This gentleman was born in Sevier county, East Tennessee, on the 28th day of May, 1834. His father was a farmer
and the son was required to work, as soon as large enough, upon the farm, and his advantages for securing education
were not very favorable. His father removed to Missouri in the year 1838. Our subject remained at home, working
on the farm, until he was about fourteen years of age, when he began to hire out as a farm laborer, and make a
living for himself. During the rest of the time until his majority, young Robertson lived in Caldwell county, Missouri,
though his father remained in Ray county. At the age of twenty-three he was married to Miss Susannah McGhee, daughter
of Mr. Samuel McGhee, of Caldwell county. The date of this union was September 6, 1857. They became the parents
of three children, two sons and one daughter. The daughter died in Nevada. The sons, William C., and George Nelson,
are still living with their father. At his marriage, his father-in-law gave Mr. Robertson one hundred and thirty
acres of land, which he speedily improved, and made a comfortable home. This farm was situated about twelve miles
south-west of Kingston, in Caldwell county, Missouri. He subsequently traded farms several times successively,
moving each time to a new place, but a short distance from his former one. Finally, in 1863, he sold the one he
then possessed, and went to California, reaching that state in August, 1863. He traveled overland, with mule teams,
taking his family with him. He remained but one winter in California, and then returned to the mines of Dayton,
Nevada, where he staid for about eight years. Druing a part of that time he was engaged in mining, and then he
began the business of a wood merchant, which was very profitable, and Mr. Robertson made considerable money. He
came back to Missouri in 1872, and located in Ray county. Here he was engaged in speculating and trading for about
two years. At the expiration of that time he moved upon a farm which he had purchased upon his return from California,
about seven and a half miles northwest of Richmond. This farm, including subsequent purchases, comprises six hundred
acres of most excellent land, well improved. Mr. Robertson gives his attention chiefly to grain-raising and the
feeding of stock. In the year 1848 he went from Kansas City, Missouri, to old Mexico, the trip at that time requiring
four months' time. He made a similar trip in 1852, freighting goods. Mr. Robertson, his wife, and son George, are
members of the Christian Union Church, which worships at Pleasantville. Cleason Robertson has had a varied experience
in life, and has seen much of different parts of the country. He has been very successful in business, considering
the disadvantages and obstacles he has had to overcome. He is, to-day, a successful farmer, and a useful citizen
of the grand old county of Ray.
-History of Ray County, Mo., 1881 St. Louis: Missouri Historical Company PAGE
714
Rogers, Jewell P.
JEWELL P. ROGERS, the junior and active member of the firm of Ellis & Rogers, dealers in groceries and
gent's furnishing goods at Lawson, is one of the most prominent young business men of Ray County. He is a native
of Missouri, having been born in Boone County, January 27, 1868, and is the son of the Rev. G. W. and Fannie L.
Rogers, natives of Missouri and Kentucky respectively. His father, who is a minister in the Baptist Church, is
considered one of the most eloquent divines and popular pastors in that denomination.
When seven years old, our subject accompanied his parents to Texas, and for four years made his home in Dallas,
where his father had accepted a pastorate. Thence he went to Austin, the same State, where he remained four years,
and from that city removed to Sherman, Tex., where he resided for eight years. His father is still remembered
in those cities as one of the most honorable of men and especially devoted to the welfare of his parishioners.
Upon leaving Texas, he had charge of a church at Excelsior Springs, Mo., for some time, and now resides in Kansas
City, Mo.
In these various removals, our subject accompanied his father, and thus had the advantages of travel and association
with the best people of many places. His schooling was principally gained in Texas and was of a practical nature,
which fitted him for a business career. A short time after locating at Excelsior Springs, Mo., he returned to
Sherman, Tex., where he remained one and one-half years. Thence he went to Kansas City and entered the employ
of the firm of Bullene, Moore, Emery & Co., the most influential and successful merchants of the city. After
clerking for them for about eighteen months he came to Lawson, where he formed his present partnership with Mr.
Ellis.
The firm of Ellis & Rogers has a reputation for enterprise and fair-dealing which is not limited to the village
of Lawson, nor indeed to Ray County. They have a large trade, extending throughout the surrounding country, and
keep in stock a full line of groceries and produce. In addition to this, they are making a specialty of gent's
furnishing goods and have in stock the latest styles in those lines. In his political opinions, Mr. Rogers is
a pronounced Democrat and uses his influence in behalf of the candidates and principles of that party. He is a
member of the Baptist Church and active in its support. Although a young man, he has had considerable experience
in "roughing it" in the Western States, and in former years was accustomed to drive cattle across the
Indian Territory. In his travels, which have extended over a wide range of country, he has gained considerable
knowledge of the people and is a man of broad information upon all general subjects.
Page 316 - Ray County
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton and Linn Counties, Missouri
