The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-05-25

comfortable His vety first gift to thu
town of Fairhaven after be had be-
come man, of wealth was a school.
house which cost $40, 1000.
Fairhaven In the days when Rogers
left high school wasn't teeming with
opportunities for an ambitious youth.
The high school graduate tried his
hand first at selling newspapers for
want of better employment, but he
had to run over to New Bedford to
find enough people to make the thing
pay.
A little experience In that line salts
fed him that there was better open
ing in a store. He held his place as
clerk for five years at So week and
board. Then he tried his hand as bag
gagemaster on the branch railroad
which ran through Fairhaven. That
job paid $1.16 day. The payroll Of
the road showing his receipts for
wages and also numerous grocery bills
that he signed are kept as interesting
relics in the town now.
Mr.. Rogers. like many an ambitious
young New Highlander. started for
Pennsylvania In the early sixties to
seek his fortune In the petroleum bust
ness. He knew nothing about it ex-
cep' what he had read In the newspa-
pers. He had married Miss Abbie T.
Clifford of Fairhaven. and together
they set out for the new land. Their
stay In Pennsylvania was for only six
years. Bartholomew Taber, a paint
shop proprietor in Feirhaven, heard
from Charles Pratt OF the Pratt oil
works In Brooklyn that his company
was looking for bright young New
Highlander. Rogers was summoned
from McClintock's, on On creek, where
he had mastered In surprisingly
short time all of the details of the pro-
ducing business. Mr.. Rogers before he
left Pennsylvania had become connect
ed with the pennsylvania Salt COM
pany of Natrona, which operated one
Of the largest reineries on the Allie
gheny river In connection with its
chemical works. During the civil war
he had contributed to the Union cause
and aided soldiers.
1t wasn't long before Mr.. Rogers
was an important factor in the firm
Of Charles Pratt & Co.. having been
taken in as a partner. This part
nership continued until the formation
Of the Standard On company in 1874.
when the union of the chief refineries
Of New York. Philadelphia. Cleveland
and Pittsburg was effected. Mr.. Rog-
ers became the chairman of the man
ufacturing committee Of the combina-
ton and also one of the trustees. From
that day until his death he was one
Of the controlling forces in the affairs
of that company. 1t has been said Of
him that he had more actual expert
ence In the petroleum industry than
any other Of the men who have be-
come rich in the Standard OH group.
Mr.. Rogers first wife died fourteen
years ago. In 1895 he married Emelle
Augusta Randel, daughter Of the head
of the diamond firm OF Randel, Bare
more & Billings. She had been Mrs.
Lucius r. Hart. but had divorced her
husband and obtained permission to
use her maiden name.
Mr.. Rogers had spent, it is estimated,
s3.O0O.0O0 in making Fairhaven. bis
boyhood home. model town. His first
gift. as already told. was the school
house. After that came town hall.
The Millicent library, memorial TO
his daughter. cost 100000. TO the
Unitarian church he gave a group Of
buildings, the total outlay having been
about $1.0OO.0O0. This gift was IN
memory Of his first WIFE, Mr.. Rogers
built beautiful home In Fairhaven
and many Of his happiest hours were