Rogers, Joseph

Rogers, Joseph, a Presbyterian minister, was born in Wiveliscombe, Somersetshire, England, June 11, 1815. He emigrated to the United States at an early age, and settled in New York city. He was converted when about twenty-two years old, pursued his preparatory studies under Dr. Owen, of New York city, graduated at Princeton College in 1845, and at the Theological Seminary at Princeton in 1848, and was licensed to preach the same year by the Presbytery of New York. After leaving the seminary, he labored at May's Landing and Pleasant Mills, Atlantic Co., N.J., in the employment of the Board of Domestic Missions, until 1850, when he received an appointment to the Church of Round Prairie, Ia., over which he was installed pastor in 1851. In 1853, because of failing health, he returned East, and spent the succeeding four years in preaching and teaching in Attleboro, Pa.; Bridgeton, N.J.; the vicinity of Fredericksburg, Va.; and at Newtown, Pa. In 1857 he received a call to, and was installed pastor of, the churches of Kingwood and Frenchtown, N.J., where he continued to labor till his death, Aug. 20, 1863. Mr. Rogers was a diligent student, a ripe scholar, and of fine attainments in the different branches of a liberal education, especially in the Greek language and English literature. As a preacher he was naturally eloquent. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almnanac, 1864, p. 192. (J.L.S.)