Arkansas Roots

Today I decided to write about Family History. Chelsea is in Russellville, Arkansas for a few weeks, and part of the family lived in Paris, Arkansas. Here is some of their story:
The family history begins near Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Rogers and McAlister families moved to Alabama soon after the territory opened for white settlement. They lived on adjoining farms. Cousins married sisters:
1. William Jarrett Rogers (Chelsea, this is the one you found listed on the land record in the Library last night) married Grizzilla’s sister Sarah Elizabeth McAlister.
2. Remus Edward Rogers (a cousin of William) married Grizzila Drusilla “Pid” McAlister. Sarah and Elizabeth were sisters. In the 1880’s both of these families moved to Arkansas. In the 1910 census we find these families on neighboring farms near Paris, Arkansas. Remus’ children were: Albert (born Feb. 23, 1889), Homer, Jeannie, Claude, John, Voyza, Eugene, Everett, and Verna.

Sarah Elizabeth McAlister was a devout Christian, and loved reading her Bible. She read it through many times, and told her children and grandchildren stories from the Bible. One of her favorites was the story about Noah. She would tell how after a rain storm God gives the rainbow. She also liked to tell about why we try to take a mote out of our brother’s eye (Mt. 7:4). Children of William Jarrett and Sarah Elizabeth were:
James Francis Rogers - He was very short and seemed to have some kind of spells. He died in a coal mine disaster.
George Columbus Rogers - He lost an arm while hunting. He sat down on a log, and his dog pulled the trigger. He learned to compensate for the lost arm, and could play the violin and mouth organ. He made a contraption to wear on his arm so he could play the violin. He died at Biggs, OK. of pneumonia.
May Hulda Hanna Etter Rogers – (Grandma Effie used to say, “Who knows why she had so many names”) was named after both of her grandmothers (Mahulda McRae and Hanna Etta Cowley). She was known as Aunt Etter. She was married three times: 1) E. Holland; 2) Sal Watson; 3) C.R. Boatwright
William Monroe Rogers – This is Chelsea’s Great-Great Grandfather.

William Monroe Rogers had no education. He worked on his farm and in the oil fields. This family moved back and forth a couple times from Arkansas to Oklahoma. Monroe had a reputation as a hard worker. He was very helpful to both his parents, and to his brother (who had lost an arm), and sister. Monroe was the youngest in his family. He drank to excess, was short on patience. However he was friendly and always looked nice.
Monroe married Martha Elvira Jane Adams from Newton County, Arkansas. She was a small woman never weighing over 116 pounds. She worked hard raising seven children. Although she was sick a lot she was a good practical nurse. “Ellie” helped other sick people. She was loving and kind and fun at times.
There were seven children in this family: Icie and Iva were born in Oklahoma. The other children were born in Arkansas. Mary was born on Feb. 23, 1907. Effie, Sally, and Martha followed, each born 2 years after the other. Randall was born 7 years after Martha in Oklahoma.
Just like the story, “The Grapes of Wrath,” most of the family moved to California during the depression/ dustbowl era.