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ROGERS, Ruel Mills[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

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  • Name ROGERS, Ruel Mills 
    Birth 19 Jan 1833  York, Livingston, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Gender Male 
    WAC 6 Jun 1863  EHOUS Find all individuals with events at this location 
    _TAG Reviewed on FS 
    Death 6 Feb 1903  Pleasant Grove, Utah, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 4
    Burial 9 Feb 1903  Draper, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Headstones Submit Headstone Photo Submit Headstone Photo 
    Person ID I56997  Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
    Last Modified 19 Aug 2021 

    Family ID F27459  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family NIELSON, Hannah Catherine ,   b. 17 Mar 1849, Denmark Find all individuals with events at this locationDenmarkd. 18 Sep 1904, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 55 years) 
    Children 1 son and 3 daughters 
    Family ID F20638  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 24 Jan 2022 

  • Photos At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  • Notes 
    • Partial History of Dr. Ruel Mills Rogers

      (I found this attached to a letter to Alfred John and Doris Maude Rogers. I do not know where it comes from. I did my best editing it into something readable. Brian Y Rogers, May 2017)

      Augusta Comfort Enniss was the mother of eleven children, who are as follows:
      Athena Augusta, born in Draper on June 14, 1864;
      Ransom Manlius, born in Moroni, Sanpete County, on December 28, 1865;
      Arsena Elizabeth, born in Moroni on August 5, 1867;
      Raphael Magnus, born in Moroni on September 27, 1869;
      Ida Mae, born in Draper on January 20, 1872;
      Ross Milton, born in Provo on March 31, 1874;
      Roscoe Menton, born in Provo on February 19, 1876;
      Royal Milford born in Provo Bench on June 9, 1879;
      Rural Maeser, born on Provo Bench on March 13, 1882;
      Narcissa Edith (known as Daisy), born in Provo Bench on September 24, 1884;
      Pearl Enniss, born in Provo Bench on March 31, 1886.

      In 1865, the Black Hawk War broke out, and every able man was called to go forth to protect his family, friends, and property from the Indians. Having previously been called to take his family and help build up Sanpete County, Dr. Rogers now entered the war as a physician and surgeon. He encountered many trying experiences in connection with the battle. At one time he was separated from the company to which he belonged and was without water for three days, which very nearly caused his death. Later he found his company and returned to his home in Moroni safely, where he and his family resided for about seven years.
      Two more children were born at this time: Roswell Medwin, born on March 20, 1867, and Colenda Chrella, born on April 12, 1869.
      Here also the Doctor courted a third time; and on December 22, 1867, he married Hannah Katherine Nelson. This third Mrs. Rogers was born at Alton, Illinois, on March 17, 1850. From this union were born the following children:
      Victoria Maria, who was born at Moroni, Sanpete County, on March 10, 1870;
      Effie Mary, born at Draper on November 13, 1872;
      Rufus Milan, born in Prove on July 8, 1876;
      Ruella Pearl born in Pleasant Grove on October 30, 1878;
      Lily May, born in Pleasant Grove on March 27, 1881;
      Kate Naomi, born in Pleasant Grove on January 19, 1884;
      Randolph Mercer, born in Pleasant Grove on March 28, 1886.
      On April 1, 1871, while yet residing in Moroni, Dr. Rogers was called to Salt Lake County on business. Soon after he left on his journey, his oldest son, Rinaldo Mace, then 14 years of age, thinking to play an April Fool's joke on his mother, took his gun out into the yard to shoot it. The gun would not go off, and he looked into the barrel to determine the cause. The gun went off and shot Rinaldo Mace, killing him instantly. This was a great shock to the Rogers and caused deep grief and sorrow and mourning in the family. They buried him in the Moroni City Cemetery and soon after, with heavy hearts, they moved back to their old home in
      Draper.
      The Doctor continued his practice and teaching in Draper. Here another daughter was born to them, Allie Zittella, on September 13, 1871.

