Evening journal., 1902-01-20


ters Of a century and still be lively an,
active and deeply interested in the
things of this world. One naturally
associates with thrce-score and ten a
person sans eyes, sans teeth, sans
everything But not Colonel j. Harry
! Rogers, of New Castle. The little OLD
gentleman, though IS, is erect and sol
dierly, bright Of eye, alert. well in.
formed and. in fact, one of the mOsi
interesting men likely to be found in
a many days march. 1t was not his
fault that he did not participate in a
skating contest with one 7O-year-Old
Abe Oppenheimer, in Philadelphia. on
Thursday. As it was. the latter. fear
ing the prowess Of the Delaware cham
piOn. backed down.
Aside from his interesting person
ality. Colonel Rogers has many other
possessions and very enviable ones
chiefly his collection of curios and rel
les. A reporter for the Evening Journal
called upon him in his charming home
recently and had the privilege of see
ing many rare and curious things. Col
onel Rogers residence is in Front
street and from the drawing room win
dows one catches a glimpse Of the
quaint houses In that street. Next to
that comes the library and then the
dining room delightful with its old
silver aud china and pictures-oyer-
looking the broad Delaware and fair
stretch of the Jersey shore.
Il don't believe that / have many
things now that would be of interest to
yOu.' declared the colonel, with a
brisk nod of his white head.
Il lost many valuable manuscript
letters Of William Penn. Patrick Henry
John Randolph and other noted men
by fire in 1870. and then a few years
ago | sold many more.
why did / sell them? Because my
children did not care anything about
them. and | wanted them placed in the
various historical societies and not
relegated to the garret."
1t is more than likely that the col
onel regrets his sale, for he deplores
the loss through an Intentionally care
less or dishonest auctioneer, numerous
rare and valuable articles. including
piece Of china which was a part of
set presented to George Washington by
France after the revolution, and bear
ing the coat-Of-arms of the Cincinnati.
Victorian medals and copper pennies.
It is said that a brother of the Rev. DR.. !
Munson. of New Castle, lost some fur
niture once owned by Abraham Lin
'oln in much the same way.
Notwithstanding his losses by fire. |
sale and auctioneer. Colonel Rogers
has a collection which would rejoice |
The heart of an ordinary collector. He
has manuscripts galore, pictures, |
china. silver bric-a-brac and the hun
1red and one other things which go to |
make up the regulation collection.
But he has far more than that. |
Among his most valued possessions is |
the original seal of the State OF Della |
ware. IL is affixed to a commission is |
sued by Governor Clayton in 1893 TO |
Cunning Bedford and to James Booth. |
The latter being the grandfather of Mr.. !
Rogers. AS you all know, after the
revolutionary war, everyone was re-
luired to take the oath of allegiance to |
The United States. and this yellow. |
though well-preserved paper commits |
stoned Bedford and Booth TO admins
Ter such oath of allegiance. Mr.. Rog-
ars has a book containing the names
and signatures of those taking the
path. among whom are many of the
ancestors of well-knOwn Wilmington
Ind New Castle people. The exact
late of the commission is April II,
1893.
Not so very long ago, three or four
years at most, it was considered quite
departure for invitations to funeral
% be issued. Confucius. or some other
Did fellow. is reported to have remark
ID that there is nothing new under the
sun. and Colonel Rogers can offer
proof of the statement. He has prob
IDLY the Oldest funeral invitation on
'ecord. 1t was for that of one Monsieur
,holet. a renowned Frenchman of his
ime. It is printed in French in large
ype and is adorned with skull and
1t is about six by seven
inches in size. and bears the date of
November. 1860. Mr.. Rogers. procured
he relic from his father-in-law, Mr..
Ingram, of Philadelphia, who was
'amOus collector.
One of the most interesting things
hat Colonel Rogers has is a survey of
Reedy Island, made by William Killen,
n 1749. Delawareans well informed as
% the history of their native State.
know all about William Killen, butli
or the benefit Of the half dozen or so
who may not belt may be said that he
lfterward was the first chancellor of
Delaware. The paper says: "a draught
If a tract of land called Reedy Island,
situate in St. Georges hundred in the
county OF New Castle in Delaware,
152 acres, exclusive Of the
allowance of six cents for roods. Sur
rev for Jonathan Woodland, Sth day of
November. 1749, in pursuance of the
warrant dated the 25th
lay of October. A. ID. 1749."
Another curious paper was certif-
ate signed by some prominent official
1f the Holy Land. setting forth the
'act tnat Robert Clay Rogers, brother
1f Colonel Rogers. had paid a visit to
Jerusalem and all the shrines. The
'ormer now is in California, where he
has made his home for several years.
He was an intrepid officer in the navy