Springfield-Greene
County LibraryCHARLES WARRINGTON ROGERS.
This distinguished gentleman and successful railway manager was born at Exeter, N. H., Oct. 7, 1834. His parents were of English parentage, and he is a lineal descendant of the martyr John Rogers. His maternal Grandfather, Enoch Poor, was a general in the Revolutionary army. His father, a banker, died when Charles was two years of age, and his mother died eight years later, thus leaving him an orphan at that tender age; nevertheless his early education was not neglected, as his native New England is proverbial for good schools. At the age of fifteen be went to sea as a sailor boy, and when sixteen years old he made the voyage to California round Cape Horn. He remained in California three years and then resumed seafaring and engaged upon a vessel trading between that State and the East Indies. He afterwards became captain of the merchant-ship "Winfield Scott," and upon that vessel circumnavigated the globe. In 1863 he placed his services at the disposal of the Federal government and was appointed acting ensign and commander of the gunboat "Hydranga," remaining in the service until November, 1865, participating in the naval operations in the vicinity of Charleston, S. C. After being promoted to the grade of acting master, he within four months embarked again in the California and East India trade as captain and part owner of the merchant-ship "Templar." He spent four years in this trade and returned to New England. In 1871 he came to Missouri to accept the position as wood agent upon the Atlantic and Pacific railroad. In Oct., 1872, he was promoted to be fuel and claim agent of that road and its leased lines, including the Missouri Pacific railroad. In May, 1874, he was appointed purchasing agent of the whole system embraced under the A. & P. management. In March, 1876, when the lease of the Missouri Pacific and its joint management with the Atlantic and Pacific was formally abrogated by the U. S. district court, Mr. Rogers was placed in immediate charge of the road between Pacific and Vinita by the receiver as its general superintendent. Retaining this position he became, on the reorganization of the company, one of its incorporators and general superintendent, and in May, 1879, was gazetted as general manager under its new title of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway. March 9, 1881, he was unanimously elected to the position of 2d vice president and general manager, from which position he was advanced on the 4th of March, 1882, to that of 1st vice president and general manager, and upon the 13th of March, 1883, he was unanimously re-elected to the same position. Thus step by step, by his splendid executive ability and practical knowledge of railway management he has risen from wood agent to the high and responsible position of vice president and general manager. When he assumed charge of the road in 1876 it only operated 327 miles of road, and since that time 550 miles of new railroad have been added to the system, most of which was under immediate direction of the general manager. Mr. Rogers was married in April, 1863, to Miss Mary, daughter of Hon. Tristram Shaw, M. C., from New Hampshire. Their union is blest with one son living. No man in the last decade has, by brain and action, done more for the material advancement of Greene county, and the State of Missouri, than Charles Warrington Rogers. [588-589]
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