Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-09-26
A Neglected Grave.

There can not, we venture to say, be
found an old veteran in this state who
will not lie touched TO learn of the lack
OF honor and we might say reverence,
paid TO the remains of brave Minnesota
officer, and, at the time of his death, the
secretary of state of Minnesota, as reveal
ed in the following:
In letter received yesterday by Adju.
tant General uawlcy, from Brownsville,
Mower county, Mimi, from Albert Swift,
commander OF Post II, Grand Army, de-
partment of Minnesota, in answer to Gen.
Hawlcy's recent notice desiring to know
of any soldiers grave in the state without
a Icadstone, that he might furnish the
same free of cost, comes the following:
I'm the cemetery at this place lies buried
the remains of H. c. Rogers, colonel of
the Eighth Minnesota infantry. His death
occurred before came to the state, but
among his acquaintances here l have
heard him spoken of only in the highest
terms of praise, and consequently two
years ago we honored our Post by giving
it his name. On the 30th of May last we
held our first memorial service, and on
that occasion caused to be erected ut the
head of his grave a pine board painted
white and containing the simple inscrip-
ton, "Col. H. G. Rogers" This is all
that has ever been erected to his memory.
| have been told by his friends here that
If his old friends and associates in St.
Paul knew these facts, they would be will
ling to contribute something, and perhaps
literally, to provide suitable headstone
for his grave. further understand that
he was a very popular man. and was once
secretary of state. 1t is shame that
such mans grave should be thus neg
lected, but the comrades of the post here
are not able to incur much expense in the
matter. If you were acquainted with
Col. Rogers you may be able to advise me
how to act, 50 that something better than
the slab provided by the government may
be had"
1t may be added that when Col. Rogers
deceased he was supposed to have consid-
cradle property, but having no relatives
as far rs was known, 1t was not known
what became of it. Hewas we'll and pop
time of his dcccasc, which was in 1869,
and evidently during his incumbency of
the office of Secretary of State, he being
elected for the years 1869 and 1870, as
shown by the state records. He was a
brave and noted officer, having lost an
arm in the late war and received other
wounds.
Further comment on our part is un-
necessary and we give publication to
these facts knowing that there are those
who will not let this thing be after their
eyes have rested on this article.-St. Pdul
Gl,de, Sept. 20.
1T is shame" that Col. Harry Rogers
grave has been thus neglected. We knew
the Col. well. lie was always so kind in
heart, so gentle in nature, SO true and
noble in his manhood, that we learned to
love him. We venture the assertion that
no man in public life in the State Of Min
nesota, ever had more warm and devoted
friends than Col. Henry C. Rogers. He
did leave property. Wedonot remember
the amount-but certainly over $4,000,
s., 600 being life insurance. We believe
it was equally divided between cousin
living in Brownsville, who was his only
known living relative, and his attianced,
an eastern lady. Why these friends, who
should have been the dearest to his heart,
have allowed this neglect of his grave,
we cannot understand. The Brownsville
cousin has always borne good name
We hope they have good reason. At
any rate, the friends of Col. Rogers in
Mower county will take pleasure in erect
ing marble tablet to his memory. Let
us commence the work now. We will
start the subscription with S.. Let us
hear from others. Call it the Rogers
Monument fund" Send your subscrip-
tons to the TRANSCRIPT office.