      A very good position then presented itself in Provo City, and he sold his home in Draper and with his three wives and their families located in Provo. Here Dr. Rogers established one of the first drugstores in the city, the City Drug Store, as it was called, which was located on Main
      Street.
      As a doctor, he did a great work in Provo, traveling many miles with a horse and buggy to care for the sick. In this city, Lovina, the first wife, had her youngest children: Roxie Miriam, who was born on August 1, 1874, and Nellie Evelyn, born on June 22, 1877.
      At this time there was uninhabited land on Provo Bench and Dr. Rogers "took up" a quarter-section on the ridge between Pleasant Grove and Provo, under the Homestead Act and moved his first wife, Lovina, and her family there in 877. The Doctor himself remained in Provo with his second and third wives in order to be near his work at the Drug Store.
      Shortly after this, he sold his home and Drug Store in Provo and "took up" two more quarter-sections of land adjoining the first section, making 480 acres in all, and moved the rest of his family there, giving each wife a quarter-section to live on. From this time on, Dr. Rogers practiced for the most part in Provo Bench and Pleasant Grove and surrounding towns, as far north as Salt Lake.
      The three Rogers families lived a very interesting life on this large ranch on Provo Bench, it being located at the foot of the dividing ridge. Dr. Rogers owned several head of cattle, horses, and mules; some sheep, chickens, and turkeys. His practice made it impossible for him to care for his cattle and land himself; so he had hired men to do his farming under his accurate management.
      The children of these three families enjoyed each other's company almost as if they were neighbors and friends. Going hiking and horseback riding in the hills and around the ranch were their chief diversions. There was no school within the reach of the snail children at the ranch, so Dr. Rogers built a small frame house and there his oldest daughter, Fannie, taught the children. Their little family school opened at nine o'clock and closed at four o'clock and was conducted much the same as the public schools. Dr. Rogers was very strict with his children; and having furnished the children with books, he required them to study in the evenings the lessons their sister had taught them in their little day school. In order to attend Sunday School and to do their marketing, it was necessary for them to walk or ride horseback three miles into town.
      Among the pleasures and joys experienced during their ranch life came trials and tribulations and great sorrowing, which find their way into the lives of all of the human race, in much the same way as the pioneers were tormented with grasshoppers, so Dr. Rogers' crops year after year were destroyed by the wild rabbits and grasshoppers. Coming in great droves, they would devour the crops. It took the doctor, the hired help, and all the children with their many dogs and guns to drive the rabbits from the fields.
      One trying experience, which has often been told, ran as follows: On July 1, 1887, two small neighbor boys made a bonfire across the ridge from the Rogers' farm to roast potatoes in. A high wind arose, and the bonfire became uncontrollable for the small boys. The fire spread across the ridge and into Dr. Rogers' farm. It spread to the grain fields and by quick action on the part of all members of the family and with the help of neighbors, they were able to get
      it stopped by plowing a big ditch through the field, there being no water available. This, of course, was a great loss. Most of the grain was burned, as were all of their chickens and the fencing.
      Sickness also attacked the family from time to time. In 1880, Lovina's oldest daughter, Fannie, who had attended school at Provo and prepared herself for teaching, contracted
      "inflammation of the bowels" and passed away on February 20. She was buried at Draper. At the time of her death, Fannie was engaged to marry Joseph B. Keeler of Provo. Mr. Keeler later had her sealed to him.
      In the fall of 1880, the doctor moved Lovina and her family to Pleasant Grove. He purchased a house just east of what was then called the Mercantile Store. There he furnished one room for a drugstore, which was the first drugstore in Pleasant Grove. Shortly after this, he rented a building on Main Street (on the west side of the street) and moved his drugstore business there. He hired a druggist named Mr. Collett as manager of the drugstore. In later years, he moved it to a new location on the east side of the street at the head of Main Street. In this location, Dr. Rogers and his son, Royal, managed the business themselves. In 1891, this building burned down, which made it necessary to move their drugs to still another place; and it was at this new place that his daughter, Arsena, was accidentally shot and killed by Guy K. Robinson while she was working there on June 17, 1892.
      Soon after this, the first wife, Lovina, and her youngest daughter, Nellie moved to Provo, where Nellie attended school at the Brigham Young Academy.
      Dr. Rogers remained in Pleasant Grove with his second wife, Augusta, until the time of his death. He was taken very suddenly ill with pneumonia and died on February 6, 1903. He was buried in Draper. He had arrived at the honorable age of 70 years. At the time of his death, his
      drugstore business was well-kept and flourishing and his medical practice widespread. He was known throughout the county. Neat, very strict, and commanding as to nature, straightforward and alert. Small in appearance, strong in body, mind, and soul. Truthful to his God, his country, and to man. A personage to look up to and respect as one who came to this earth and performed his mission dutifully.

