Evening journal., 1901-07-03
SUDDEN DEATH
OH JACOB ROGERS
Famous Engine Builder Had
Relatives Here
DEATH CAME WHILE ALONE
lie Vas The Guardian Of Mr.. William
Du POnt, Mr.. Rogers and
Mrs. Bradford
DEATH CANE WHILE ALONE

\ Information was received by relatives IN
this city yesterday afternoon OF the death
Of Jacob $. Rogers, the famous builder OF
locomotives, and one Of the wealthiest
residents OF New Jersey, in tho Union
League Club. I'm New York city.
For years It was the custom OF Mr.
Rogers TO go to New York on Monday OF
each week from Paterson. Making his
home al the Union League Club, he would
remain three days and then return to New
Jersey. He went 20 New York as usual.
last Monday. and after attending to busi-
ness. went to the Union League, where he
spent the evening He told friends that he
had suffered greatly from the heat and
that he felt much weaker than usual.
When he did not appear at the usual
hour yesterday morning a servant was
sent to his room. The door was locked,
and when the servant called there was no
answer.
The superintendent then forced the door.
He found Mr.. Rogers In his pajamas on
the floor. in sitting position. with his
head resting against the bed. Dr. Z. w.
Fowler. who was summoned, said that
Mr. Rogers had been dead several hours.
Death had come suddenly. DR.. Fowler
/
tempting TO reach the bell TO call for as
sistance.
Mr. Rogers was unmarried, and his only
relatives are the children OF brother.
They are Mrs. William DUPONT, Of Belle
ivue; Mrs. Helen Rogers Bradford and
Theodore b. Rogers, Of near this city.
The deceased was their trustee until
eight or nine years ago, when he came TO
Wilmington and filed an account in the
Court OF Chancery relinqushing his trus-
teeship, and asked for the appointment Of
the Equitable Guarantee and Trust Com
pany From the 100000 left in the seven
ties TO his trusteeship, he returned be
tween sSooooo and 100000.
FORTUNE IS UNKNOWN.
Secretive to remarkable degree, Mr.
Rogers never let It be known, even ap.
proximately, how much he was worth
Many estimated his wealth at sSO,OO0OOOi
more conservative persons divided that
amount by ten.
Jacob S. Rogers. who was born in 1894
n succeeded In 1856 20 the locomotive busi-
ness his father. Thomas Rogers. had built
up IN Paterson, after constructing the
first locomotive made in America. Jacob
Y Rogers retired in 1891, leaving tho manage
/ ment TO r. 8. Hughes.
Mr. Hughes died two years ago and
then MIR. Rogers astonished the world and
4 Paterson in particular by announcing that
he would close the Rogers Locomotive
Works when outstanding contracts were
lhnod. Romonstrance meetings were held
) and Mr.. Rogers was asked TO reconsider
1t was pointed out to him tina. he would
r throw 1900 men out Of employment. His
Ircply was characteristic.
Il have paid them for their work." he
E said" and 1 am under no obligation &c
- them AS for Paterson, I care nothing
The works are mine, and 1 will clos,
them"
REFUSES TO SELL
81 And he did. Then Il was proposed TO Mr.
Rogers that he should sell the works. Ills
requirements wero so great. however tina
no ofer was made.
Next Mr.. Rogers asked the courts C
name a receiver for the Rogers Locomo
tive Works This was done and the re
8 ceiver sold them to Elliott S. Smith and
! T. F. Holran, OF New York, for s6)20oo.
e Mr.. Rogers said that he hal, az tha
time, never sold anything but locomotive
/ and butter-and he told the truth. He in
vested In securities and did not sell them
D II the securities were forced TO a Fictitious
r value. Jacob Rogers paid no attention
S lie bought much real estate, that has In
creased In value, and he has never sold
That is why the extent Of his fortune is
l mystery.
At Pompton he owned a stock farm o
many hundreds Of acres. where he raise
g blooded cattle. thoroughbred horses an
maintained extensive game preserves. IL
il sold the product Of his dairy at 40 cents
+ pound-never varying. When the deman
for It grew. he was offered a larger price
= His reply was that butter such as he mad
(. was worth 40 cents pound and no NOR