Evening star., 1909-05-19

young New Englander. Rogers was sum-
moned from MctTlintocks. on Oil 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 connected
with the Pennsylvania Salt Company OF
Natrona. which operated one of the iarg-
est refineries the Allegheny river In
connection with its chemical works.
Partner in Oil Business.
IT was not long before Mr.. Rogers was
an important factor in the firm of Charles
Pratt & Co. having been taken in as
partner. This partnership continued until
the formation of the Standard OIL Conn
pany in 1874. when the union of the chief
refineries of New York. Philadelphia.
Cleveland and Pittsburg was effected Mr.
Rogers became the chairman OF the man.
ufacturing committee of the commission
and also one of the trustees From that
day until his death he was one or the
controlling forces In the affairs of that
company. 1t has been said of him that
he had more actual experience in the
petroleum industry than any other of the
men who have become wealthy in the
Standard Oil group.
Mr. Rogers first wife died fourteen
years ago. In 1896 he married Emelle
Augusta Randel. daughter of the head of
the diamond firm of Rande1 Baremore
& 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,
$4,000, 600 in making Fair Haven, his. boy
hood home, a model town. His first gift
already told, was the schoolhouse
After that came a town hall. the Milli-
cent library, memorial to his daughter,
which cost 100000. To the Unitarian
Church he gave a group of buildings, the
total outlay having been about Sl,0OOOOO.
This gift was in memory of his first wife,
Mr.. Rogers built beautiful home In
Fair Haven, and many OF his happlest
hours were spent there.
Village Official of Fair Haven.
Mr.. Rogers interest in his old town be-
came so deep that few years ago he
accepted the office of superintendent of
streets, a post which paid him So day.
1t is estimated that Mr.. Rogers spent
fully 100000 of his own money on the
streets and roads of Fair Haven.
The sewers and waterworks also were
built largely with his money. Last year
he carried his patronage to the extent of
giving the teachers in the public schools
$1,000 each for their vacation. He built
a beautiful three-story Masonic hall IN
the town and requested that the lodge
should be named after Capt. George II.
Taber. for capt. Taber," said Mr.. Rog-
ers, lis the finest man 1 ever knew, with
a heart as big as an OK and love enough
for the whole world." "
Mr. Rogers had come in for his share
of the trouble that has arisen for the
Standard Oil men out of the federal and
state agitation against the company. Mr.
Rogers testified in the proceedings that
were brought against the company by the
state of Missouri, and he had said that
he was ready to appear as witness in
other actions whenever his testimony was
needed.
Man of Striking Appearance.
Mr.. Rogers was a man of striking ap-
pearance. He was also man of great
geniality. He was always fond of joke
and knew how to crack one. He was
once asked how he managed to succeed
so we'll in the world. He replied:
by working as hard as anybody / ever
or read about"
In 1897 Mr.. Rogers, at the behest of a
representative Of the Danish government
brought the attention OF the federal gov
ernment to the fact that Denrpark desired
10 sell to the United States the Danish
West Indies. The outbreak of the Span
ish war stopped the negotiations at the
time, and this brief connection of Mr..
Rogers with the matter was made the
basis OF sensational stories which had
Mr.. Rogers owning the United States
Senate
Mr.. Rogers is survived by widow and
four children-Henry ii. Rogers, jr.,
Anne. who became Mrs. w. +. Benjamin;
Clara. wife of Urben IL. Broughton of
Chicago. and Mae, wife of William r.
Coe.