The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1902-01-03
GOV. ROGERS IS DEAD
Cnt Down by Pneumonia After
Six Days Illness.
His Death a Shock IN the PeonIa
Who Twice Called Him to
the Executive Chair,

Olympia, Dec. 26-Governor John r
| Rogers died this evening at 3 O'Clock
after an illness of six days. This morn
ing he began to sink and passed into a
comatose state. Growing steadily weak
er throughout the day. The collapse
was surprise to his physician and fam
lily, as he rested better last night than
he had during his illness. He took some
nourishment this morning, but became
unconscious about O'Clock. Mrs. Rog.
ers and the governors two daughters
Mrs. Blackman and Miss Helen Rogers.
were at his bedside all day.
The first symptoms of Governor Rog-
ers' illness developed Friday afternoon
at his office, when he contracted a chill.
fever resulted, and by 10 O'Clock Sat
urday morning he began to complain OF
pains III his chest The fever increased
slightly and the pains became quite Sc
we're. Sunday the first reports of his
condition were given out. 1t was an
nOunced that he was suffering from lObar
pneumonia, the middle lobe OF the right
lung being affected. He was attended
by DR.. Ingham Of Olympia. While he
was acknowledged to be seriously i'll, his
condition was not considered dangerous.
The governor was known to be a man
OF regular habits and strong constitu-
ton and, although, in one of his ad-
vanced years, pneumonia is never to be
lightly considered, it was thought he
would pull through.
The patient suffered a great deal OF
pain Sunday, but by s O'Clock in the
evening he was resting much more easily
and passed good night. Monday his
condition remained unchanged. Mon
day night was again passed comfortably
aDd Tuesday morning the governor
rested easily and was i'll a cheerful frame
OF mind. On the same day the watchers
by his bedside announced his condition
to be satisfactory and the belief was ex-
pressed that he would recover. On
Christmas, he was reported to be still
improving. State Labor Commissioner
| William ID. Blackman, his son-in-law,
who was constantly at his bedside, made
| the announcement that if the disease
did not spread, and the time had then
arrived when it should spread if at all, ,
DR.. lngham felt entirety comfortable
| concerning his patient
1T was today that the first turn for
the worst came. By afternoon, he was
very weak and the end was expected at
any moment. He was unconscious and
therefore free from pain. He fingered
until 8 O'Clock tonight, when he expired.
Sketch of His Life.
John r. Rogers was born in Bruins
wick, Me-, September 4, 1884. He re-
ceived q common school education.
From 1852 to 1856 he was drug clerk
in Boston, and manager of drug store
in Jackson, Miss, for the next four
years. From 1860 to 1866 he was a
farmer and school teacher in Illinois.
The next 10 years of his life we're spent
as farmer and druggist 10 the same
state. He went to Kansas in 1876, and
engaged in farming. He became or
ganiZer of the Farmers Alliance in 1873.
Later he served as editor of the Kansas
CommOner for several years at Wichita,
and during that time held several minor
offices.
In 1890 he moved to the state of
Washington and settled at PuyalluD,
where he engaged in the drug business.
He brought with him his populistic
| ideas, and when that wave swept over
| Washington he at once became promi-
nent in politics. He was elected a men,
Der OF the legislature in 1894 as popu-
| list. In the memorable three-cornered
| convention held at Ellensburg in August,
1896, he was nominated for governor on
the fusion ticket, after one of the great
est political struggles in the history OF
the state. He was elected by large
majority, defeating 2. C.. Sullivan OF
| Tacoma, the republican nominee. In
September, 1900, he was renominated
by the fusionists at Seattle, and re-
elected by nearly 1000 majority, defeat
ing State Senator j. M. Frink.
Governor Rogers was not what could
be called politician, but of the seven
times he was a candidate for office be
was never defeated. He was upright
and honest, and no matter whom be
crossed, he spoke his sentiments, and
put them into practice as far as in his
power. He was a true friend, but q
bitter political foe.
Governor Rogers was the author o
several works On political economy
among them 1.-The Irrepressible Conflict, y
"Looking Forward" "The Inalienable
Rights OF Man." all OF which attracted
attention by virtue of their vigorous
incisive utterances,- creating much dis
cussion and criticism by the press o
the country.
Governor Rogers was married in 1861
in Illinois, to Mrs. Sarah l.. Greene, who
with five children, survives him-Miss
Helen Rogers, Mrs. William Blackman
Professor E. j. Rogers of Stanford Uni.
versity, Edwin Rogers, now in London,
and A. c. Rogers of Santa Barbara.
Funeral Arrangements.
Olympia, Dec. 28.-The dead governor
will be given a military funeral, and q
guard of honor from Troop B at Ia
coma, consisting of eight national
guardsmen, are on guard at the resi-.
dence. The body will lie in state at the
residence on Capitol hill Tuesday after
noon from 2 to 2:30 O'Clock. Wednes
day morning at $50 O'Clock private
services will be held at the home for the
family exclusively, special funeral train
conveying the remains to Tacoma i'm
mediately afterward. In that city the
casket will be placed in the rotunda oi
the Pierce county court house, the pub
lie being allowed to pass before it for an
hour and half. At / O'Clock the cas-
ket will be returned to the funeral train
in which it will be borne to Puyallup
where the final services will be held at
the home of the governors eldest son
Edwin R. Rogers. The customary volley
over the grave will be fired by the ma
tional guardsmen, followed by the bugle
call, TAPS"