Samuel Rogers ~ Merchant & Vice-President of the Waynesville National Bank

Samuel W. Rogers, the son of Joseph and Margaret Rogers, was born in Burlington County, New Jersey, March 29, 1814, and he died in Waynesville October 30, 1903, aged 87 years, 7 months and 1 day. He was a mere 18 months old when his parents moved to Ohio. Mr. Rogers was married twice to Lydia Ann Engle (m. April 13th, 1837) and Belinda Bordon but did not have any children of his own. However, he raised three orphans under his roof. From 1839 till 1844 he lived in Randolph County, Indiana and then returned to Waynesville where he spent the rest of his life. Up until 1848 he was engaged in farming. During the winter he taught in the local district school. He then turned his attention to the mercantile business, first in keeping a hardware and grocery store, then in dry goods, in Waynesville up until 1878 (See, 1850 Federal Census, Waynesville, Ohio, M432_737, page 341, 1870 Federal Census, Waynesville, Ohio, M593_1277, page 506, and 1880 Federal Census, Waynesville, Warren, Ohio; Roll: T9_1075, Page: 487A, Enumeration District: 79).

When the Waynesville National Bank (see photo above right) was founded in 1875, he was made its first vice president. He held this position until 1895, when he became president, an office he held till his death. For several years he was the director of Miami Cemetery ~ Located in Corwin, Across the River from Waynesville . He also held the offices of Township Trustee and Treasurer.

The Samuel Rogers house is located at 118 South Main in Waynesville. Built between 1816-1819 by Thomas Wilson it was generally known as the “Rogers House” during the 19th century. It first was a store, then an inn, a tavern, a doctor’s office, a stagecoach stop, a boarding house, St. Augustine’s Guest Haus, and an antique shop.