      The following are a few verses of poetry which flowed from the "pen of genius and ability" claimed by Dr. R. M. Rogers:

      MAY DAY SONG

      Come all you young lovers of learning
      And welcome the first day of May,
      Let us catch the sweet breath of the morning,
      And haste to the mountains away.

      We'll wander o'er hills and o'er valleys
      And cull the sweet flowers all day;
      Then we'll crown little bright-eyed beauty
      And call her the Queen o' the May.

      With faces as bright as the flowers
      And hearts all aglow with delight,
      We will welcome the evening hours
      And try for to do what is right.

      And after our holiday's over,
      To our studies we will repair,
      And strive to improve every hour
      With the very best caution and care.

      Note: This song was composed by the Doctor for a May Day celebration, which at that time was one of the main features of the year. His daughter, Fannie, was to be crowned Queen
      of the May; and all the children sang this song in her honor.

      DO AS YOU WISH OTHERS TO DO UNTO YOU

      Come all my young schoolmates
      And friends, one and all;
      Come parents and teachers,
      Come both great and small.
      We will sing you a song,
      And in it we will tell
      How old CuZlom would like
      To send us all to hell.

      But God has decreed that
      His kingdom shall stand.
      And if we are faithful
      He'll give us the land,
      And sooner or later
      All such wicked men,
      Will be sent to make laws
      In the Devil's pigpen.

      So cheer up, my brethren,
      And don't be afraid,
      We'll have God on our side,
      In all times of need,
      If we'll but prove faithful
      And honest and true;
      Do as you wish others
      To do unto you.

      SPARKLING AND BRIGHT

      Sparkling and bright in its liquid light
      Is the water in our glasses,
      It will give you health, it will give you wealth,
      Ye lads and rosy lasses.

      CHORUS:
      Oh! then resign the ruby wine,
      Each smiling son and daughter,
      For there's nothing so good, for the youthful blood,
      Nor so sweet as the sparkling water.

      Then quit your pranks and join in our ranks,
      With glad hearts and smiling faces,
      Don't chew nor smoke, for it is no joke,
      We must all quit such horrid vices.

      And coffee hot with tea we will not
      Consent to spoil our graces,
      And thus we may, in some future day,
      Praise God in holy places.

      Augusta, Dr. Rogers' second wife, died in Pleasant Grove, Utah, on September 11, 1903, of cancer of the stomach. She was buried in Draper, Utah.
      The third wife, Katherine, died in Lindon, Utah, on September 18, 1904, of cancer of the stomach. She was buried in the Provo City Cemetery.
      Lovina, the first wife, lived on in Provo City. Her daughter, Nellie, married; and Mrs. Rogers was left alone. As she grew older, she had a very severe attack of la grippe, which left its after-effects in the form of "leakage of the heart." Knowing of this weakness, her daughters did not care to leave her alone; so Colenda, who had married Joseph E. Adams, sent her daughter, Roena, to stay with her.
      While Roena was living with her, they were preparing to visit another daughter, Althea. Roena was instructed to go out the front door of the house to the waiting vehicle at the
      gate while her grandmother locked the backdoor. She did so, but her grandmother did not come immediately; so Roena ran around the house to see what might be delaying her. There on the back doorstep the little girl found her grandmother dead. This occurred on June 4, 1906; and Mrs. Rogers was laid to rest in the Provo City Cemetery.
      Mrs. Rogers was a large woman, very strong, but with a neat build, of dark complexion, having an abundance of hair which was inclined to curl. Mrs. Rogers lived a life of service, having raised a family of ten. Being a nurse, she was a very active woman in her line. She also took up dressmaking and was a perfect helpmate to her husband, both on their large farm and in his tying profession.




