RENCHER, Abraham, a Representative from North Carolina; born near Raleigh, Wake County, N.C., August 12, 1798; tutored at home and attended the common schools and Pittsboro (N.C.) Academy; was graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1822; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1825 and commenced practice in Pittsboro, Chatham County, N.C.; elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Congresses, reelected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Congresses, and elected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1829-March 3, 1839); declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1838; elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1841-March 3, 1843); declined to be candidate for renomination in 1842 on account of ill health; Minister to Portugal 1843-1847; appointed governor of New Mexico by President Buchanan and served from 1857 to 1861; retired to his home in Pittsboro, N.C.; died in Chapel Hill, N.C., on July 6, 1883; interment in St. Bartholomew’s Protestant Episcopal Churchyard, Pittsboro, N.C.
(Source: Biographical Directory of the United States 1774-present.)

RENCHER, ABRAHAM, lawyer, congressman, governor, was born in Wake County, N. C. He was elected to congress from North Carolina, where he served from 1829 to 1839, and again from 1841 to 1843. He was charge d' affaires to Portugal in 1843; and was appointed, by President Buchanan, governor of the territory of New Mexico.
[Herringshaw's encyclopedia of American biography of the nineteenth century; Edited by Thomas William Herringshaw; Publ. 1901; Donated and Transcribed by Andrea Stawski Pack]

William Tilden Roberts
The type of versatile man who tries his hand at many things and makes a success of all is illustrated by the career of William Tilden Roberts, of Wendell. The last day of the centennial year (1876) of American independence there came into the home of Edward and Frances
(Forsyth) Roberts, of Granville County, a boy who was destined to make his mark in the industrial life of a rising and rapidly growing young town of Wake. When he was old enough to form an acquaintance with the three R's, William was sent to the neighborhood free school, which was taught in a log house. As there was a large family to be supported, the boy did not have much of a chance to acquire an education, but, as has been said, he learned enough to make his mark, which is something worth while.
When William was twentyone years old he took charge of the farm of A. J. Veazzey, in Granville, and cultivated it three years. He then rented land and raised tobacco with such success that in a short time he was able to buy a farm. Two years later he sold it to advantage and engaged in the lumber business with John L. Roberts at Creedmoor and Stem. Next he was in the same business at old Eagle Rock. Three years ago, seeing that Wendell was destined to become an important industrial and trade centre, he decided to make that place his home.
Having acquired large land and timber interests, he devoted his energies to improving the property. Later he sold his interest to his brother.
Mr. Roberts then bought a planing mill at Wendell, and is the owner of a flourishing cotton-gin. He has built up a large business, supplying dressed lumber for the local and Northern markets. He bought a lot in town and built a handsome dwelling house, at a cost of $4,000. Also he is the owner of a farm on which he raises splendid crops, consisting principally of corn, cotton and tobacco. At the time this sketch was written he was preparing to erect a garage, as he was also engaged in the business of selling automobiles.
Evidencing his interest in the welfare of his community, Mr. Roberts became a charter member of the Wendell Industrial and Development Club, while his interest in his fellow-man is further attested by his membership in the Junior Order United American Mechanics. He is a member of the Methodist church and is a liberal supporter of all its undertakings. In politics he is a Democrat. He stands firm for public morality, as shown by his support of prohibition.
The good wife of Mr. Roberts was Miss Magg Neva Goss, daughter of Elijah and Eliza Gross. Their family consists of Viola, Myrtle, Sadie and William Elmo, all bright and attractive children.
As might be expected, Mr. Roberts is a public-spirited man. He is in favor of extending and enlarging the facilities for public education, and he believes in improving the roads. His advice to young men is to be industrious and honorable, and always to observe the Golden Rule.
(Source: Historical Raleigh With Sketches of Wake County (From 1771) and its Important Towns (Moses Amis, 1913) Submitted by Amy Robbins)

