In our December Grave Spotlight of the Month, we take a quick look at Benjamin Franklin Rogers.

Born on November 27, 1817 in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana, and, according to the Monroe County History Center's Timeline of events, and his own obituary, he was the first white child born in Bloomington.

We will talk about why that seems to not be possible a little later on, but for now, let's take a look at his life.

He was the son of Johnathon Rogers (?-?) and Mary "Polly" Rand Rogers (1788-1869). She was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky to Thomas Rand (1746-1825) and Elizabeth Carder Rand (1767-1821).  Thomas was born in County Antrim, Ireland and was a veteran, I assume of the Revolutionary war.  They are both buried in Rand Cemetery, Dearborn County, Indiana.   Johnathon Rogers is buried in Beck Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana.  There is no information for his family.  I found the names of three other children, siblings of Benjamin: James Rogers (1810-1871), buried in Mount Gilead Cemetery, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana (he died of consumption); Sergeant Henry Rogers (1814-1876), buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana; and Aquilla Wayne Rogers (1819-1890), buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana.  Unfortunately, I can find no further information about either his parents or his siblings. Even his obituary, published in the Bloomington Courier on February 24, 1876, talks next to nothing of his parents or siblings, besides the line, "He passed his boyhood peaceably and quietly under the roof of his devoted parents, rendering to them the pride and admiration which only a dutiful son can bestow to his parents."

His childhood seems to have been uneventful, with no more than the small mention in his obituary above.  Next we see him, is 1839, where he is married to Sophia Rogers (1817-1886).  She is buried near him in Mount Gilead Cemetery on State Road 45 in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana.  She is stated to be "highly esteemed on account of her feminine purity and good Christian qualities."

They had, as far as I have been able to find, 5 children:

Rebecca Rogers (1840-1858) - buried in Mount Gilead Cemetery, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana

Rachael R. Rogers (1850-1882) - buried in Mount Gilead Cemetery, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana

Charles P. Rogers (1857-1935) - buried in Mount Gilead Cemetery, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana

Margaret E. Rogers (1858-1864) - buried in Mount Gilead Cemetery, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana

Sarah E. Rogers (?-1857) - buried in Mount Gilead Cemetery, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana

He was a member of the Christian Church for about 35 years, though which church is not known.  There are many in Bloomington and in Monroe County as well, but which one is not known.  The obituary notes that "he was highly regarded as a kind, liberal and sociable neighbor, most tenderly and dearly loved by his relatives.  As a highly respectable, law-abiding citizen he ranked among the first.  He was amiable honorable, and peaceable which always won for him friends wherever he went."  Benjamin Franklin Rogers sounds like he must have been a wonderful man.

His obituary goes on to say that "his last hours were ones of much agony and suffering."  There is nothing stating what he passed from.  I have not been able to find his name in records church or otherwise.  

So, all in all, it would seem that the only claim to fame that Benjamin Franklin Rogers has is that he is recorded as being the first white children born in Monroe County.  But could that possibly be true?  I think, and this is only my opinion from past research, that he was the first recorded white child born Monroe County.  People started filtering into the area in 1815.  It seems odd that there would not have been at least one child born during the time, between 1815 and 1817.  Because there was nothing here bur wilderness, any child that was born, would probably never have been recorded in anything other than a family bible.  

Even if others were born before him, he has the fame of being labeled as the first white child born in Monroe County.  I do think that's pretty interesting.  

Rest in Peace, Benjamin Franklin Rogers.