National academy of sciences, and president of the Franklin institute in 1875-'9. Besides various articles in the transactions of the societies of which he was a member, and in scientific journals, he was associated with his brother James (q. v.) in editing “Elements of Chemistry” (Philadelphia, 1846), and edited Charles G. Lehman's “Physiological Chemistry” (2 vols., 1855). See “The Brothers Rogers,” by William S. W. Ruschenberger (Philadelphia, 1885).
ROGERS, James Webb, lawyer, b. in IlilN-
borough, N. C., 11 July. 1822 : d. 2 Jan.. 1896. He
was graduated at Princeton, and studied for the
ministry. After taking orders in the Protestant
Episcopal church, he became pastor of St. Paul's
pari-Oi in Franklin, Tenn., and while in that state
was instrumental in building six churches. He
was a partisan of the south at the beginning of
the civil war, and served in the Confederate army
under Gen. Leonidas Polk. Subsequently he went
to England, remaining there for some time, and in
1878 he became a Roman Catholic, but could not
be admitted to the priesthood on account nf hi-*
being married. On his return to the United Slates
he settled at first in Xew York city, afterward in
Indianapolis, Ind., where he edited " The Central
Catholic," and then removed to Washington, where
he studied law. After being admitted to practice,
he became associated with his son as attorney in
the protection ami -ale of the latter's inventions.
His publications include ' Lafitte, or the Greek
Slave " (Boston, 1870) ; " Madame Surratt. a Drama
in Five Acts" (Washington. 1879); "Arlington,
and other Poems" (1883); and "Parthenon" (Bal-
timore, 1887). His son. James Harris, electrn -ian.
b. in Franklin, Tenn., 13 July, LS'iii. was educated
in this country and abroad. In 1877 he was ap-
pointed electrician at the U. S. capitol in Wash-
ington, I >. ( '.. and he continued in that office until
1883. He was the inventor of the secret telephone
that was sold in New York for xSO.OOO, also of the
national improved telephone, and of the pan-elec-
tric system, comprising patents on electric mo-
tors, lights, telegraphs, telephones, and telemorphs,
which attracted greater attention from the circum-
stance that Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Senator Au-
gustus H. Garland, Senator Isham G. Harris, and
other government officials capitalized the inven-
tions at $15,000,000, and secured, it was alleged at
the time, the interposition of the government to
defend some of the patents. He has lately devised
what he calls " visual synchronism."
ROGERS, John, founder of a sect,' b. in New
London. Conn., in 1648 ; d. there in 1721. He be-
came a dissenter from the Congregational church,
assumed the ministerial offices of preaching and
baptizing, and, having gained a few disciples,
founded a sect whose members were called Roger-
enes, and also Rogerene Baptists or Quakers. He
and his followers were frequently fined and im-
prisoned for profanation of the Sabbath, for, al-
though they worshipped on that day, they regard-
ed themselves free to labor. Rogers was put in
the stocks for an insult to the assembled congrega-
tion, and upon his release from prison rushed into
the meeting-house and disturbed the services, for
which he was sent to Hartford for trial and was
seated on a gallows with a halter around his neck
for several hours. He frequently came into collision
with the town authorities, and his aggressive spirit
did not cease with his old age, for in 1711 he was
fined and imprisoned for misdemeanor in court,
contempt of its authority, and vituperation of the
judges. Upon his release he was charged with in-
sanity and confined in a dark prison. The popu-
lace became enraged, and several English officers
applied to the town authorities to mitigate his treat-
ment. He finally escaped in a boat to Long Island,
went to New York, and begged the protection of
Gov. Hunter. On his return to New London he
prosecuted his judges, but was nonsuited and
charged with a heavy fine. He wrote many books
on theology, including " The Midnight Cry."
ROGERS, John, congressman, d. in Annapolis,
Md.. -! Sept., 1789. His parentage and the date
of his birth are unknown. He was a member of
the committee of safety in 1774-'5, a trustee of the
Lower Marlborough academy in 1 775, a delegate to
the Continental congress in 1775-'G, one of the
executive council on the organization of the si ale
government in February, 1777, and chancellor of
Maryland from 10 March, 1778, until his death.
ROGERS, John, sculptor, b. in Salem. Mass.,
30 Oct.. 1829. He received his education at the
Boston high-school, and afterward worked, first in
a dry-goods store and later in a machine-shop, at
Manchester, N. H. While at this latter place his
attention was first drawn to sculpture, and he be-
gan to model in clay in his leisure hours. In 1856
he sought work in Hannibal, Mo., and in 1858 he
visited Europe. On his return in 1859 he went to
Chicago, where he modelled, for a charity fair,
"The Checker-Players." a group in clay, which at-
tracted much attention. He produced also some
other groups, but "The Slave Auction," which was
exhibited in New York in 1860. first brought him
to the notice of the general public. This was the
forerunner of the well-known war series of statu-
ettes (1860-'5), which included, among others, the
" Picket Guard," " One more Shot " (1864), " Taking
the Oath and drawing Rations" 1 1865), and "Union
Refugees," " Wounded Scout." and " Council of
War" (1867-'8). His works on social subjects, nio-t
of which have been produced since the war. have
also been very popular. Among these are " Com-
ing to the Parson" (1870); "Checkers up at the
Farm " ; ' The Charity Patient " ; " Fetching the
Doctor"; and "Going for the Cows" (1873). He
has produced also several statuettes in illustration
of passages in the poets, particularly Shakespeare.
They include "Ha! I like not that," from "Othel-
lo " ; " Is it so nominated in the Bond ? " from the
" Merchant of Venice " (I860) : " Why don't You
speak for Yourself ?" from ' Miles Standish ": and
a series of three groups illustrating Irving's Rip
Van Winkle " (1870). These statuette groups, about
fifty in number, and each from eighteen to twenty
inches in height, have nearly all been reproduced
in composition, and have had large sales. He has
been most successful in illustrating every-day life
in its humorous and pathetic aspects, and " Rogers's
Groups " have had a large share in elevating the
artistic taste of the masses. Mr. Rogers lias also
executed an equestrian statue of Gen. John K. l.'ey-
nolds (1881-'3), which stands before the city-hail,
Philadelphia, and in 1887 he exhibited "Irhal'od
Craneand the Headless Horseman,"a bronze group.
ROGERS. Mary Cecilia, b. about 1820: d. in Weehawken, N. J.. 25 July, 1841. She was the daughter of a widow that kept a boarding-house in Nas-an street, and was engaged by John Anderson as a shop-girl in his tobacco-store on Broadway, near Dunne- street, where young men of fashion bought their cigars and tobacco. No suspicion had ever been attached to her character, and much excitement was manifested when she suddenly disappeared. A week later she reappeared at her accustomed place behind the counter, and in reply to all inquiries said that she had been on a visit toiler aunt in the country. Seeral years afterward she left her home one Sunday morning
