174 FACTS RELATING TO GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 



later at Mendon. Soon afterward he studied for the ministry, 

 and was ordained, on May 4, 1836, at Carlisle, where he was 

 settled for five years over a Unitarian Society. Subsequently 

 he was minister, for short terms, of liberal societies in Boylston 

 and Gardner. He v/as an early abolitionist, and has always 

 been an outspoken advocate of temperance and other reforms. 

 With decided views on public matters, he never fails to express 

 them on proper occasions. 



The junior member of the firm was James Ferguson Rogers, 

 a son of Silas and Rebecca (Ferguson) Rogers, and born at 

 Newburyport on June 6, 18 10. He learned his trade as printer 

 of Ephraim Allen, publisher of " The Newburyport Herald." 

 He was a clever writer, and the editor of the newspaper. He 

 had a decided taste for poetry, and wrote some good verses. 

 His customary signature was " Cleo," though sometimes he 

 used the initials " J. F. R." or " R." alone. After leaving 

 Groton in the autumn of 1830, he worked at his trade. Dur- 

 ing this period he was a frequent contributor to the press; 

 and many of his poetical effusions were printed in the New 

 York Mirror, Philadelphia Album, Philadelphia Gazette, La- 

 dies' Magazine, American Monthly Magazine, Literary Mag- 

 azine, Essayist and other periodicals. While on his way home 

 to Newburyport he died of cholera in New York on July 5, 

 1832, after an illness of only a few hours. The " Columbian 

 Centinel," July 9, 1832, under "Deaths" has the following 

 notice of him: 



In New York, 5th inst. of the cholera morbus [cholera?], Mr. 

 James Ferguson Rogers, printer, in the 2 2d year of his age. Mr. R. 

 was a native of Newburyport, Mass. and was distinguished for his 

 superior literary attainments, which, together with his unassuming 

 deportment and gentlemanly manners, drew around him a large 

 circle of friends, who deeply lament his sudden and untimely death. 

 It may afford some consolation to know that every attention was 

 paid to him during his short but painful illness. 



More than twenty-five years ago, through the kindness of 

 Mrs. Rebecca Helen Noble, of Haverhill, a younger sister of 

 Mr. Rogers, I was enabled to examine a journal kept by him 



