Foster Robert Rogers

Foster Rogers, Early Lusk Druggist, Dies

Thon Book 2 - 1949

Foster R. Rogers is dead. A man who came to Wyoming in a prairie schooner as a young boy in 1895. died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Vernon Lamb of Lance Creek, on Monday, July 25, after an extended illness.

Mr. Rogers was a prominent business man of Lusk for more than thirty years, where he owned and operated the Rogers Drug Store, selling out to A. J. Casey some four years ago. The business is now owned by Harold Scriven.

Always active in community affairs, Mr. Rogers served on the town council from 1928 to 1933 and was mayor of Lusk from 1933 to 1935. He was a charter member of the Lusk Lions Club and served on county chairmanships of the Red Cross and other organizations. He was a member of the Methodist Church.

Born at Skidmore, Norway County, Missouri, August 6, 1881, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Rogers, he was 14 years of age when the prairie schooner brought him to Wyoming, and was the last member of that family. They first located on the Pinkerton place north of Manville but in 1902 his parents filed on a homestead on Indian Creek north of Lusk.

Both of his parents were teachers and he received his elementary education from his mother, who continued to teach after moving to Wyoming. He later entered the Chillicothe Business College of Chillicothe, Mo. and then the Northwestern University School of Pharmacy in Chicago from which institution he was graduated in 1909. He was employed for a time in a drug store in Chicago but in 1910 he returned to Wyoming and began work in Cordner's Drug Store in Laramie.

May 12, 1910 he was married to Miss Hazel G. Palmer of Chicago and they are the parents of four children. In June of 1918 he purchased the Overland Drug Company of Lusk and brought his family here. The following year he erected a fine home on Linn Street, which is now the George Gibson property.

His wife died in 1925 and his parents and six brothers and sisters have all preceded him in death. Some of them are well remembered here as they also made their home. They are Harry B. Rogers, Roy L. Rogers, Fred B. Rogers and Mrs Mabel Shipley. The other two who lived elsewhere are Mrs. Frank L. Childs and Walter B. Rogers.

Survivors are his four children, Mrs. Mary Ethel White of Kaycee, Martha Belle Lamb of Lance Creek, Dr. R. B. Rogers of Buffalo, Wyo., and Mrs. Frances Moss of Lusk and five grandchildren, Mack Lee and Foster White, Joe Gatzmeyer and John and Martha Rogers.

Funeral services were conducted from the Peet Chapel Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 by rev. Lawrence Juell. Two solos, "In The Garden" and Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" were sung by Rev. Paul Hoover, accompanied by Mrs. A. F. DeCastro.

The honorary bearers were E. M. Arnold, Roy Porter, Len Christian, Arthur Thompson, Al Rundquist, Carl Baughn, John Agnew, and Lawrence Johnson.

The active members were R. L. Olinger, Roger Percival, Harry Fernau, Sr., Greg Kuhn, Wm. D. Miller and Dr. A. J. Corman of Wheatland.

Interment was made in the Lusk Cemetery.

The Lusk Herald, Lance Creek Section

Foster Rogers Dies Here Monday Morning

Mrs. Vern Lamb's father, Foster Rogers, formerly of Lusk, passed away at the home of his daughter on Monday morning at 8:25. He had been in very ill health for quite some time.

Thon Book No. 4 - 1949

Foster R. Rogers, Pioneer of State And Long Time Business Man of Lusk Passes Away at the Home of Daughter

A heart condition with which he had been afflicted for a number of years, claimed the life of Foster R. Rogers, retired drug store operator of this city, and one of Wyoming's early pioneers, who passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Vernon Lamb at Lance Creek On Monday July 25th.

Mr. Rogers who operated a drug store for more than 27 years was known throughout the county and over a much wider area, and because of his always genial personality and consideration of others, had acquired a vast host of friends.

Since his retirement in 1945, when he sold his drug store to A. J. Casey, Mr. Rogers had spent his time with his children and families of Lusk, Lance Creek, Kaycee and Buffalo, Wyoming.

Final services were conducted from the Chapel of the Peet Funeral home in this city at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, July 27th. Rev. Lawrence P. Juell, pastor of the Congregational Christian Church in charge. Rev. Paul Hoover, former local pastor of the Open Bible Standard church enriched the services with two vocal numbers, "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "In The Garden." Mrs. Edna DeCAstro accompanied at the chapel organ.

Interment was in the Lusk cemetery, with the remains conveyed to their last resting place by Dr. J. A. Corman of Wheatland, Ralph I. Olinger, Roger Percival, Harry Fernau, Greg Kuhn, and Wm. D. Miller. Honorary pallbearers were Edw. M. Arnold, Roy Porter, Leonard Christian, Arthur Thompson, Carl Baughn and John Agnew.

In 1895 the Rogers family came to Wyoming in a prairie schooner. They settled on the Pinkerton ranch north of Manville. Foster. R. Rogers was then fourteen years old. He had been born in Skidmore, Nodaway county, Missouri. August 6, 1881, a son of Bernard and Ann M. Buck Rogers. In 1902 they filed on a homestead on Indian Creek.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Rogers continued to teach in Wyoming. Foster gained his primary education under his mother. He was a very apt pupil. He entered the Chillicothe Business college, of Chillicothe, Missouri and later the Northwestern University School of Pharmacy in Chicago. He was graduated from the latter in the class of 1909. For a short time he was employed in a Chicago drug store and then returned to Wyoming in 1910 where he was employed in a drug store in Laramie. In June 1918 he moved to Lusk where he had purchased the business of Overland Drug Company. He continued as owner and operator of Rogers Drug Store until he retired in 1945. On May 2, 1910 he was united in marriage with Miss Hazel Gladys Palmer of Chicago. To this union were born four children: Mary Ethel, who is Mrs. Mack White of Kaycee, Wyo.; Martha Belle, Mrs. Vernon Lamb of Lance Creek, Wyo.; Frances, Mrs. E. C. Moss of Lusk, Wyo.; and Dr. R.B Rogers of Buffalo, Wyo.

Foster Rogers was the last member of the family which came to Wyoming in the prairie schooner. His brothers and sisters, whom some of the older residents of this community will remember were, Mrs. Frank L. Childs, Harry B., Walter B., Roy Leslie, Fred B. and Mrs. William Burr Shipley.

Mr. Rogers was very active in community affairs. He was a charter member of the Lusk Lions Club; served on the Town Council 1928 to 1933 and was mayor from 1933 to 1935; and was a member of the Methodist church.

From the time of his retirement he spent his time with his children and on Monday morning, July 25, he passed away at the home of his daughter in Lance Creek, at the age of 67 years, 11 months and 19 days. He was preceded in death by his wife who passed away January 13, 1925. He leaves to mourn his passing his four children and five grandchildren, Mack Lee and Foster White, Joe Gatzemeyer, and John and Martha Rogers.

Images & Attachments

Related/Linked Records