My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Ephriam D. Rogers is one of the pioneers of Lafayette Township, being the second oldest in this township. He was born November 4, 1817, in Georgia, a son of Jonathan and Sarah (Roundtree) Rogers, natives of North Carolina, the former born in 1790. Jonathan Rogers’ father having died when he was young, he was bound out to a farmer, and worked at farm labor until about eighteen years of age, when he was married to Miss Sarah Roundtree. Shortly after his marriage he moved to Georgia, and thence to Alabama, when the subject of this sketch was but two years of age. In 1856 he came to this county and purchased an improved farm of 400 acres, on which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1871, his wife having died in 1863. They were both members of the Missionary Baptist Church. They had a family of fifteen children, twelve of whom lived to maturity, and have families, viz.: Benjamin (now deceased), Penny (married Dr. J. G. Wilson, of this township, died leaving ten children, six of whom are still living), Ephriam D. (the subject of this sketch), Betsey (Mrs. W. W. Wilson, of Columbia County, has eight children, all living), Cader (died leaving five children, all living), Alphea (a farmer of Columbia County, has a family of six children), Wiley M. (died, leaving five children, all living), Sallie (married Mr. Cook, and died leaving seven children, all living), Bramblie (married Mr. Booth, and died leaving seven children), Treasy (now Mrs. Booth, has seven children), Jonathan R. (a farmer of Alabama, has a family of eight children), and Martha (Mrs. Venable, of this township, has four children). Mr. Ephriam Rogers was reared in Alabama, and had no education whatever. He commenced farming for himself in Autauga County, Ala., when he was twenty-one years of age. In 1838 he was married to Miss Martha Booth, a native of that county, born February 17, 1822, a daughter of Charles and Nancy (Owens) Booth, both natives of South Carolina, and died in 1860 and 1837, respectively, both members of the Missionary Baptist Church, by whom he had eleven children, viz.: Charles B. (now farming in this county), Nancy E. (deceased), Sarah A. (deceased), Martha Ann (now Mrs. McDonald of this county), Mary L. (now Mrs. Carter of this township), John R. (whose sketch follows this), William J. (who is engaged in farming in this township), Benjamin Franklin (farmer of this county), Elizabeth W. (now Mrs. Forbes of this township), Emly (deceased), and Ellen Frances (now Mrs. Jeffus, of this township). In 1856 Mr. Rogers moved his wife and family to this county, purchasing an improved farm of 290 acres, on which he still lives. He served one year in the late war, in the Arkansas Home Guards. In 1888 Mr. Rogers sold his farm to his son, John R., and is now residing with him. Both he and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, to which they have belonged for nearly forty-eight years. Politically Mr. Rogers is a Democrat, before the war being a Whig, since which time he has been allied to the Democratic party. He is one of the best known citizens, and is highly respected by all.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 91 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Ouachita County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Ouachita County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Ouachita County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.