. The
second settler was Richard Mitchell,
a member of the first convention and
an intimate friend of the Governors
William and Willie Blount. 1t was
at Rogers's tavern that General Jack
son forced the dandy who insisted on
a separate room and bed to himself
when the house was full, to take a
quilt and sleep in the log corn crib.
The Rogersville Gazette, the first
paper ever issued in Tennessee, was
started in 1871, and the Rogersville
Advocate issued in 1882, was the
first paper devoted exclusively to rail
road interests ever published in the
United States. 1t did not live long
but was a bold and creditable effort.
This (Hawkins) was one of the eleven
counties in the State when it was
organized, aud furnished one of the
two senators first elected to the
United States senate from the State of
Tennessee At that time it contained
the largest population, and with the
exception Of Knox county, by far the
largest slave population of any of the
counties of the State.
One of the first Masonic lodges, if
not the first in this State, was organ
lied in Rogcrsyille under dispensa-
tion granted at Raleigh under the seal
of the grand lodge Of North Carolina,
by Honorable" John Lewis Taylor,
grand master. 1t bears date the 14th
of December, AL. 5SO5, AID. 1906.
The name of Robert Williams is
signed as grand secretary. The dis
pensation was filled out on a stout,
broad sheet of thick paper, and is as
clear and plain as the day it was first
folded. The name of the lodge was
" Oyerton," which it still retains.
Masonry is not in as Aourishing a con-
dition here as in some larger places,
but the members are generally bright
Masons and proud of the antiquity
and history of their lodge. The off
GERS constituting the lodge at first
were Samuel Powell, master; Jona-
than Spryker, senior warden, and Jno.
Johnston, junior warden. At that
time Tennessee had 10 grand lodge.
In the year 1920 Wilkins Tannehill,
grand master of the grand
lodge of Tennessee, Issued a
regular charter to this lodge, desig-
mating it as "0yertop Lodge No. 81
which it goes by at present. These
two venerable documents are care
fully preserved in the archives of the
lodge. Samuel Powell appears as W.
NJ. in 1920, and it is said held the DO :
sition some years longer. Among the
names of prominent men who have
been members of this lodge appear
Judge Jacob Peck, r. L. Caruthers,
] 4 hcola,n / oonorr Tvl., Gil w