Silver miner

#10Daysof Chronicles

Reconstruct an ancestor's journey to a new country

John Rogers, my great granduncle, was born in Cornwall, England in 1845. He came with his parents to America. The family settled in Jo Davies County, Illinois where his father farmed. While in Cornwall, John’s father was a miner. According to an interview conducted before he died, John’s father supplemented their income when they first arrived in Illinois by mining in the lead mines but was eventually able to farm fulltime.

Once grown and married, John and his wife Jannie moved west where he sought out silver and mineral mines. He filed several land patents for mines in southern Colorado and had successful claims. In addition, he helped to found the town of Silverton, where he served as both the sheriff and mayor. He and Jannie had 3 children, a daughter Clara and 2 sons, Frank and Harry. Clara died at age 3, and Frank drown in 1903.

John died in 1913, but he lives on in the Silverton Museum. There plaques memorialize his feats, particularly as sheriff. He was a well-loved member of the community and holds a prominent place in its history. Like many of his contemporaries, he crossed almost 1/2 the globe to do so.