The Jeremiah "Jerry" and Martha Elizabeth Caviness Rogers family!
Jerimiah and Martha Caviness Rogers Family
According to ancestry records Jerry's 3rd Great Grandfather came to the New World around 1743. Jerry's ancestors had fought in the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Jerry's 2nd wife, Martha Caviness Rogers, was born shortly after the civil war. Martha told of remembering growing up one of nine children but, being the oldest girl. Because she was the oldest child she was need for working the fields, cutting and binding wheat, picking cotton and helping to plow. Martha also help with family cooking over a crude fire place as she was growing up. At 24 Martha met and married Jerry Rogers and they moved to a farm in North Arkansas probably in or near Sugarloaf Township, Lead Hill. Jerry first wife had died and Martha marriage began with 3 step children, and she and Jerry soon added their own 7 sons and 2 daughters. When Martha's youngest son was 15, her husband Jerry died leaving her with the task of caring for the children and working the farm. Later when her son's wife died, Martha moved in and help raise her children, which she would again do with a son-in-law when her daughter died. Before her death Martha and Jerry's descendants were estimated by family members to be over 500.
Martha's family history reads like a Western Romance Novel. This story of Martha's Great Grandparents is a part of Cherokee legend and while the facts of the incidents from over 200 years ago are difficult to validate individuals named are direct ancestors of Martha Elizabeth Caviness Rogers wife of Jeremiah Rogers and are discussed at the end of the story.
THE LEGEND OF
Pathkillerby Takatoka
During a war between the white man and American Indians , a band of Overhill Cherokee warriors of the Red Paint clan captured a group of white soldiers and brought them to their Chief Pathkiller.
One of the captives was a young soldier by the name of Moore. (His name may not have been Robert Alec Moore.) Chief Pathkiller stood the white soldiers in front of the tribal council who sentenced young Moore to be bound and burned at the stake the following day. That evening the warriors celebrated their victory by dancing and drinking the white man's whiskey until at last every warrior was in a deep sleep.
Chief Pathkillers' pretty young daughter, who was attracted to the handsome Moore, put together a plan to free Moore. Seeing the exhausted warriors were not an immediate threat, she led a pony from the camp, silently loading the pony's back with a few supplies. Then, she quietly slipped up to the prisoners, cut the bonds of Moore, gave him moccasins for his feet and together they slipped out of camp.
Retrieving the pony, they began their perilous journey. Traveling by night and hiding in daylight they cautiously made their way deep into the wilderness. Chief Pathkiller was furious. He and a large war party set off in pursuit. The warriors were often seen riding over a mountain ridge while Pathkiller's daughter and Moore were concealed below another ridge. The angry Chief and his men often came close to where his daughter and Moore were hiding.
The two fugitives survived by eating berries and herbs and whatever other raw food they found. Building a campfire was not possible. Then bad weather came with a fury. Snow blanketed the forest and for many days they were afraid to move out of hiding for fear of leaving tracks in the snow. In desperation and near starvation, they killed their pony for food.
As the weather finally cleared after several days, the two set out again. After several weeks, they finally reached the safety of a white settlement.
Pathkiller's daughter gave up her Indian identity and married Moore. Nancy Ann "Polly" Pathkiller-Moore and Robert A./Alec Moore had eight children. Polly Pathkiller Moore died in Tennessee. Her husband preceded her in death.
Pathkiller died in 1827 in Hamilton County, Tennessee. He is buried near the Tennessee and Georgia state line on the Donald C Garrett farm in Centre, Alabama. An historical monument of Chief Pathkiller stands at the corner of the two states.
