The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 821 JOHN J. RODGERS. Among the successful agriculturists of the Naches district is John J. Rodgers, who was born on the 15th of October, 1853, in Des Moines, Iowa, a son of Asa and Nancy (Case) Rodgers, both natives of Kentucky, their marriage, however, occurring in Indiana. They became pioneers of Iowa when in 1851 they removed to that state, where both died. The father was an honored veteran of the Civil war, in which conflict he served for two years, at the end of which time he received his honorable discharge on account of disability. His strong patriotism, however, moved him to re-enlist, at which time he joined the Eighth Iowa Cavalry, and he subsequently was crippled by a horse. He was then placed in the Nashville Hospital and in March, 1865, died of smallpox, leaving a widow and eight children. At the beginning of his career the father traded cordwood in pay for his meals but gradually succeeded so far that he was enabled to rent land. The mother died in Nebraska in 1889 and four of the children survive. John J. Rodgers was but twelve years old when his father died and subsequently lived with an uncle, attending the public schools in the pursuit of his education. He then worked for wages and on July 29, 1878, made his way to Omaha, Nebraska, and later to Wyoming and Fort Collins, Colorado, where he remained for a year. From 1879 until October, 1881, he was in Idaho and subsequently spent a similar period in Salt Lake City, Utah. Crossing the great desert with a four-horse team, he then returned to Nebraska, purchasing three hundred and twenty acres of government land in Sioux county. To the cultivation of this property he gave his whole attention until May l, 1900, when removal was made to Custer county, Montana, where he operated a stock ranch until 1914, when he came to Yakima county. On the Montana ranch his son yet resides. On the 31st of July of that year Mr. Rodgers of this review bought twenty acres on the lower Naches and has since remodeled the house and also built a fine barn. This property is on mail route seven out of Yakima. He not only raises grain and hay but also gives considerable attention to fruit and is likewise raising hogs. Having had considerable experience in various sections of the country, he makes good use of his knowledge and is now numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of his district. On the 20th of September, 1881, Mr. Rodgers was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Mills, nee Labanth, a native of Toronto, Canada, and they have an adopted son, Joseph C., who is married and has two children, and yet makes his home on the old ranch in Montana. Mrs. Rodgers' parents were pioneer residents of Iowa, to which state they removed from Canada in 1849. Mr. Rodgers, as is evident from his career, has traveled a great deal in this country and has made thousands of miles by wagon, in fact most of his trips have been accomplished in this way. There is great honor due him for what he has achieved, as he is a self-made man in the best sense of the word, having started out in life empty-handed and friendless. In his political dews he is a democrat and loyally supports the principles and candidates of that party. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.