Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-20

| the Standard Oil capitalist, died at his
residence. No. 3 East 18th street, about
7 o'clock this morning. He arose about
6 o'clock and about $50 began to feel
| i'll, complaining of numbness and
nausea. Before anything could be done
he sank and died. He went on Friday
last to his country place at Fairhaven
| Mass, and returned yesterday.
| Mr.. Rogers was for many years one
| of the most prominent financers of
| the country. He took a leading part
| in all of the enterprises undertaken by
the Standard Oil group of capitalists,
was vice president of the Standard Oil
CO. and was the active spirit in the
organization of the Amalgamated Cop
per Co., of which he was president up
to the time of his death He also was
interested in a number of railroads,
serving as Il member of the board of
directors If the Atchison. Topeka &
Santa Fe, the Chicago, Milwaukee &
st. Paul and the Union Pacific.
The news of the death came as a
surprise to Wall street Mr. Rogers
was at the office Of the Standard Oil
Co. yesterday and appeared to be in
good spirits. His health had been fail
ing somewhat for several years past
ard he had curtailed his financial oper-
ations to some extent on that account.
but he continued to perform the duties
of vice president of the Standard Oil
Co
The death of Mr.. Rogers follows
closely upon the completion of the
great railway project to the accom-
plshment of which the energies of
his later years, his genius for or&ani-
zation and a very considerable portion
Of his private fortune We're devoted.
This was the building of the Virginia
Railway, line which opened up a
rich bituminous coal country in West
Virginia to a tide water terminal at
Sewalls Point Va. This road was dis
tinct!y an Individual undertaking Cf
Mr. Rogers and he personally bore the
Greater part of the cost of its con
struction, which has been estimated at
$40, 000, 900
Mr. Rogers had embarked on his ven
ture sometime prior to the financial
panic of 1907. which checked similar
undertakings by some of the large rail
road companies of this country. but
the work Of building this line went
on TO us 1lIllSil, lIdiuly DtCduSt VI tiI''
energy ard faith which Mr.. Rogers ap-
piled to the achievement of his pur-
pose early in April. only a few weeks
ago, the road was opened to traffic.
The opening was success. and al
ter receiving the congratulations of
the officials and business men of Viz
GINA upon his splendid courage which
mad carried the work to its finish. Mr..
Rogers returned to his home in New
York.
His death, coming SO soon after the
end Of this work and before he saw
the fruit of his labor in the develop
mont of the section served by his road,
is regarded bv his friends and asso
ciatc.; among New York flnanciers as
i regrettable ending Of a brilliant ca !
recr il, the business and financial
world Mr.. Rogers rose, as he usually
did. about 5 o'clock this morning. At i
O'Clock he complained of feeling i'll
and Il physician was hurredly sent
for. His heart action was weak and 1T
was apparent that he was suffering
from stroke of apopleXy. This was
:hc {. cond illness of this nature suf-
fered by Mr.. Rogers. the first having
&c CURED in July, 1907. In spite Of all
that could be done for him this morn
ing, Mr. Rogers sank rapidly and tn"
end came peacefully at O'Clock.
Following the seizure Of apoplcxy
in 1907. Mr. Rogers began putting his
affairs ir order, and he had been out
of the stock market entirely for
months His interests in all of the cor
por atoms with which he had been iden-
-, hn, dc
during the past year This step was
taken in order to safeguard his proper
ties in the event of sudden death.