      Written by Evelyn Adams Robbins, granddaughter of Ruel M. Rogers.

      Ruel Mills Rogers, publicly known as Doctor Rogers, was the son of Isaac and Susan Mills Rogers and was born in York, Livingston county, New York, January 19, 1833. When but a small child his father and family moved from York to Kirkland, Ohio, where they joined the Latter-day Saint Church and became intimately acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith. From Kirkland the family moved to New Orleans and then to Terrecoupee, Indiana. During this time the mother, Susan Mills Rogers died, leaving the care of the family to the father.

      When Ruel Mills was eleven years of age, his father married again which caused a breaking up of the family. At this time Ruel Mills and his brother Alma, who was two years younger, left the old home, their father and the younger brothers and sisters and walked back to York, Livingston County, New York, their former home and made their home with their sister and brother-in-law who was a medical doctor. After living with them for a short time, the brother-in-law asked Ruel Mills what he would like to become and was told that he would like to be what he was, meaning a doctor. This pleased the brother-in-law very much and in due time he made an apprentice of him, placing him in a drugstore and allowing him to visit in his office.

      It was not long after this that the brother-in-law died of cholera, causing the apprenticeship to stop. The two boys, Ruel Mills and Alma and their sister buried their loved one in a trench in the yard.

      Ruel Mills, although only a boy and scarcely able to care for himself, made friends quickly and because of this the partner of their brother-in-law, a Dr. Campbell, became interested in him and took it upon himself to continue the education of the boy. Ruel Mills studied hard and worked his way through the lower grades of the school and as an apprentice and soon entered the McDowell Medical College at St. Louis, Missouri, from which college he graduated as Dr. R. M. Rogers in 1854. Thus realizing his boyhood’s greatest desire.

      On December 8, 1853 Ruel Mills married the beautiful Diannah Lovina Donaghe.

      Diannah Lovina Donaghe was born in Warsaw, Benton County, Missouri, December 4, 1836, of American heritage. Her parents were Hugh Casslin and Eliza Lindsay Donaghe. Lovina was the eldest child in a family of seven. The father followed the tanners’ trade and became quite well-to-do. During the time when the negroes were being bought and sold as slaves among the white people, the Donaghes had their slaves and servants.

      These people did not belong to the Mormon church, thus Lovina was a non-member when she met and married Dr, Rogers.

      After their marriage, the Rogers’ lived for a time in Rutledge, McDonald County, Missouri, where a daughter, Susan Ann Eliza, was born to them, May 21, 1855 and a son Rinaldo Mace was born, Feb. 21 1857. While at this place, their little daughter died at the age of two years in 1857 and was buried there.

      From here they moved to Charleston, Arkansas. Here a second daughter, their third child, Modonna Francis, came to bless their home, on Feb. 15, 1859.

      When the civil war broke out the call came for all men who were able, to go to the scene of battle and fight for the worthy cause. Dr. Rogers had no desire to take sides with either the North or the South, and if they remained in Missouri, he must fight for his country. So, disregarding the fact that he would be arrested on a charge of desertion if he left Arkansas, he and his wife and two small children, with provisions and weapons of protection began their long journey in a covered wagon., to that place far distant, inhabited by the Mormon people.

      Mrs. Rogers parents begged and pleaded with her to stay with them, offered her a good home, slaves, servants and anything her heart desired but her heart was with her husband and she broke from them, leaving them with outstretched arms and followed the call of the west.

