Benjamin Duckworth Rodgers was born 26 Dec 1860 in Williamsburgh, Mississippi. He was the 10th child of Mary Duckworth and Shadrach Meshack Abednago Rodgers IV, who later settled in Montgomery County, Arkansas.

After his mother's death, 22 Jan. 1884, and his father's remarriage in Aug. 1884, Benjamin and a brother left home. Benjamin rode a mule, his brother a horse, from Oden, Ark. to Spring Hill, Texas to their brother Cooper's and wife Sephronie Ann's home....

Shortly after arriving, Benjamin met and on 16 Oct 1884 married Laura Irine Baker, daughter of George Washington Baker.

Benjamin and Laura had 10 children:

Alice, 12 Aug. 1885, married Luther Hooser;

George, 20 Apr 1887-20 Aug. 1887;

Mary, 9 Aug. 1888, married John Carrol;

Lilly, 19 Oct. 1890, married Walter Murray;

Odus, 10 May 1893, (1) married Edith Logan, (2) married Clara Shoaf;

Ina, 16 Dec. 1894, married Gill Wyatt;

Herman, 25 Nov 1896-23 Mar. 1922;

Harrol, 30 Apr. 1898, married Lola Durham;

Lula, 7 Apr 1900, married Coke Rutherford;

Walter, 13 Feb. 1903, married Claudia Griffith.

They bought land and built their house about a mile from the Baker farm....

The log house had one big room for living and sleeping and a kitchen. The kitchen had a dirt floor. As the family grew the house was enlarged.

There was a huge flat rock at the point of a steep hill overlooking the home site with the pasture and field land fanning out in front of the house. From this point you could see miles of beautiful country. The last year the Benjamin Rodgers reunion was held in Gatesville, mid-1960s, several of us went out to the old place. This land is in the Fort Hood Army Reservation now. Grandma Laura's rose bush was in bloom, bidding us welcome it seemed, but that was all that was left. We helped Aunt Lula climb the hill to the rock, but Aunt Ina said there were too many memories.

There were parties and church functions for entertainment. Usually the whole family attended a country party, there was fun for everyone. Small children played games, the older ones played "Snap'' or square danced, and the parents played "Dominoes" or just visited. My dad, Harrol, recalled playing the Frenchharp and "calling" for some of the square dances. He also told of riding his mule, Rubber, who he'd taught to jump fences so he wouldn't have to open gates.

Pneumonia took Benjamin, 7 Jan. 1904, leaving Laura with nine children to raise alone. With God's help she kept her family together on their farm until they were grown.

She was living with her daughter Lula in San Angelo, Texas at the time of her death 10 Dec 1927.

By Lois Imogene (Gene) Rodgers Hailey, daughter of Harrol and Lola Durham Rodgers.

From "Coryell County, Texas Families, 1854-1985". Compiled by the Coryell County Genealogical Society. Gatesville, Texas. 1986.

Copied to Find A Grave with permission from CCGS.

Note: Benjamine D. and his wife Laura were originally buried in the Morehead Cemetery on present day Fort Cavazos (Fort Hood.) They were reinterred in Restland Cemetery, section D, Lot 81 B. on 7-4-1953.