Rodgers, James

Rodgers, James, a Presbyterian minister, was born in Roxburghshire, in the South of Scotland, in 1785. His parents were in humble circumstances, and his education was limited to that which could be acquired in the common school. He owed much to his early religious training, and in childhood he had been so thoroughly drilled in the doctrines of the Shorter Catechism that in later years, planted on this foundation, he stood unmoved amid hosts of heresies. He dated his conversion from his fourteenth year. In 1819 he emigrated to this country, and settled in the then new colony of Hammond, St. Lawrence Co., N.Y. He was licensed March 23, 1823, and ordained as an evangelist June 9, 1824. For a number of years he continued to labor in Hammond and some of the adjoining churches. He also gave a partial supply to a church in the township of Oswegatchie, where he finally settled as stated supply in 1827, and was installed as the regular pastor May 13, 1839. In 1848 failing health rendered regular labor impossible, and he resigned this charge, although he continued to labor for short periods in other fields. He died Aug. 20, 1863. Mr. Rodgers was a remarkable man, and he proved himself an efficient and successful workman. His pulpit services were characterized by rich scriptural knowledge, great earnestness, and deep spirituality. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac, 1865, p. 114. (J.L.S.)