The children of Nancy Ann "Polly" Pathkiller and Robert Moore were:
Andrew Moore, Alec (Jack) Moore, Lucinda Moore
Samuel A. Moore, Nancy Moore, Rachel Tabith Moore, Polly Moore
Martha Moore, William (Bill) Moore,
Rachel Tabitha Moore 1814-1887
Grandmother of Martha Elizabeth Caviness Rogers
Nancy Ann Polly Pathkiller 1777-1832
Daughter-Rachel Tabitha Moore 1814-1887
Daughter-Mary Lucinda McGuire 1850-1919
Daughter-Martha Elizabeth Caviness 1866-1961
Jeremiah "Jerry" M Rogers was born on January 29, 1851, in Russell, Missouri, his father, William, was 30 and his mother, LOUISA, was 27.
He first married Cecila Ann Tabor and they had 3 children: 1.Thomas, 2.Martha, and 3.James. Cecila died at the age of 35 and Jerry married Martha Elizabeth Caviness in 1872. They had eight children in 17 years: son Delbert Lee Rogers(1890–1973), 28 Dec 1890 • Protem. 2. son Ervin S. Rogers(1891–1983) 26 Dec 1891 • Protem, 3. daughter Minnie Mae Rogers(1893–1931) 8 May 1893 • Protem, 4. son Elmer Jeremiah "Jerry" Rogers(1896–1970) 28 Nov 1896 • Indian City, OK, 5. son Eldo Otto Rogers(1899–1993) July 26, 1899 • Sugarloaf, township AR, 6. son John Henry Rogers(1902–1980) Jul 8, 1902 • Sugarloaf, Township, AR, 7. son William Clay "Bill" Rogers(1905–1965) 6 Mar 1905 • Zinc Ark, 8. son Samuel Clarence Rogers(1908–1970) 15 Feb 1908 • Sugarloaf,
Jeremiah died on June 7, 1925, in Lead Hill, Arkansas, at the age of 74, and was buried at Enon Cemetery.
Thomas Washington Rogers was born on January 11, 1872, in Protem, Missouri the first child of Jeremiah and Cecila Ann Tabor Rogers. He married Sarah Caviness on June 26, 1898, in Dallas, Missouri. They had ten children in 21 years. He died on November 24, 1910, in Pittsburg, Oklahoma, at the age of 38. |
Martha Rogers was born in 1874 in Missouri, the second child of Jeremiah and Cecila Ann Tabor Rogers. She lost her mother when she was only 12 years old no other information has been found after that time.
Jerry first child with wife Martha's was Delbert Lee Rogers was born on December 28, 1890, in Protem, Missouri, his father was, Jeremiah, and his mother, Martha Elizabeth Caviness Rogers. He married Bessie E Grady on August 24, 1911, in Marion, Arkansas. They had five children in 12 years. 1. Ollie Mae 1913-1960 2. Lonzo 1914-1999 3. Jerry William ( JW) 1916-1994 and Effie Faye 1921-1984 and an infant who was born and died in 1924. Delbert Lee Rogers died on December 24, 1973, in Harrison, Arkansas, when he was 82 years old and is buried at the Keesee Cemetery at Monarch. |
Delbert and Bessie's daughter Ollie Mae Rogers was born on October 20, 1912, in Marion County, AR, her father, was 21, and her mother, was 20. She married Clifton Mears on May 18, 1932. They had seven children in 10 years. She died on October 6, 1962, in Yakima, Washington, at the age of 49.
2. Bobby Joe Mears was born on March 26, 1935, in Lead Hill. He married Claudette Lee Wilson on April 7, 1962, in Kootenai, Idaho. They had five children during their marriage. He died on December 24, 2007, in Yakima, Washington, at the age of 72.
5. Ella Mae Mears and her twin brother Ross R were born on April 10, 1939, in Lead Hill. She married Carl E Hodges on June 24, 1978, in Yakima, Washington. She died on October 4, 2009, in Taft, California, at the age of 70. |
4. Ross R Mears and his twin sister Ella Mae were born on April 10, 1939, in Lead Hill. He married Donna Lee Zeck on April 12, 1960, in Yakima, Washington. They had three children during their marriage, Terry, Tina, & Candi. He died on November 19, 2004, in Selah, Washington, at the age of 65.6. Orville Enlo Mears was born on July 14, 1943, in Lead Hill. He died on September 27, 2001, in Yakima, Washington, at the age of 58. |