      In order to accomplish their purpose, they must take every precaution possible. They traveled many miles before they felt safe in making a fire to cook their meals for fear of being overtaken by the Southern officers. But one night they came to a woods and, thinking they were far enough away that no one would see them they stopped, built a fire and began preparing their meal and resting when upon looking back they beheld the officers riding at breakneck speed and calling to them to “halt.” Dr. Rogers had presence of mind enough to obey the officers and be friendly with them and he instructed his wife to be likewise. They greeted the officers and invited them to partake of their food with them. During this time, Mrs. Rogers had taken her two children and walked out through the thickest woods until she came to a hollow tree trunk lying upon the ground, and there she deposited her gun which she had previously taken from the wagon and strapped to her body underneath her skirts, in fear of having their wagon and provisions searched, should they be discovered. She then returned unconcernedly to their camp where she and the Doctor talked and laughed with the officers while they ate. Upon finishing the meal, Dr. Rogers procured a container of liquor from their store of provisions and offered a drink to the officers. They accepted and drank. Each drink invited another until they became intoxicated and fell asleep. The Doctor and his wife worked quickly and quietly recovering their guns and mounting their horses and, leaving their wagon and all of their provisions, they sped away toward their destination.

      But, as they wended their way another obstacle presented itself before them. The Indians! Great was their fear and anxiety as they rode along for well they knew that the red-skinned people inhabited this uncivilized country and what might happen to them. Innocent and harmless, they shuddered to think of it.

      They had not long to wait, however, for soon they heard that well-known war cry. Indians were on their path. As they came nearer, the old Indian Chief made his way toward them but instead of bringing trouble, handed them the Indian peace pipe. This they willingly accepted to show them they were peaceful. With much lighter hearts they rode away until they finally arrived in Utah, the Queen of the West, their future home, in the year 1861.

      After arriving in Utah, they located in Draper. Dr. Rogers practiced medicine and also taught school and Sunday School and soon became a very active citizen.

      Mrs. Rogers also studied medicine and became a medical doctor and mid-wife (4th Mar. 1893) to practice in the Territory of Utah. So in their new location, she was a very efficient nurse and wonderful helpmate to the doctor in his chosen profession.

      During their stay in Draper, two more children were added to their family, Ruel Mills Jr. who was born Nov. 5, 1862 and Althea Lovina, born Oct. 3, 1864.

      On June 5, 1863 while they were still in Draper, the Dr. married Augusta Comfort Ennis of Draper, who was born in Ridford, Herefortshire, England, Aug. 26, 1847; the daughter of John and Elizabeth Ennis. Augusta became the mother of eleven children who are as follows: Athena Augusta, born in Draper June 14, 1864; Ranson Manlius born in Moroni, San Pete County, Arsena Elizabeth, Rahpheal Magenus, Ida Mae, Ross Milton, Roscoe Menton, Royal Milford, Rural Maser, Narcissa Edith, known as Daisy, Pearl Ennis.

      In 1865, the Black Hawk War broke out and every able man was called to go forth to protect his family, friends and property from the Indians. Having previously called to take his family and help build up San Pete county Dr. Rogers, now entered the war as a physician and surgeon. He encountered many trying experiences in connection with the battle. At one time he was separated from the company to which he belonged and was without water for three days which nearly caused his death. Later he found his company and returned to his home in Moroni safely, where he and his family resided for about seven years during which time two of their children were born, Roswell Medwin, born March 20, 1867 and Colenda Chrilla, born April 12, 1869. Here also the Dr. courted the third Mrs. Rogers. On Dec. 1867 he married Hannah Catherine Nelson, born in Alton Illinois March 17, 1850. From this union were born the following: Victoria Marie, Effie Mary, Rufus Milian, Ruella Pearl, Lily Mae, Kate Namoni, Randolph Mercer. [Note 1]

      On April 1, 1871, while yet residing in Moroni, Dr. Rogers was called to Salt Lake County on business. Soon after he left on his journey his oldest son, Rinaldo, then fourteen years of age, thinking to play an April Fool joke on his mother, took his gun out into the yard to shoot it. The gun would not go off and he looked into the barrel to determine the cause, the gun went off and shot Rinaldo Mace, killing him instantly. This was a great shock to the Rogers and caused deep grief and sorrow and mourning in the family. They buried him in the Moroni City cemetery and soon after with heavy hearts they moved back to their old home in Draper.

