Rogers, John Alexander (1789-1873)

HOUSE, 17th, 21st, and 23d General Assemblies, 1827-29, 1835-39; representing Hawkins County; Whig. Born in Hawkins County on July15, 1789; son of Joseph and Mary (Amis) Rogers. Came to Rogersville, Hawkins County, with his father (a native of Ireland and the founder of Rogersville). Built a mill at Surgoinsville, Hawkins County; lived at Surgoinsville and at Rogersville. Director of the State Bank, Rogerwville, 1817; sometime justice of the peace. He was married three times: (1st) on January 28, 1812, to Margaret Forgey; (2nd) on December 25, 1817, to her sister, Ellen Forgey, and (3rd) in 1842, to Lucretia Ann Coates. He had eleven children, names of mother of each not indicated, all of whom removed to Texas. Representative Rogers was a captain of infantry, 1812-1815; engaged in the Canadian Campaign. Member Masonic Order, Overton Lodge #5, Rogersville. In his later life he removed to Texas, where he died in 1873; buried at Cedar Point, Kerr County, Texas. Grandson of Captain Thomas Amis, member of Provincial Congress, 1776, and of North Carolina Senate, 1788-1789.

Sources: Goodspeed, History of Hawkins County, 877-78; Snodgrass, Freemasonry in Tennessee, 49, 52-53; Burns and Mcloun, Soldiers of the War of 18l2, 132; Rogersville Review, July 9, l953; Hawkins County Miscellaneous Records, 4.