By Roger and Marcia Eaton, grandson*
* Relation to Andy and/or Flora Lehr
George Wilson Rogers began life in Ellsworth, Kansas – the same town as his ten siblings. On October 13, 1909, a new guest checked-in to the Rogers Hotel. It was a small guest He was likely named after his Grand Uncle George Epperly (paternal) and Grand Uncle Wilson Berkley (maternal).
James Rogers, known by his middle name, Frank, operated the hotel in the once bustling cow town, Ellsworth, Kansas. Known as the Wickedest of the infamous cow towns in the 1869s and 1870s, it was a declining community in 1909. The hotel served as the maternity ward for Caroline “Carrie” Rogers, on that special day in October. Little George was the eighth child in the Rogers family. Two more would follow over the next four years.
Tragically, George’s mother passed away a month after delivering his sister, Faye. Faye was raised by her aunt, Nellie (Berkley) Gwinner. He was three years old when he lost his mother. Two years later, his father married Mildred (Euans) Smith. She added three children (from a previous marriage) to the clan.
His father pulled up stakes in February 1918 and moved the family to Augusta, Kansas. He pursued a job working in the booming oil fields of Butler County. George was nine years old when they moved.
At age ten, he worked as a news boy. In that time, newspapers were printed on paper and delivered to subscribers’ houses by boys. The family lived at 201 Broadway, Augusta, Kansas.
George and his brother, Roland, lived in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, according to the 1930 Census. At twenty years old he began a job as a clerk with Cities Service, Oil Company. He was employed with Cities Service for twenty-three years.
He met Ruby Durham. She received numerous awards for her artwork and poetry in high school. Both attended the same (Methodist) church. Her father also worked at Cities Service. They married in February 1936.
When the United States was drawn into World War II, George enlisted in the Army Air Services and received an Honorable Discharge after the war ended, in 1945. He returned to Cities Service.
Ruby passed away at the age of thirty-seven of a heart condition. Her sister died at the age of twenty-seven.
He met Grace Newsom. They both attend the Capital Hill Methodist church. They married in April 1952. She had two children from a previous marriage. Grace’s mother founded the Bama Pie Company and George joined her in operating the company.
He was buried in the same cemetery as his first wife, Ruby.
By Eleanor Lehr, wife of Jim Lehr, son*
*Relation to Andy and/or Flora Lehr
Jim [Lehr] lived with Uncle George before he married the woman who was widowed, Grace. They lived in Oklahoma City. She owned a bakery. Bamma Pies. She made mini pies and they were very popular.