Person Page 445

Obituary, Springfield Daily News, Monday, June 26, 1933 (via findagrave.com):

A. S. RODGERS DIES AT AGE OF 74 YEARS

Former Factory Executive, Member of Pioneer Clark County Family, Succumbs

Following a brief illness, Addison S. Rodgers, 74, of 1209 N. Limestone st., a member of the pioneer families of Clark County, and formerly affiliated with The Foos Gas Engine Co., now the Fulton Iron Works, in an executive capacity, died Sunday at 7 p.m. at the City Hospital. News of Mr. Rodgers death comes as a distinct shock to his many friends in this and other cities. He was a man of genial character, making and holding friends easily.

Two weeks ago, in an effort to save Mr. Rodgers' life, he submitted to a major operation at the hospital, and since that time had been in a state of coma.

Mr. Rodgers was born in a house on S. Limestone st., near High st., in what is now the business district of the city. He lived in the old Rodgers homestead, the present site of The Springfield Daily News and Sun building, until his marriage in 1901. He was the son of Dr. and Mrs. John Rodgers, who were among the early settlers of Springfield, coming here in 1833.

A Republican by party affiliation, Mr. Rodgers was a candidate for the Republican nomination as county recorder in the May, 1932, primary election. Years ago, he served as a member of the police and firemen's board, which was superseded by the civil service commission. He was a member of this board at the time the Wittenberg av. fire engine house was built.

Mr. Rodgers was one of the early members of the Literary Club, which his father helped to found. At one time, he also was a member of the Clark County Historical Society. He was an elder in the Northminster Presbyterian Church and had been active in work of the church for many years.

Educated in the local public schools, Mr. Rodgers attended Wittenberg College for one year, going from there to Wooster College for a second year. He was graduated from Princeton University in 1881. He received his Doctor of Law degree at the Cincinnati Law School and practiced law in Springfield for six years.

Mr. Rodgers was one of the three surviving members of an organization known as the "Old Guard" at Wooster College.

After leaving the active practice of law, Mr. Rodgers organized and operated The Springfield Gas Engine Co. until 1914, when he became identified with The Foos Gas Engine Co., now The Fulton Iron Works Co.

His widow, Mrs. Ann Payne Trigg Rodgers; one son, Addison S. Rodgers, Jr.; two daughters, Jane Rodgers, at home, and Frances Rodgers, of Baltimore, Md., and one brother, William B. Rodgers, of Springfield, survive. The brother is seriously ill at this time.

The body was removed to the Herr and Craver funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the residence in charge of the Rev. John Bamford, pastor of the Northminster Presbyterian Church. Burial will be made in Ferncliff Cemetery. The pallbearers will be: E. S. Kelly, John L. Zimmerman, Sr., J. B. Cartmell, Chase Stewart, R. C. Bancroft, Arthur J. Todd, John L. Dorst, H. C. Blake, Ned Crain, Arthur D. Hosterman, W. W. Keifer, Maxwell McKnight, Dr. A. Richard Kent, Judge Frank W. Geiger, William H. Robbins, Harve Stuart and Charles McCloskey.

Assisting in the funeral services will be a group of Mr. Rodgers' college friends from Wooster College, Dan List, of Wheeling, W. Va.; John West, of Bellefontaine; C. F. M. Niles, of Toledo; John J. Chester, of Columbus.

Obituary, Springfield Daily News, Tuesday, May 8, 1934 (via findagrave.com):

FORMER NEWSPAPER AND BUSINESS MAN DIES AT AGE OF 67

William B. Rodgers Succumbs Following Long Illness From Paralysis

William B. Rodgers, 67, for many years affiliated with the early newspaper history of Springfield, died at 3:45 a.m. Tuesday at his apartment, 935 N. Limestone st.

Last June he sustained a stroke of paralysis. For some time he was a patient in the City Hospital, and then so far recovered as to be able to be up and around. However, for the last four or five weeks, his condition became serious, necessitating an almost daily visit from his physician.

Mr. Rodgers's death will be regretted by a wide following of friends both in this and other cities where he was popular because of his kindly and genial personality.

At one time, Mr. Rodgers was affiliated with the former Springfield Gas Engine Co. with his brother, the late Addison S. Rodgers. He was the secretary and treasurer of that company which was his last business affiliation.

Mr. Rodgers was born in Springfield, the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. John H. Rodgers, pioneer residents of this city. He was the last of his family, and leaves no immediate relatives in Springfield, except a cousin, Francis. He leaves a son, John T. Rodgers, who is a professor of the St. John College in Annapolis, Md. Miss Eleanor Rodgers of Boston, is a cousin.

