Photos of Families in the Sitting Room - Henry Rogers

Henry Rogers

This photo shows Henry Rogers later in life.  Though he looks a little worn out after controlling his business ventures for years, his photo is letting you know he has done well.  He is wearing a diamond stick pin in his tie and monogrammed cufflinks.

It wasn’t all work for Henry.  The family traveled to Chicago regularly, went to the Gulf coast for vacations, summered in the Upper Peninsula, and visited Warm Springs, Arkansas.

Henry was born on September 30, 1833, in Genesco, New York.  He and his family moved to Appleton from Cheyenne Wyoming in 1873 so he could manage his paper empire.  He died on July 27, 1896 in Chicago Illinois at almost 63 years old from liver cancer.  This is not surprising considering he had been drinking out of led pipes for decades.  He is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, in the Pietsch family plot.

In addition to being a hardworking businessman, Henry was very civic minded.  He served on Appleton's City Council.  He was asked to run for mayor but declined because he was too busy with business.  He volunteered to be president of the local illuminating gas company when it went bankrupt and was bought by local businessmen.  Henry realized that only the rich could afford electricity and everyone else relied on gas.  He made sure all of Appleton still had service.