Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-08

America mt the Age of Thirty.
started II Number of Wills In
Pennsylvania rIf His Business
Ability Had Been Commensurate
with HIS Mechanical AFFINITY, lie
would Have Died wealthy.
William Rogers died at the City
Hospital at 4 10 o'clock yesterday aft
ernoon after being under treatment at
that institution for two years for par
alysis. He was one of the most prom
inent of the mechanical men engaged
in the industry in America. He saw
the birth and phenomenal growth, and
to him belongs the distinction of being
the father of the sheet, tin, Russian
and blue and planshed iron industry
Of. this country He was a mechanic,
Ddeyoted to his work y his bust
mess acumen had been commensurate
with his practical knowledge of the
iron business. he would probably have
died a multimillionaire.
William Rogers was born March q.
1927, in Wolvershampton England
and was married in that city to Mary
were the result Of the union, all Of
whom died young except two. The
only surviving child is William II.
Rogers, manager of the Whitaker iron
works. He was the grandfather OF
Mr.. H. w. Rogers, and had two great
grand children.
At the age of 80 years he came to
America. In England he had been en-
gagged from boyhood in the sheet mill
business, and had managed large
plant. In 1857 he built the first sheet
mill in Pittsburg, known as the Ever
son & Preston works. and from there
went to Apollo, Pa, in 1863, where he
placed two sheet mills in an old nail
factory, and made a fine blue or plan
ished iron, which was always spe-
cialty with him, and which Is now be
Ing manufactured by others who have
discovered his process and patented it.
He also made a black plate in this
Mr.. Rogers in 1870 erected two mills
at Leechburg, seven miles from Apol-
10, where he broke ground and had the
plants in operation within ninety days.
Tin and sheet iron and tin plate were
manufactured. The tin plate was OF
excellent quality. 1t is on several
dwellings of the valley yet. sam
pie taken off a roof not long ago was
double scanned by timers after being
on roof for twenty-four years. The
olller side was not painted, and still
giows bright The firm name was
Rogers & Burchfield.
In 1871 Mr.. Rogers accepted a spe-
cial commission from John w. Geary,
then Governor of Pennsylvania, and
on July 18th departed for Great Brit
ain and Continental Europe, to take
up meteorological research, and to re-
port to the Governor. While in ST.
IBERIA. he was invited by a Countess
upon whose estate big Russian iron
works was located, to visit the plant
and view the work as done by Russian
convicts. 1t was here that he learned
the secret of manufacture OF Russian
sheet iron. This resulted in some
complication for the United States con-
sui. who was recalled later. After his
return to America, he made some Rus
sian iron OF the Leechburg mill, and
NV oil Nc
Dodge & Co, of New Yorw. .-..
1t was during his absence in Europe
that the firm of Rogers & Burchfeld
met with financial reverses. 1t is
claimed that McKeesport manufact-
urer, now a millionaire, sent an agent
to Leechburg. who was permitted TO
go through the mill, because of deal
,ngs with only the firm, which ulti-
mately resulted in the failure of the
concern. At the|assignee's sale, the
McKeesport manufacturer bought the
patent rights for the manufacture of
Russian iron for mere song.
Mr. Rogers was the first man to use
natural gas in the making of iron, and
he had patents which covered its use
2or all purposes, which were unfort-
unately lost in the litigation following
the failure of Rogers & Burchfeld.
Since that time MI Rogers has been
connected with some of the largest
iron mills IN America.
He has travelled over almost the en-
tire world, and kept a diary which is
now in possession of his grand-chil
dren.
The remains will be shipped to
Leechburg this morning, where the
widow still resides.
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BELLAIRE.