Mrs. Rodgers, who was Miss Katherine Pringle, died in 1926. But one child, John, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers. Until his marriage, Mr. Rodgers lived at the family homestead, which stood on the site of what is now The Springfield Daily News and Sun bldg.

Mr. Rodgers was educated in the public schools of Springfield and then attended the Lawrenceville Academy in New Jersey, which is a preparatory school for Princton University, which he later attended.

After leaving Princeton, Mr. Rodgers went to Kansas City, Kan., where he was employed for a number of years as a feature writer on the Kansas City Star. It was while a member of the editorial staff of that paper that he made the acquaintance of such celebrities as O. O. McIntyre and James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier poet.

Some years ago, when Will Rogers, the writer and radio and motion picture star, visited Springfield, Mr. Rodgers escorted him about the city and the two became firm friends.

After leaving the Kansas City Star, Mr. Rodgers went to New York, where he did feature work on the New York World. HIs newspaper work also included affiliation with the old Daily Press Republic as a reporter.

The body was taken to the Herr and Craver Funeral Parlors. Complete funeral arrangements will not be made until the arrival of the son from Annapolis.

FUNERAL WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY

Final Rites for William B. Rodgers are Arranged

Funeral services for William B. Rodgers, 67, former newspaper man, who died at 3:45 a.m. Tuesday at his apartment, 935 N. Limestone st., will be held at the Herr and Craver Funeral Home at 10 a.m. Friday. Friends are invited to the funeral, but the burial in Ferncliff Cemetery will be private.

Mr. Rodgers' son, John T. Rodgers, who is a teacher in St. John College, Annapolis, Md., arrived in the city Wednesday morning.

Mr. Rodgers; death is regretted by a wide circle of friends. The Rev. John Bamford, pastor of the Northminster Presbyterian Church, will have charge of the funeral services.

Springfield is the birthplace of Mr. Rodgers. He was the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. John H. Rodgers, who formerly lived in a house on the present site of The Springfield News and Sun bldg. Mr. Rodgers was connected with editorial staffs of Springfield, Kansas City, Kans., and New York newspapers.

At one time he was affiliated in business with his brother, the late Addison S. Rodgers, in the former Springfield Gas Engine Co. as the secretary-treasurer.

Pallbearers will be Charles R. Rabbitts, Lewis P. Matthews, Thomas A. Matthews, Francis R. Rodgers, Fred A. Remsberg, William W. Keifer, Robert C. Bancroft and Arthur J. Todd.

Obituary, Springfield Daily News, Saturday, December 23, 1961 (via findagrave.com):

JOHN THOMAS RODGERS

John Thomas Rodgers, 62, of Washington, D. C., died in a hospital there at 2:30 a.m. Friday.

Mr. Rodgers was an employe of the Library of Congress. He was graduated from Springfield High School and received his bachelor's degree in 1921 from Princeton University.

A native of Springfield, he was born Aug. 5, 1899, the son of William B. and Katherine Pringle Rodgers. He was the grandson of Dr. John Rodgers and great-grandson of Dr. Robert Rodgers, early residents of Springfield.

Survivors are five cousins, Mrs. Alice Bahman and Richard Rodgers of Springfield, Miss Eleanor Rodgers of Cambridge, Mass., Francis Rodgers with Princeton University and William Pringle of Ohio.

His body was taken to the Robert Lee funeral home in Washington, D. C., for services at 10 a.m. Tuesday. It will then be held in Ferncliff Cemetery at 2 p.m. Wednesday with the Rev. William Meyer of Northminster Presbyterian Church officiating.

Obituary:

GRAVESIDE RITES SET FOR MRS. ALICE BAHMAN

Mrs. Alice Bahman, 65, a Springfield Radio personality and mother of the television, movie, stage and night club comedian Jonathan Winters, died in Mercy Medical Center at 8 a.m. Tuesday following four months of failing health.

Mrs. Bahman, who lived at 2324 St. Paris Pike, began her career with Radio Station WIZE early in 1941 with a half hour interview program called "For Women Only." The program highlighted local interviews, including music and women's news features.

In the early 1960s, Mrs. Bahman became a newscaster for the radio station, the first woman newscaster to broadcast in the Springfield area. At this time she was chosen to speak before several radio clinics in different parts of the country as an outstanding woman broadcaster.

