Seated..Rebecca Thomas Smith Rogers
Dollie Adelaide Rogers
Emma Belle Rogers Shelton
Lula Samantha Rogers Messer
Ella Baye Rogers Noland
Standing
Mary Jane Elizabeth Rogers Hooper
Roberta Rogers
Children
Ola Shelton
Winona Noland
Rob Shelton
Felix Shelton
Zephyr Shelton
Robert (Berty) Noland
Eugene Noland
Rebecca Smith Rogers wife of Robert Rogers
Daughters of Robert and Rebecca Rogers shown here in the 1950's or 1960's Left to right are Lula, Baye and Bertie.."Roberta"
The Rogers Family and The University at Cullowhee
My grandmother Sallie Viola Rogers (Miller) was born in Cullowhee in a house
her father had built. Amazingly, the house still stands but it has been moved to the
Speedwell Community, and it has been remodeled.
When Robert was a young man, his father offered to give him a slave and a piece of land when he reached maturity. He did not want a slave, he wanted an education.
He did not fight in the Civil War,but hid out in a cave in the mountains.He did not want to be a farmer, he wanted to be an educator.
It was very dangerous, not to take a position on the war at that time in the South. Relatives of his brought him food, while he was in hiding. All of his daughters became school teachers, and each one of them named their first boy, Robert.
The University of Western North Carolina is built on the land owned by Robert's wealthier brother David.The University was built on the site of the old school house in which all of the Roger's daughters were educated, and in which most of them later taught.
His wealthier brother David Rogers was a landowner and he was also a Captain in the Confederate Army.
Robert was married To Samantha Rushing Samantha Rushing and had little Dollie Adelaide aka “Fannie” Rogers.
After Robert Rogers was widowed, he was traveling in Georgia with his little daughter Fannie. Fannie made friends with a young woman of means. Eventually
Robert fell in love with young Rebecca and the two were married. That was a happy day for his little daughter , Dollie Adelaide "Fannie" Rogers, she got to pick her new mother.
After the war Robert settled in Cullowhee, and a wealthy neighbor had a tutor for
his children and he allowed the Rogers daughters to attend the lessons. He and his wife
Rebecca Smith Rogers had seven daughters and only one son. Hugh Smith Rogers.
David Rogers allowed a school to be established on his property and all of his
neices became school teachers. Almost all of the first graduates of Cullowhee normal school
were Rogers related.
It is a long story but the state wanted Uncle Dave;s land to build a University. They threatened to
condemn his home if he would not sell. He promised them they could buy the land after his
death. He was an old bachelor. He died right after that on Apr 25,1924 He left money from his
estate to all of the neices and nephews, and there were many. The University of North Carolina at
Cullowhee stands on his land, and I feel a proprietary interest in that Institution.
My dad went to school in Cullowhee and his teacher was Professor Robert Lee Madison.
Professor Madison authored some articles for The Asheville Citizen Times called “Experiences Of A Pedagogue In The Carolina Highlands.”
The ladies are descendants of Robert and Rebecca Rogers, and are shown here at the gravesite of their ancestors.
Aunt Bertie, Baye, Lula and Aunt Fannie Pressley Rogers at a family reunion in the early 1960's Robert and Rebecca Roger's daughters in their later years..Aunt Fannie was married to Robert and Rebecca's only son, Hugh Smith Rogers. Legend has it that all of the 8 Rogers' daughters named their oldest son Robert after their father.
Sallie Rogers Miller daughter of Robert and Rebecca Rogers, pioneer school teacher, Sallie's two daughters, Mamie and Lois both became school teachers.
Francis Ida Rogers Cotter, another daughter of Robert and Rebecca Rogers and also a pioneer school teacher!
Robert and Rebecca Rogers' daughters ,Baye, Bertie, Bethie, Dollie and Lula.Pioneer School Teachers All!
The home Robert Rogers (brother of Dave) built for his family in the
1800's, This home still stands although it has been moved to the Speedwell Community to make room for the enlarged University..
John Rigdon overseer at the Dave Rogers farm and The Dave Rogers Farm, I believe that John served in the confederate army with (Captain)Dave Rogers.
Professor Robert Lee Madison , who was the founder of the UNC at Cullowhee. He was a grandson of President James Madison and was my Dads teacher . Professor Madison rode on" Traveler", as a child, the horse belonging to his name sake..
He at one time boarded at my Great Grandmother Margaret Keener Miller's home.
A Program from the first graduating class at Cullowhee, almost all the students were Rogers' Related.
a gathering of the Cullowhee Alumni in about 1902 in the second row on the left is my Aunt "Bertie" Rogers..Roberta
The Original School at Cullowhee that was built on the David Rogers
Farm
