Sarah Jane Rodgers

Sarah Jane Rodgers, daughter of James and Sarah Rodgers, was born in Greenbrier County, W. VA., on July 29, 1832. Her life on earth ended January 29, 1919, when when she was 86 years, and six months of age.

She was one of the family of five children, all of whom are dead.  She had numerous uncles and aunts and a host of cousins, but she has lived to see all of them but two cousins pass int the Great Beyond.

She attended an old-fashioned “Subscription School” in her girlhood as the public school had not been developed.  She was converted at the age of sixteen in a primitive log church, and became an ardent worker in the Presbyterian Church, to which she continued to belong until coming to Mount Ayr, when she allied with the Methodist congregation.

In 1854, the family left Virginia and came to Illinois, where they lived in the vicinity of Galesburg.  Here the father died in 1860.  After the death of the father she cared for her mother with unusual devotion in the homes of her brother, A.M. Rodgers, and her sister, Mrs. M. Hickman, the mother living to the ripe old age of 94.  After the breaking up of these homes and being able no longer to care for herself, she came in 1903 to make her home with Mrs. Keating, her niece, in Mount Ayr.  Here she remained for sixteen years and until her death.

In the absence of a family of her own, her nephews and nieces were especially dear to her.  There remain of these: George Rodgers, Jefferson, OK.; Mrs. Fannie Baumgardmer, Creston, Iowa; Mrs. O.T. McAllister, Lincoln, NE.; C. M. Hickman, Abraham, Utah; Mrs. C.R. Keating, Mount Ayr.

Miss Rodgers was a woman of strong conviction and loyal nature.  As a result of these and other qualities of character, she never failed to gather around her a circle of very strong friends.  her religious life meant a great deal to her, as she could not be other than sincere in anything she undertook.  During the last few years of her life she was kept from church much of the time and this was a real cross for her to bear.  But she maintained an active and intelligent interest in all matters of the church and public questions.

Funeral services were held at the Keating home at 3 o’clock on February 1, 1919, conducted by her pastor, Rev. Frank Bean.  Interment was at Rose Hill.