Hamilton Rodgers
Hamilton Rodgers, farmer, is a son of Benjamin Rodgers, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, and was born in this township, June 8, 1808, on the farm now owned by William B. Rodgers. His education was limited. When a subscription sufficient to hire a teacher could be made, a log cabin was erected in the woods, which they attended. However, the pioneers were so over-burdened with work, that they were compelled to deny their children even an ordinary education.
Mr. Rodgers attended strictly to home duties most of his life. He was married, December 31, 1835, to Martha A., daughter of William Vance, who was born February 4, 1815. They had five children: Mary E., Angeline, Harrison V., Lucy C, and Martha J. Angeline married Jesse Heagler, and died six years ago; Mary E. is the wife of William Rodgers, at Jamestown; Harrison owns land, which adjoins that of his father; Lucy C. is the wife of Marion Gibson; Martha J. is married to Harry J. Walker, and lives in Nebraska. Mrs. Rodgers is dead, and is buried in the old Rodgers cemetery. Mr. Rodgers married Hannah Gibson, nee Shobe, relict of John Gibson. Both are members of the Fairview German Baptist Church, and are good Christians.
Marion Gibson is the son of John H. Gibson, who was born in Virginia, removed to this state at an early day, and settled in Ross County, where he married Hannah, daughter of Daniel Shobe, who bore him four children: Marion, Lucinda (wife of Elijah Hopkins), Mary Ann (widow of Isaac J. Vance, lately deceased), and James, deceased.
Mr. Gibson was instantly killed by the upsetting of a wagon loaded with wheat, when Marion was a small boy. He was born November 30, 1843, and spent his youth in Ross County; worked for several farmers, and assisted in maintaining the family; hence his opportunities for an education were not very good. He was a sergeant in the Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, and remained in the service two years and two months.
In 1868, he married Lucy C, daughter of Hamilton Rodgers, and removed to this farm. They had five children: Orville, John, Mattie, Hamilton, and one who died in infancy. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are good and consistent Christians. He assisted in the erection of the new church at Good Hope, and furnished all the brick work.
Messrs. Rodgers and Gibson own about eight hundred acres of land, well tilled and stocked, in good cultivation, and located just north of Good Hope. They engage in general farming.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County