7. Shelby Mears was born in 1940 in Lead Hill and is still living.
Delbert and Bessie's son Lonzo Rogers was born on March 12, 1914, in Sugar Loaf, Arkansas, his father, Delbert, was 23 and his mother, Bessie, was 22. He married Mary Jane Akins on May 5, 1945. They had one child Randy Mac Rogers during their marriage. He died on March 3, 1999, in Lead Hill, Arkansas, at the age of 84, and he and his wife Mary are buried in Keesee Cemetery in Marion County. Lonzo & Mary's son Randy Mac Rogers was born on October 29, 1947, in Lead Hill.He married Iris Deanie Vandenberg on November 23, 1966. They had two children during their marriage a son Randy Leon and a daughter Crystal. After Deanie's death he married Maxine Hanlin Rogers.
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Delbert and Bessie's son Jerry "J W" Rogers was born on June 15, 1916, in Sugar Loaf, Arkansas, his father, Delbert, was 25 and his mother, Bessie, was 24. He married Ruth Ann Dixon on February 15, 1941, in Lead Hill, Arkansas.They had three children during their marriage Larry, Michael & Judy. Their son Larry married Sharon L Stark in Yakima, and they have one son Brock. He has one brother and one sister. Their son Michael married Kriststine Loranz and they have two daughters Chelsea and Gabrielle. JW & Ruth's daughter Judy married Clyde S Still in Yakima, Washington. They have four sons Mark, Eric, Gary, Jason, JW died on February 20, 1994, in Lead Hill, Arkansas, at the age of 77 and Ruth died on Feb 17th 2010. JW and and Ruth are buried at Monarch Cemetery.
Delbert and Bessie's daughter Effie Faye Rogers was born on July 24, 1921, in Lead Hill, AR, her father, Delbert, was 30, and her mother, Bessie, was 29. She married Jake Dixon on 4 May 1938 in Lead Hill and after his death married Elmo Williams on 13 May 1961. She and Elton divorced on December 15, 1972, after 11 years of marriage and they had no children. She died on May 7, 1984, in Yakima, Washington, at the age of 62.
Jeremiah and Martha Caviness Rogers 2nd son Ervin S. Rogers was born on December 26, 1891, in Protem, Missouri. He married Ollie B Grady on April 18, 1913 in Marion County, and they had seven children together 1. Delphia 1914-2000 2. Thulma 1916-1993 3. Stella 1920-2018 4. Raymond 1920-2000 5. Alice 1923-1990 6. E. G. 1926-1990, A.B. 1929-1997 and Sherman Odell 1933-2022 . After Ollie's death he then married Cora A Dobbs in 1957 in Naches, Washington. He died on October 2, 1983, in Cowiche, Washington, at the age of 91, and was buried in Yakima, Washington.
Minnie Mae Rogers was born on May 8, 1893, in Protem, Missouri, the only daughter with seven brothers born to Jeremiah and Martha Caviness Rogers. Minnie married Lewis Matthew Elliott on August 3, 1912, in Marion County, Arkansas. They had seven children in 11 years: 1. R.A. or Ray Elliott, 2. Coyeatte Elliott, 3. Howard Edward Elliott, 4. Elsie Mae, 5. Lewis Matthew Elliott Jr., 6. Clarence Isaac Elliott, 7. an infant who is thought to have died during child birth with their mother Minnie Mae Rogers Elliott on September 7, 1931, when Minnie was only 38. They are buried in Mississippi County, Arkansas. Minnie's life is a stark reminder of the book A Painted House by John Grisham. A moving story of the hill people of North Arkansas and one boy's journey, inspired by Grisham's own childhood in rural Arkansas. Minnie's grandson Steve found this recounting of his dad Howard's early growing up in the Lewis and Minnie Rogers Elliott family after his father's death. Steve wrote " As the I was going through some of my Dad's stuff tonight, I ran across an old small spiral notebook and written in his handwriting was the following". Howard E. Elliott, born Nov 20, 1921 in Lead Hill, Arkansas on Bill Keeling place. (Bill Keeling's place was in Crockett Township, Marion County, Arkansas, a bit east of Lead Hill. (1920 Fed. Census). Howard then wrote of the journey's of he and his family during his early life. Their travels were remembered as follows: 1. We went to Wisconsin 1924,--2. Went back to Lead Hill 1925,--3. Went to Oklahoma 1926.-- 4. Back across mountains in covered wagon 1927,--5. Went to Russellville same year,--6. came back same year,--7. went to Bottoms 1929,--Minnie Rogers Elliott died in Mississippi County, AR, September 1931 while at the Bottoms.-- and is buried there in Mississippi County, AR the cemetery has been identified however the grave site is unknown. The family then returned to Lead Hill later in 1931.