ROBERTSON, James; founder of Nashville, Tenn., was born in Brunswick county, Va., June 28, 1742. Taken at the age of eight to Wake county, N. C., and brought up on a frontier farm, his only learning was that of the woods. In 1769, having crossed the Blue Ridge with Daniel Boone, he stopped in w hat is now Watauga county, N. C., and planted corn. Hither he returned in the spring of 1770 with sixteen families of settlers, supposing they were in Virginia, whereas the region belonged to the Cherokees. Here, in a valley between the mountains, the colonists lived in peace for some years, making terms with the Indians. John Sevier (q. v.) joined them in 1772, and built a fort, which, in July, 1776, was besieged by the Cherokees under Oconostota, who had opposed the cession of the land and now acted with the British. Robertson was Sevier's lieutenant in the defense of this fort, and was afterward employed to watch and restrain the Indian chief. In 1779, after exploring the Cumberland Valley, he led a party thither, settling on the site of Nashville on Christmas day. Here the 256 settlers were far beyond the confines of civilization and surrounded by savages, who harassed them almost from the day of their arrival. More than one-fourth of them were soon killed, others left, and a rise of the river threatened their means of subsistence. The colonists, diminished by nearly half, implored Robertson to give up the enterprise and return to the east, but he said that he would remain alone, if necessary. Provisions running low, he, with three followers, passed through the dangerous woods to Kentucky, found his friend Bonne, and procured a supply. It was soon needed, for his fort was invested in April, 1781, by 1,000 Cherokees. He had hardly detached the Choc taws and Chickasaws from the service of England and made a treaty with the Cherokees, when trouble came from another quarter. The Spanish authorities of Louisiana, jealous of encroachments in their direction, set on the half-breed, Alex McGillivray, chief of the Creeks, against him. Robertson had to defend the new settlement from 1784. By this time he had a little army of 500 frontiersmen; his valor and ability overcame heavy odds, and his patriotism refused all inducements to organize a separate state in alliance with Spain. See Bishop C. F. Robertson's "Attempt to Separate the West from the American Union," 1885. This conflict lasted until 1796. and during its last six years he held the U. S. commission of brigadier-general. In his later years he was U. S. Indian Agent. Though of little education, his valor, ability and firmness gave him rank next to Sevier in the early history of his adopted state. His life was written by A. W. Putnam, 1859. (See also J. R. Gilmore's "Rear-Guard of the Revolution," 1886, and "Harper's Magazine" for February, 1888, pp. 420-426.) He died in the Chickasaw region, Tenn., Sept. 1, 1814.
{Source: The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 2; Publ. 1906, by James T. White, George Derby; Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack.}

ROGERS, Sion Hart, a Representative from North Carolina; born near Raleigh, Wake County, N.C., September 30, 1825; attended the common schools, and was graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1846; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1848 and commenced practice in Raleigh; elected as a Whig to the Thirty-third Congress (March 4, 1853-March 3, 1855); declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1854; solicitor of the Raleigh district of the superior court; served in the Confederate Army as a lieutenant in the Fourteenth Regiment of North Carolina State Troops in 1861; was commissioned colonel of the Forty-seventh North Carolina Infantry April 8, 1862; resigned January 5, 1863, upon being elected attorney general of the State of North Carolina; served in that capacity until 1866; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1868 to the Forty-first Congress; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1873); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress; died in Raleigh, Wake County, N.C., on August 14, 1874; interment in the City Cemetery.
(Source: Biographical Directory of the United States 1774-present.)

