Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-06-16
THE PASSING OF H. H. ROGERS.
Former Grocery hoy of Fnirhaven

Former Grocery hoy of Fnirhaven,
Mass, Who Becnme Money King.
The death of Henry Huttleston Rog-
ers. multi-millionaire and Standard
OIL magnate, came as shock to the
men of the financial world. Mr.. Rog-
ers died of apoplexy, an ending which
he had reason to anticipate. for nearly
two years ago he had suffered from a
stroke which compelled temporary
retirement from business activities.
Henry H. Rogers was native of
Mattapoisett. Mass, and was 60 years
OF age when death brought to close
his marvellous career. AS a boy he
attended school in Fairhaven, Mass,
where his father was grocer-a town
which years afterward was the recip.
lent OF his financial favor in many
ways. He began his business career
selling newspapers and driving de-
livery wagon for his father. Then he
worked as Jerk in New Bedford for
SO week. After five years he became
a railroad brakeman and baggageman
at $1.16 per day. Shortly after reach
ing his majority he went with his
young wife to the Pennsylvania oil
country. taking with him his savings
of 5000. There he came into contact
with that group of Oil City boys many
OF whom later were to be numbered
among the financial kings of America
In 1866, after five years in the oil
fields, he went to Brooklyn as partner
in the firm conducting the Charles
Pratt Oil Works.
In standard OIL,
In 1874 the union of the chief oil
refiners in New York, PHILADELPHIA.
Cleveland and Pittsburg brought into
existence the Standard Oil Company
and Rogers was in on the ground floor
Second only to John D. Rockefeller,
he was responsible for the remark.
able success of that organization and
second only to him no reaped the
greatest financial reward.
Two great ideas Mr.. Rogers contrib
uted to the development of the oil
business. He invented the machinery
by which naphtha was first success.
lully separated from the crude OIL
thus making the way for all that has
been done since In the use of naphtha
and Its kindred products, and making
the handling and use of the residual
oil far safer than 1t had even been
before because the volatile constituent
had been removed.
OF late years Mr.. Rogers, with Will
lam Rockefeller, left the matter of oil
production and distribution with 9th.
ers. and devoted himself to the man.
agement Of the many millions of dol
larse which make the Standard Oil
Company one of the great financial
powers of the world.
Mr.. Rogers first wife was Libbie T.
Quilford. Of Fairhaven. Mass. She
died fourteen years ago and a year
later he married Emma Augusta Ran.
dali. daughter Of the head of a big
diamond firm. and former wife Of Luz
cius r. Hart. whom she had divorced.
His wife and four children survive
him. His children are: Henry H.
Rogers. .Jr.; Mrs. w. Benjamin. Mrs.
Urban H. Broughton and Mrs. William
R. Coe. The youngest daughter, Mae,
at the age of II. eloped in 1893 with
Joseph c. Mott. but her parents Sc
cured a divorce for her and later she
became Mrs. Coe.
Mr.. Rogers wealth is estimated at
from $50000.0O0 to $75,OoO,OOO. He
was exceedingly generous in his benev-
olences and had devoted at least 49,
100000 to making Fairhaven city
beautiful. His summer estate has long
been recognized as one of the show
places of America. Among his gifts to
Fairhaven were grammar school, a
library. town hall building, a Ma.
sonic building. magnificent Unita.
rian church. parish house and parson.
age. He also purchased a mosquito
infested swamp. filled 1t in, converted
1t into park and gave 1t to the city
Chiefly at his own expense he macad.
amized every street in town, placed
walks at all crossings, curbed all the
sidewalks and paved the cutters.
Mr.. Rogers was recognized as the
closest friend of Samuel L. Clemens
mark Twain). and the two were to
gether whenever possible. Mr.. Glenn
ons was on his way to call on Mr.
Rogers when he learned of his death
and was SO overcome that he could
barely express his grief.
Henry H. Rogers was man Of
striking and contradictory characters