William Findlay Rogers
Encyclopedia
William Findlay Rogers was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
.
Rogers is probably best remembered today as the mayor and parks commissioner who hired Frederick Law Olmsted
to design Buffalo's park system
and its showpiece, Delaware Park. Rogers also supported the foundation of the Buffalo Zoo
.
) was born in Forks Township, Pennsylvania
, near the borough of Easton, Pennsylvania
. He moved with his parents to Philadelphia, where he attended the common schools. Rogers returned to Easton and entered a printing office in 1832. Two years later, he returned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and continued working at his trade.
, in 1840. He moved to Buffalo, New York
, in 1846 and was foreman in the office of the Buffalo Daily Courier. Rogers established and managed the Buffalo Republic in 1850.
as colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment, New York Volunteers. He mustered out in 1863. In 1867,he became the comptroller of the city of Buffalo and its mayor in 1869. He served as secretary and treasurer of the Buffalo park commissioners in 1871. He was nominated for the New York State Senate
in 1878, but declined.
Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1884
. He served as the superintendent of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home at Bath, New York
, from 1887 to 1897.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Rogers is probably best remembered today as the mayor and parks commissioner who hired Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
to design Buffalo's park system
Buffalo, New York parks system
The Buffalo, New York, public parks and parkways system is the United States' oldest coordinated system of such recreational spaces, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux between 1868 and 1896. It was inspired in large part by the parkland, boulevards, and squares of Paris, France...
and its showpiece, Delaware Park. Rogers also supported the foundation of the Buffalo Zoo
Buffalo Zoo
Founded in 1875, the Buffalo Zoo located in Buffalo, New York is the third oldest zoo in the United States. Each year, the Buffalo Zoo welcomes approximately 400,000 visitors and is the second largest tourist attraction in Western New York, second only to Niagara Falls...
.
Early years
William Findlay Rogers (son of Thomas Jones RogersThomas Jones Rogers
Thomas Jones Rogers was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Thomas J. Rogers was born in Waterford, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States in 1784 with his parents, who settled in Easton, Pennsylvania...
) was born in Forks Township, Pennsylvania
Forks Township, Pennsylvania
Forks Township is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Forks Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania*Forks Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania...
, near the borough of Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
. He moved with his parents to Philadelphia, where he attended the common schools. Rogers returned to Easton and entered a printing office in 1832. Two years later, he returned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and continued working at his trade.
Printing trade
Rogers established a paper at Honesdale, PennsylvaniaHonesdale, Pennsylvania
Honesdale is a borough in and the county seat of Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located northeast of Scranton. The population was 4,874 at the 2000 census....
, in 1840. He moved to Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, in 1846 and was foreman in the office of the Buffalo Daily Courier. Rogers established and managed the Buffalo Republic in 1850.
Civil War
Rogers served as a member of Company D of the Buffalo City Guard, in 1846, and served in the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment, New York Volunteers. He mustered out in 1863. In 1867,he became the comptroller of the city of Buffalo and its mayor in 1869. He served as secretary and treasurer of the Buffalo park commissioners in 1871. He was nominated for the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
in 1878, but declined.
48th Congress
Rogers was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-eighth48th United States Congress
The Forty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...
Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1884
United States House election, 1884
The U.S. House election, 1884 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1884 which coincided with the election of President Grover Cleveland....
. He served as the superintendent of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home at Bath, New York
Bath (village), New York
Bath is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 5,641 at the 2000 census. Bath is the county seat of Steuben County. The community was named either for the English city or for Lady Bath, daughter of William Pulteney, one of the original landowners.The Village of...
, from 1887 to 1897.