      The Doctor continued his practice and teaching in Draper. Here another daughter was born to them September 13, 1871. This daughter they named Allie Zetilla.

      A very good position then presented itself in Provo City and he sold his home in Draper and with his three wives and their families, located in Provo. Here Dr. Rogers established one of the first drug stores in the city. The City Drug Store, as it was called, which was located on Maine Street.

      As a doctor he did a great work in Provo, traveling many miles with a horse and buggy to care for the sick. In this city, Lovina, the first wife’s youngest children were born, Roxie Miriam, who was born Aug. 1. 1874 and Nellie Evelyn, who was born June 22, 1877.

      At this time there was uninhabited land on Provo Bench and Dr. Rogers, “Took Up” a quarter section on the ridge between Pleasant Grove and Provo, under the Homestead act and moved his first wife, Lovina and family there in 1877. The Dr. himself remained in Provo with his second and third wives to be near his work at the Drug Store.

      Shortly after this, he sold his home and Drug Store in Provo and “Took Up” two more quarter sections of land adjoining the first section, making 480 acres in all, and moved the rest of his family there, giving to each wife a quarter section to live on. From this time on, Dr. Rogers practiced for the most part in Provo Bench and Pleasant Grove and surrounding towns as far north as Salt Lake. (He was interested in irrigation and made some progress in that line over on the bench.)

      The three Rogers’ families enjoyed each other’s company almost as if they were neighbors and friends. Going hiking and horseback riding in the hills and around the ranch was their chief diversion. There was no school within the reach of the small children at the ranch, so Dr. Rogers built a small frame house and there his oldest daughter, Fannie, taught the children. Their little family school opened at nine o’clock and closed at four and was conducted much the same as the public schools. Dr. Rogers was very strict with his children and having furnished them with books required them to study in the evenings the lessons their sister had taught them in their little day school. In order to attend Sunday School and to do their marketing it was necessary for them to walk or ride horseback three miles into town.

      Among the pleasure and joys experienced during their ranch life came trials and tribulations and great sorrowing which finds its way into the lives of all the human race. In much the same way as the pioneers were tormented with grasshoppers, so Dr. Rogers’ crops, year after year were destroyed by the wild rabbits and grasshoppers. Coming in great droves, they would devour the crops. It took the Doctor, the hired help and all the children with their many dogs and guns to drive the rabbits from the fields.

      One trying experience which has been often told ran as follows: On July 1, 1887 two small neighbor boys made a bonfire across the ridge from the Rogers’ farm to roast potatoes. A high wind arose and the bonfire became uncontrollable for the small boys. The fire spread across the ridge into Dr. Rogers’ farm. It spread to the grain fields and by quick action on the part of all the members of the family and with the help of neighbors they were able to get it stopped by plowing a big ditch through the field, there being no water available. This of course was a great loss, having most of the grain burned and all of their chickens and the fencing.

      Sickness also attacked the family from time to time. In the year 1880 Lovina’s oldest daughter, Fannie, who had attended school at Provo, and prepared herself for teaching, contracted “inflammation of the bowels” and passed away Feb. 20. She was buried at Draper. At the time of her death, Fannie was engaged to marry J. B. Keeler of Provo. Mr. Keeler later had her sealed to him.

      In the fall of 1880, the doctor moved Lovina and her family to Pleasant Grove. He purchased a house just east of what was then call the Mercantile Store. There he furnished one room for a drug store which was the first Drug Store in Pleasant Grove. Shortly after this he rented a building on the main street (on the west side of the street) and moved his drug store business there. He hired a druggist by the name of Mr. Collett as manager of the store. He, in later years, moved it to a new location on the east side of the street at the head of Main Street. In this location Dr. Rogers and his son Royal managed the business themselves. In 1891, the building burned down which made it necessary to move their drugs to still another place and it was at this new place that his daughter, Arsena, while working in the drug store was accidently shot and killed by Guy K. Robinson June 17, 1892. (Guy Robison later married Roxie Rogers).