ROGERS, SION H., soldier, lawyer, congressman, was born Sept. 30, 1825, in Wake County, N. C. He was elected to the thirty-third congress; and was elected to the legislature of North Carolina in 1860. He served in the confederate army as colonel of the forty-seventh North Carolina regiment. He was attorney-general of North Carolina from 1862 to 1868; and was elected to the forty-second congress as a democrat.
[Herringshaw's encyclopedia of American biography of the nineteenth century; Edited by Thomas William Herringshaw; Publ. 1901; Donated and Transcribed by Andrea Stawski Pack]

Aleck Rosengarten
Wide-awake Raleigh might never have been known as such if there had been no citizens of Hebrew descent in. it. Indeed, wherever a live community exists, there are to be found worthy sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob actively engaged in honorable pursuits and contributing their part to the general prosperity.
Aleck Rosengarten was born in Russia, the son of Isaac Rosengarten. At the early age of fourteen years he left home and friends and native land, and, without kindred or companion, he crossed the broad Atlantic and arrived in America with a few hundred dollars and a purpose to make a fortune. That was in 1889. How well he succeeded is told in what follows.
The first employment of Mr. Rosengarten was in a dry-goods and clothing store in Brooklyn. After working as a clerk long enough to learn the business, he opened a store on his own account. His success was all that could be desired; but, hearing of the fine openings for business there were in the Sunny South, he resolved to come to the land of cotton, and so he moved to Raleigh, where he entered actively into business and soon became a potent factor in developing the commercial interests of our city, and helped in his modest way to bring on the wave of prosperity that is the pride of every citizen and the wonder of all who but a few years ago knew the capital city of North Carolina as a sleepy old town.
The J. Rosengarten Company, of which A lock Rosengarten is president, holds a leading position in the clothing trade of Raleigh. With one of the most eligible locations in Fayetteville Street, with a store modernly equipped and furnished, with a stock that meets the requirements of the most fastidious and exacting trade, this firm enjoys a large share of business and merits its well-earned popularity. Through countless generations the descendants of Israel have been successful as traders, and in every part of the civilized world they are known for their energy, their enterprise and their thrift. In America, particularly, the Hebrews have been first among the foremost of merchants. In Raleigh they are an important part of its commercial life, and none of their race stands higher in the public esteem than Aleck Rosengarten.
While the clothing business is the main chance with Mr. Rosengarten, he has made large investments in real estate. Some time ago he made a large purchase in West Cabarrus Street. At that time there was no connection between Cabarrus Street and Boylan Heights, but Mr. Rosengarten gave the land over which it was necessary to make the connection, and by that act became a public benefactor. In other parts of the city he has valuable real estate holdings. In Swain Street, between Davie and Martin, he owns a number of modern-type residence houses, attractively finished with slate roofs, besides a store building in the same locality. He has had granolithic sidewalks laid along the front of this property, greatly improving the street and enhacing the value of adjacent houses and lots, which is another example of his public spirit.
The interest of Mr. Rosengarten in the welfare, progress and prosperity of Raleigh is shown by his connection with two important enterprises of the city—one a promoter of other enterprises and financial convenience to the community, and the other a home-builder.
To be more particular, he is a member of the board of directors of the Merchants National Bank, a director of the Mutual Building and Loan Association and a member of the loan committee of that institution.
The friends of Aleck Rosengarten are so numerous that nobody except the census taker could count them. A man who is friendly to everybody, courteous to all with whom he comes in contact, obliging to all customers, and with the fine instinct that recognizes the wants of a visitor to his place of business before they are spoken, he could not help having friends. Besides, he has a gentleman's regard for the rights and opinions of his fellow-man, a quality that is not always found among men who have made a success in life and have accumulated a store of worldly possessions.
The fraternal spirit is strong in Mr. Rosengarten. Among the Masons he is prominent and is held in high esteem by his brethren. He is a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 40, and is also a Royal Arch Mason. The Red Men, too, claim him as their own, for Avhen he was a paleface, wandering in the forest, they took him into their wigwam, made a good Indian of him and elevated him to the dignity of chief.
Though born in the empire of the Czar, Mr. Rosongarten became an American citizen by naturalization. He does not get excited about politics, but he takes a citizen's interest in public affairs, and he discharges his duty, as he understands it, by voting the Democratic ticket, just the same as do hundreds of other good people in Raleigh and elsewhere.
(Source: Historical Raleigh With Sketches of Wake County (From 1771) and its Important Towns (Moses Amis, 1913) Submitted by Amy Robbins)