Rodgers, Ebenezer

Rodgers, Ebenezer, a Baptist minister, was born March 16, 1788, in the Blaina valley, Monmouthshire, England. He studied with the Rev. Samuel Kilpin of Leominster, Herefordshire, for two years, and was then admitted into the Baptist College at Stepney, London, where he spent four years. Soon after the completion of his studies, he came to America on secular business, intending to return in a few months. He was persuaded by some of his friends to visit the State (then Territory) of Missouri, and for a time relinquished his purpose of returning to his native land. A Baptist church was soon formed at Chariton, about 175 miles west of St. Louis, and Mr. Rodgers was ordained its pastor, though he did not confine his labors to this one locality. He engaged in teaching in order to defray expenses of living. This itinerant life continued for about sixteen years, during which he assisted in the organization of about fifty churches. In 1832 he visited Wales, and in 1834 became pastor of the churches in Alton and Upper Alton, Ill., but after a year gave his undivided service to the latter. He then resigned, but immediately became pastor of two or three other churches. He continued preaching and acting as trustee of Shurtleff College until his death, May 25, 1854. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 6, 681.