      Soon after this, the first wife, Lovina, with her youngest daughter Nellie, moved to Provo where Nellie attended School at the Brigham Young Academy.

      Dr. Rogers remained in Pleasant Grove with his second wife Augusta until the time of his death. He was taken very suddenly ill with pneumonia and died Feb. 6, 1903, and was buried in Draper. He arrived at the honourable age of seventy years. At the time of his death his drug store business was well-kept and flourishing and his medical practice wide-spread. He was known throughout the county. Neat, very strict and commanding as to nature, straight forward and alert. Small in appearance, strong in body, mind and soul. Truthful to his God, his country and to man. A personage to look up to and respect as one who came to this earth and performed his mission dutifully.

      [Note 1. There appears to be an error in this history. It states that Hannah Catherine Nelson is born in Alton, Illinois. However, records show that Hannah was born in Gottrup, Thisted, Denmark on 17 Mar 1849. She came to America on the ship John J Boyd, according to the passenger list, in 1855 as a young girl with her family. Information provided by Jim Pitchford.]


      Ruel Mills Rogers was born 19 January 1833/35 in Livingston, New York, a son of Isaac Rogers and Susana Mills. Ruel had many grandparents named Isaac.
      Isaac, grandfather, born 29 April 1762 of Amesbury, Massachusetts, married Mary Moulton 12 May 1784.
      Isaac, great-grandfather, born 9 July 1718 of Newbury, Massachussetts, married Anna Moulton 2 December 1742.
      Isaac, great-great-grandfather, born 21 June 1691 of Newbury, Massachusetts, married Rebecca Rawlins 25 March 1714.
      Ruel’s third great grandfather was named Thomas, born 9 July 1652 of Newbury, Massachusetts, married Ruth Brown 18 May 1677.
      His fourth great-grandfather was Robert Rogers born abt 1620 of Ipswich, Massachusetts. The Ancestral file shows him christened in Cheddar, Somerset, England on 11 January 1617. More research needs to be done on this record. He married Susanna about 1649 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts.
      Family History Records show fifth great-grandfather as Robert Rogers born 1585 of Cheddar, Somerset, England. According to these records, the family probably came to America before 1649.
      Ruel was a polygamist having 4 wives. Our line is from Hannah, his third wife. Again there is a difference in places of birth for Hannah – Jerrup, Frederikshavn, Denmark or Afton, Illinois.
      When the law was passed by the church forbidding polygamy, Ruel left his first three wives and lived with his fourth. This left the others to fend for themselves.
      Life was very hard for Hannah and her family and is recorded in the history of Rufus, her oldest son. She had two daughters born before Rufus: Victoria Maria and Mary Effie. Three daughters were born after Rufus: Ruella Pearl, Lilly May, Kathryn, and last, a son, Randolph Mercer.
      Hannah later had her marriage to Ruel cancelled. She never remarried. She died 18 September 1904 in Provo, Utah.
      Ruel came to Utah in 1857 with a handcart company. He was a physician. The family lived in Pleasant Grove, Utah and in Afton, Wyoming. He died 6 Nov 1904 in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
      - By Vera Elva Rogers Richards

      Biography of Dr. Ruel Mills Rogers attached to Document file may be hard to read. Note: This story was written by Edith Rogers Foutz (a daughter) and Zola Adams Robbins. Edited and added to by Clarence Rogers Meacham (a grandson).
      Added by Evan Meacham evan_meacham@msn.com (509) 582-4078

  • Sources 
    1. [S277] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.).

    2. [S891] Godfrey Memorial Library, comp., American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI), (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.Original data - Godfrey Memorial Library. American Genealogical-Biographical Index. Middletown, CT, USA: Godfrey Memorial Library.Original data: Godfrey Memorial Library. American Gene).

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