My Genealogy Hound

Thomas Rogers, retail liquor dealer of Fort Smith, Ark., is a native of McMinn County, Tenn., and was born on the 30th of January, 1849. His parents, Thomas and Letitia (Wallin) Rogers, were also Tennesseeans, the father’s birth occurring on the 5th of October 1818. He was reared in his native State, and in 1837 assisted in moving the Indians west of the Mississippi River. In 1867 he moved his family to Texas, thence to the Choctaw Nation, and in 1869 reached Fort Smith, where he spent his declining years. His wife died on the 12th of April, 1888, having borne a family of eight children, six of whom are living. She was a devoted mother, a true wife, and of noble qualities of mind and heart. Their son Thomas was in his eighteenth year when they left Tennessee, and after locating in Fort Smith, in 1879, he was married November 10, 1881, to Miss Alice Neville, who was born in Arkansas, and is a daughter of James and Mary (Nagle) Neville, who came to America from Ireland at an early day, being among the pioneers of Fort Smith. They had two children, who still survive them. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are the parents of two children, Agnes Letitia and Mollie. Mr. Rogers began business in Fort Smith a poor man, but now owns two retail liquor stores, two business houses on the great business thoroughfare of the city, besides residence property, most of which he has accumulated by industry and close attention to business. He is a member of the K. of P., and has always voted the Democratic ticket. His family are members of the Catholic Church. He is a Protestant in belief.