Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-06-08
KILLED BY A
HORSES KICK
The Reverend Allen Rodeer, Of vi,
ca, succumbs to Injuries Receiv.
ed Thursday Afternoon.
A GREAT LOSS TO THE CHURCH
For Fifteen Years the Reverend Rod
ger Has Been a Tower Of Strength
to the Montana Ministry.

The Reverend Allen Rodger, one
OF the best known Methodist Episco-
pal ministers in the state of Montana,
died at his home in Utica at 4:30
O'Clock Sunday morning of injuries
received Thursday afternoon at two
O'Clock, when he vas kicked by one
of his favorite horses. The accident
occurred. in the barnyard of the Utica
Mercantile Company. and the horse
that did the kicking was considered
extremely gentle and was a great
fayorite of the Reverend Rodger. The
kick was received in the abdomen
and caused the good man the great
est agony. He went into the store
of the mercantile company and rest.
ed for a short while on a couch. DR..
Poska examined him there and found
that the injury was serious.
The injured man, was taken to his
home, where he grew rapidly worse,
despite the skilled work of his at
tending physicians. He was conscious
the greater part of the time until
about IL o'clock Saturday night when
he became unconscious and remained
SO until his death Sunday morning.
The funeral services were held from
the Methodist Episcopal church in
Utica by the Rev. w. A. Winters, of
this place, at 2:30 o'clock Monday
afternoon, the church being crowded
to overlooking by the friends of the
deceased and his family. Eloquent
tributes to the memory of the good
man were paid by the Rev. Winters
and by Prof. E. r. Young, principal
of the Utica public school.
After the funeral services the body
was taken to Geyser by a deputation
of Masons, knights of Pythias and
Odd Fellows, there being two men,
bers from each lodge in the party.
At that place the burial party was
met by a deputation of fraternity
brothers from Belt, who accompanied
the body to that city. In Belt an
other deputation of Masons, Odd Eel
lows and Knights of Pythias from the
Great Falls lodges was ready to take
the body to Great Falls, in which
place at 8 o'clock yesterday after.
noon, funeral services conducted by
the Rev. w. w. Van Orsdel and 9TH
er ministers from this part of the
state, were held In the M. Z. church,
after which the body was laid TO its
final rest in the Great Falls cemetery.
The tragic and untimely death OF
Rev. Rodger mea a great loss to the
ministry of the state, as he was al,
ways in the forefront of the battle
against the hosts of righteousness
Something over Al years ago he was
born In Glasgow. Scotland. About 16
years ago he came to this country
and did not stop to locate until he
had reached Montana. Here he fol.
ing in Livingston and other cities for
a few months, when he entered the
ministry.
His first church was at Philbrook.
1t was yet in the pioneer period and
the new minister had many things
to overcome, but he was a man among
men and soon became a great power
for good in that community. From
August, 1890. to August, 1891, he oc,
cupied the pulpit in this city and was
highly esteemed by all classes OF peo
pie in the church and out of 1t in
Lewistown. Leaving here he was 10
Gated at different times at Belt, Au.
gusta, Havre, and, at the time Of his
death, at Utica.
A wife and three children, all boys,
aged Is, Z and s years, are left to
mourn the death of a good and true
husband, a wise and generous faith
er. The wife is Frustrated with grief
and her condition was alarming for
a few days. but she is gradually i'm
proving at the present time. The
Rev. j. w. Bennett, of Missoula, was
on his way TO visit the Rodger fam.
lily, but did not arrive in time to see
his friend among the living.