She appeared on the Jack Parr Show with her son, Jonathan, in 1958, and was said to have shared his adeptness with voice impersonations, perhaps being the inspiration for some.

Mrs. Bahman was born in Springfield Aug. 4, 1904, the daughter of Robert and Edith Winwood Rodgers, and had lived in Springfield most of her life. She was a member of the Christ Episcopal Church.

Survivors include her husband, Richard; her son, who lives in North Hollywood, Calif.; and two grandchildren, Lucinda and Jay Winters, both of North Hollywood.

Funeral arrangements are being made by the Richards Memorial Home. Her body will be cremated with private graveside services in Ferncliff Cemetery, at 3 p.m. Friday in charge of the Rev. George Marshall, rector of Christ Episcopal Church.

Springfield Daily News, Wednesday, June 17, 1970.

Obituary, Springfield Daily News, Thursday July 1, 1926 (via findagrave.com):

PRESIDENT OF TOOL COMPANY DIES AT HOME

George G. Rodgers Succumbs Following Year's Illness

Lived Entire Life in City

Funeral Services to be held Saturday; Burial in Ferncliff

George G. Rodgers, 78, president and general manager of the Rodgers Tool Co., died at 11 a.m. Thursday at his home, 728 Woodlawn Ave. He had been ill for more than a year. Mr. Rodgers was highly respected by all who knew him and leaves a host of friends who will mourn their loss.

Mr. Rodgers celebrated his fiftieth anniversary in the machine industry on July 27, 1917. He was born and reared in Springfield where he had lived all of his life. He started to work with Ferrell, Ludlow and Rodgers more than 50 years ago in a shop where the Erie railroad freight house now stands. He was considered one of the best experts in machinery in this part of the country. His plant is located on E. Mulberry st., and in what was at one time the Trinity Baptist church.

Following the dissolution of the Ferrell, Ludlow and Rodgers Co., the name was changed to Thomas, Ludlow and Rodgers. Later this plant was acquired by the Superior Drill Co. Mr. Rodgers helped C. E. Patric of that plant on the first set of patterns for the first drill made by that firm. He also made the first steel mower invented by William Whitely about forty years ago. Mr. Rodgers was associated with Mr. Whitely in the old East Street shops.

The birthplace of Mr. Rodgers was at High and Limestone sts. in a colonial house. His father, Richard Rodgers was postmaster in Springfield during Lincoln's administration and the post office at that time was next to Pierce's book store.

Mr. Rodgers often said that the first money that he made was in 1859 when his father had quarries in N. Fountain Ave. He drove a cart with lime in it and had to ford the stream.

He was a member of the Northminster Presbyterian church and attended regularly until his illness. For many years he was an elder in that church and always took an active part in church affairs of the city.

He leaves his widow; two daughters, Mrs. Gano Muzzy and Miss Louise Rodgers, all of this city.

Funeral services will be held at the residence at 3 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be made in Ferncliff cemetery.

Obituary, Springfield Daily News, Wednesday, February 16, 1938 (via findagrave.com):

ILLNESS IS FATAL TO SARAH RODGERS

Woman, 81, Succumbs at Home of Daughter

Mrs. Sarah Bacon Rodgers, 81, died at 11:40 p.m. Tuesday after an illness of five weeks at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gano R. Muzzy, 728 Woodlawn av. She was a member of the Northminster Presbyterian Church.

Besides the daughter at whose home she died, she leaves another daughter, Miss Louise Rodgers, one sister, Miss Louise Bacon of this city.

The body was taken to the Herr and Fox Funeral Home.

Obituary, Springfield Daily News, Friday, April 2, 1976, (via findagrave.com):

MRS. ALICE MUZZY

Mrs. Alice Rodgers Muzzy, 91, a former Springfield resident, died at 2 p.m. Thursday in Wesley Glen Retirement Center, Columbus, following a lengthly illness.

Mrs. Muzzy, a former member of Northminster Presbyterian Church and the Daughters of the American Revolution, was born Jan. 25, 1885, in Springfield, the daughter of George Greene and Sarah Bacon Rodgers. The Bacon and Rodgers families were early pioneers in Clark County.

She was married Nov. 15, 1917, to Gano Reeder Muzzy, who died in 1933.

She is survived by one sister, Miss Louise Rodgers of Columbus.

Her body will be brought to the Littleton Funeral Home. There will be no visitation.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in Ferncliff Cemetery by Dr. Michael Williams of North Olmsted, O.