John Henry Rogers
Encyclopedia
John Henry Rogers was a United States Congressman from Arkansas
and United States federal judge
.
Rogers was born in Roxobel, North Carolina
to Absalom Rogers and his wife Harriet Rice. He moved with his parents to Mississippi in 1852, settling near Madison Station (now Madison). During the American Civil War
, he enlisted in the Confederate Army at the age of 17 as a private in Company H of the 9th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. Rogers was wounded twice and was commissioned a first lieutenant for gallantry at the Battle of Franklin
, Tennessee
. At the war's end, he entered Centre College in Danville, Kentucky
, but transferred to the University of Mississippi
as soon as it reopened. He graduated from law department of the University of Mississippi in 1868, was admitted to the bar, and entered private practice in Canton, Mississippi
. He moved his practice to Fort Smith, Arkansas
in 1869, and resided there until 1877, when he was appointed to the Circuit Court in Little Rock, Arkansas
. Rogers resigned in 1882 and returned to Fort Smith. He was elected a U.S. Representative from Arkansas as a Democrat
and served in the 48th through 51st Congresses, from 1883 to 1891. Declining to be renominated, he resumed his private practice in Fort Smith.
In 1896 Rogers was appointed a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
. He received a recess appointment
from President Grover Cleveland
on November 27, 1896, to fill a seat vacated by Isaac C. Parker. Formally nominated on December 8, 1896, he was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 15, 1896, and received his commission the same day. He held the position until his death in Little Rock in 1911 of an apparent heart attack.
He was survived by his wife, Mary (Gray) Rogers, and four children.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
and United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Rogers was born in Roxobel, North Carolina
Roxobel, North Carolina
Roxobel is a town in northwestern Bertie County, North Carolina, United States. It dates to 1724 and was originally known as Cotten's Cross Roads. After several name changes, it has remained Roxobel since 1849. The population was 263 at the 2000 census...
to Absalom Rogers and his wife Harriet Rice. He moved with his parents to Mississippi in 1852, settling near Madison Station (now Madison). During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he enlisted in the Confederate Army at the age of 17 as a private in Company H of the 9th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. Rogers was wounded twice and was commissioned a first lieutenant for gallantry at the Battle of Franklin
Battle of Franklin
Battle of Franklin may refer to three battles of the American Civil War:* Battle of Franklin , a major battle fought November 30, 1864, at Franklin, Tennessee as part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. At the war's end, he entered Centre College in Danville, Kentucky
Danville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
, but transferred to the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
as soon as it reopened. He graduated from law department of the University of Mississippi in 1868, was admitted to the bar, and entered private practice in Canton, Mississippi
Canton, Mississippi
Canton is a city in Madison County, Mississippi. The population was 12,911 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Madison County, and situated in the northern part of the metropolitan area surrounding the state capital, Jackson....
. He moved his practice to Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
in 1869, and resided there until 1877, when he was appointed to the Circuit Court in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. Rogers resigned in 1882 and returned to Fort Smith. He was elected a U.S. Representative from Arkansas as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and served in the 48th through 51st Congresses, from 1883 to 1891. Declining to be renominated, he resumed his private practice in Fort Smith.
In 1896 Rogers was appointed a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas is a United States District Court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Ashley, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll, Clarke, Columbia, Crawford, Franklin, Garland, Hempstead, Hot Springs, Howard,...
. He received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
on November 27, 1896, to fill a seat vacated by Isaac C. Parker. Formally nominated on December 8, 1896, he was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on December 15, 1896, and received his commission the same day. He held the position until his death in Little Rock in 1911 of an apparent heart attack.
He was survived by his wife, Mary (Gray) Rogers, and four children.