Lewis and Minnie's first child Ray Elliott was born on April 8, 1916, in Whitewater, Wisconsin.. He married Opal Weaver on October 25, 1936 in Harrison, AR. Ray and Opal farmed and they owned and operated Ray's Cafe for many years. Ray was talented and wrote, sung, and recorded this a song while his son Clayton was serving as a Marine in Vietnam. Ray and Opal had nine children together: Sons Charles, Tilton, Clayton, donald, and daughters Evelyn, Joyce, Debra, Barbara, and Wanda. Ray died on while working on April 26, 1977, in Rockford, Illinois, at the age of 61, and was buried in South Beloit, Illinois.
Lewis and Minnie's 2nd child Coyeatte Elliott was born on January 1, 1919, in Lead Hill, AR. She was married four times and had two sons and one daughter: James Paul Cowdrey Virginia Boggs, Alfred Ray Boggs. She and her last husband Fred Livermore lived in Lead Hill where she died on March 4, 2003, at the age of 84, and she was buried in Marion County, AR.
Lewis and Minnie's 3rd child, son Howard Edward Elliott was born on November 20, 1921, in Lead Hill, AR. From his diary his son Steve told us the stories of his families travels before his mother's death. Howard however continued after leaving his family in 1939 to travel and work during his early years traveling and working in Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, all in the same year. Then back to Arkansas and on to Wisconsin.
Howard also worked and traveled during 1940 returning to Arkansas but then back to Illinois and for a time living with a Jorgensen Family while working for the railroad in Wisconsin. That same year Howard traveled and worked in Chicago, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Idaho. He was also served in the Army in 1941.
During 1942 Howard went to Missouri, back to Chicago, on to Elgin, but on June 28th 1942 he married HARINE PEARL CAWKINS in McHenry, Illinois . They had seven sons together in 17 years: Randall, Ronald, Scott, Steve, Thomas, Timothy, and Richard. After serving in WWII, Howard lived in the Bosie Idaho Valley working in his craft as a brick layer for many years. He died on January 10, 1988, in Wilder, Idaho, at the age of 66, and was buried there.
Elsie Mae Elliott Lewis land Minnie's 4th child and twin to her brother Lewis was born on January 29, 1924, in Lead Hill, Arkansas, and died the same day. She had seven siblings.
Lewis Matthew (Lucky) Elliott and his twin sister Elsie Mae were born on January 29, 1924, in Lead Hill, Arkansas, their father, Lewis, was 30, and their mother, Minnie, was 30. He married Ila Sharon Davis on December 20, 1952, in Pinal, Arizona. He was a commercial house painter and a member of the Painters Union. He died on August 20, 2013, in Yellville, Arkansas, at the age of 89, and was buried there.
Clarence Isaac Elliott was born on May 7, 1927, in Jerusalem, Arkansas, the 6th child of his father, Lewis, and mother Minnie who were both 33 when he was born. He worked for the Chicago and North Western Railroad as a Switchman. He had one daughter from a previous marriage. He married Opal Vinnette Cawkins on January 31, 1955, in Dubuque, Iowa and they had 8 children. He died on April 16, 1965, in highway car accident in Illinois, at the age of 37, and was buried in Morris, Illinois.
