Ezekiel Brooks Rogers died Monday morning, Sept. 21, 1896, at his residence in the village of Milton, Wis. He had been troubled with chronic dyspepsia for several months, and his sufferings were intense during the last few days. He was born Sept. 12, 1817, and was, therefore, 79 years and 9 days old at his decease. He was the third of six children reared by their parents, Dea. Zebulon and Lydia Brooks Rogers; and two others were the fruits of his father's second marriage. Two own brothers have resided in this town. One was Rev. James C. Rogers, who departed this life at Milton Junction, and the other is Thomas S. Rogers, who now lives on the old homestead in the east. His half-brother, Rev. Benj. F. Rogers, was a well known citizen in Milton for several years, and is now the pastor of the Seventh-day Baptist church at Scott, Cortland county, New York. His half-sister, Mrs. Aurelia F. Boss, died in this village, Jan. 31, 1883.
The birth place of Ezekiel is in Waterford, Conn., a town that borders on the eastern end of Long Island Sound, and is on a tract of land that belonged to his ancestors for about 250 years. He followed the sea with his father in his early life, beginning in his boyhood. He engaged in fishing along the Atlantic coast, at Nantucket Shoals, Block Island, Montauk Point, and other places. He was captain of a fishing smack for several years, and sold his fish in the New York City market. He was married Dec. 25, 1842, to Miss Asenith B. Osgood, of Preston, Chenango county, New York, and soon settled down in that town. Here he remained until 1853, when he removed to Milton, Wis., and purchased a farm a half mile south of the Junction. Here he made his home for about thirty years, after which he came to this village, and lived most of the time in the home where he died. His wife and only son, Frederick D. Rogers, of Chicago, survive him.
He enjoyed highly the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens and acquaintenances. He was for one year, a side supervisor of the town; and for eight years as chairman of the Town Board, he served on the Rock County Board of Supervisors. He was a Trustee of Milton College, and the President of its Board of Trustees for the past thirteen years. He was treasurer of the Milton Seventh-day Baptist church from 1875 to 1878, and a Trustee of its Society continuously from 1879 to 1888.
He embraced religion in early life, and joined the Waterford Seventh day Baptist church, of which his father was a devoted and honored deacon. He subsequently became a member of the Preston church of the same faith and order, and likewise of the Milton church.
He was a man of sound judgment, helpful in counsel, efficient in business, faithful to his numerous trusts, sincere in his attachments to friends, an affectionate husband and father, and a humble and conscientious Christian. In his death the community has experienced a great loss.
The funeral services were held Wednesday forenoon, Sept. 23, in the Seventh day Baptist church at Milton, and were conducted by President Whitford, assisted by Rev. Lewis A. Platts, pastor of the church, and by Rev. George W. Burdick, pastor of the Milton Junction Seventh day Baptist church. Excellent music was furnished by the choir under the leadership of Dr. J. M. Stillman. The Trustees of the College residing in Milton acted as bearers, and the faculty and the students attended the services in a body. Burial took place in the Milton cemetery.
