Born at Sandy Hill, Washington county, New York, on the 6th of December, 1830, and is the son of Hon. Charles and Susan A. Rogers, the latter the daughter of Dr. Russell Clark, a prominent physician of Sandy Hill, New York. He prepared for college at the Troy Conference Academy, West Poultney, Vermont, remaining about three years, and at Glenn Falls, New York, one year, entering Union College in the sophomore year in 1848. He remained there three years, and graduated third on the Phi-Beta-Kappa roll in 1851. While at Union College he took an extra course of civil engineering and surveying and other standard works in that profession; and upon graduating, in addition to his certificate, he gave him a letter of introduction and recommendation to W. J. McAlpine, engineer and surveyor of the State of New York, who immediately offered him a situation in the state engineer's department, which was accepted. Being ambitious, and inheriting from his father a love for politics, he resigned his situation and began the study of law in the office of U. G. Paris, Esq., in his native town, and shortly afterward entered the Hallston Law School, then under the charge of the learned Professor Fowler, where he remained several months, till its removal to Poughkeepsie, New York. He then returned home, and finished his studies in the office of Hughes and Northrup. Early in 1854 he decided to locate in the west; and having an uncle, the Hon. Thomas Rogers, residing at Dubuque, Iowa, decided to make that state his future home. He arrived at Davenport in 1854, just after the Chicago and Rock Island railway was completed. The district court being in session he was admitted to practice in all the courts of the state. He remained at Davenport several months, until Mr. Barnard, who resided in Le Clair in the same county (Scott), was elected prosecuting attorney, when he removed to Le Clair and took his business. Here he remained five years, acting as attorney for the Le Clair Marine Railway Company, and engaged in a large and lucrative law business, the proceeds of which he invested in government lands and land warrants, and laid the foundation of his present competence. At the urgent solicitation of his particular friend, Colonel W. H. Merritt, he removed in 1859 to Cedar Rapids, remaining there for more than a year engaged in active practice of his profession. He was married in Philadelphia on the 22d of December, 1860, to Miss Julia Augusta Waples, the daughter of Peter Waples, Esq. He removed to Dubuque in February, 1861, engaged in the practice of his profession. He was raised in the democratic school of politics and earnestly advocates its principles, and during the war made many stirring speeches in favor of the government and upholding the old flag. He has been an uncompromising democrat, taking an active part in all the prominent conventions of the party since his residence in the state. In 1873 he was nominated and triumphantly elected by the democracy of Dubuque as member of the legislature, though nearly all of the entire democratic ticket was defeated. He was one of the prominent leaders of his party in the Fifteenth General Assembly. Personally, he has rare qualities, and by his upright course of life, his manly deportment and independence of character, has made for himself an honorable reputation.
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