Little is known about "Unknown Baby Elliott. It is thought that they were born on September 7, 1931, and died the same day with their mother Minnie. Baby Elliotty had four brothers and three sisters.
Jeremiah and Martha Roger's 4th child and 3rd son, Elmer Jeremiah "Jerry" Rogers. He was born on November 28, 1896, in Caddo, Oklahoma, when his father, Jeremiah, was 45 and his mother, Martha, was 30. He married Flossie Jane Kelley on September 5, 1920. They had nine children in 23 years: Sons: J.D, Kenneth, and Howard, and Daughters Nolene Rogers Owen, Bertha Lucille Rogers Owens, Alta Faye Rogers Creach, Ruby Elizabeth Rogers Burleson, Brenda Carol Rogers Lampe, and Nancy Jane Rogers Roeseler. Elmer died on March 8, 1970, in Del City, Oklahoma, at the age of 73, and was buried with Flossie Jane in Keesee Cemetery at Monarch.
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Flossie Jane Kelley wife of Elmer Rogers was born on February 26, 1901, in Lead Hill, Ar. She was on of nine children born to Henry and Martha Lancaster Kelly. She married Elmer Jeremiah "Jerry" Rogers on September 5, 1920. They had nine children in 23 years: Sons: J.D, Kenneth, and Howard, and Daughters Nalene Rogers Owen, Bertha Lucille Rogers Owens, Alta Faye Rogers Creach, Ruby Elizabeth Rogers Burleson, Brenda Carol Rogers Lampe, and Nancy Jane Rogers Roeseler.. She died on October 28, 1981, in Del City, Oklahoma, at the age of 80, and was buried with her husband Elmer Jeremiah in Keesee Cemetery at Monarch. |
J.D. Rogers was born on January 24, 1922, at Monarch in Marion Co. AR, his father, Elmer, was 25 and his mother, Flossie, was 20. JD served in the US Army during WW2 reaching the rank of Tec 4. He married Mildred Lucille Young on January 9, 1946, in Pyatt, Arkansas. They had three children during their marriage: Gary Wayne, Larry, and Vickie Rogers Prowett. He died on February 5, 2002, in Harrison, Arkansas, at the age of 80. JD and his wife Mildred Lucille are buried in the Patton Cemetery in Pyatt, Arkansas |
Gary Wayne Rogers was born in October 1946 in Harrison, Arkansas, his father, J.D., was 24 and his mother, Mildred, was 25. He had a sister and a brother. He graduated from Pyatt High School. He lived in Marshall AR after graduation until moving to the Springfield MO. area. He died on October 13, 2019, in Battlefield, Missouri, at the age of 73, and was buried in the Patton Cemetery with his parents at Pyatt, Arkansas. This is his Pyatt High School Picture |
Mildred Lucille Young was born on April 28, 1921, in Valley Springs, Arkansas. She married J.D. Rogers on January 9, 1946, in Pyatt, Arkansas. They had three children during their marriage. She died on April 1, 2012, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, at the age of 90, and was buried with her husband in the Patton Cemetery Pyatt, Arkansas. |
Angie Kelley Dale- Lead Hill Class of 89-Daughter of Marsha Burleson Pouncy, Granddaughter of Berry and Ruby Elizabeth Rogers Burleson and Great Granddaughter of Elmer and Flossie Kelley Rogers.
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Ben Kelly President of the Lead Hill Class of 92 -Son of Marsha Burleson Pouncy, Grandson of Berry and Ruby Elizabeth Rogers Burleson and Great Grandson of Elmer and Flossie Kelley Rogers.
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Kenny Kelly Lead Hill Class of 91 -Son of Marsha Burleson Pouncy, Grandson of Berry and Ruby Elizabeth Rogers Burleson and Great Grandson of Elmer and Flossie Kelley Rogers.
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