Lyndon K. Rogers

From the Tuesday, August 12, 1924 edition of the Canton Commercial Advertiser:

 

Lyndon K. Rogers passed away at his home, Buck street, this village, Sunday morning at about 11 o'clock, following the result of a stroke suffered two weeks ago from the day of his death. Mr. Rogers had been helpless since stricken, and on account of his great weight, about four hundred pounds, was cared for with difficulty. Funeral services will be conducted this afternoon at the home the Rev. S. F. Johnson, pastor of the M. E. Church officiating. Burial will be made in the Rogers plot at Fairview.

Mr. Rogers was born in Norwood seventy-three years ago, the son of Robert and Violet Rogers, natives of this part of the county. More than fifty years ago he came to Canton and was in the employ of A. H. Baker, an uncle, who was for many years engaged in the meat business in Canton. Later he was in the employ in the same business with the late Charles Nickerson of Canton. Then he engaged for himself and had been a buyer and seller of meats, with cart and market and in every way for more that forty years. He knew the business and was one whom both buyer and seller had confidence in.

Mr. Rogers was a man of large physique, though his weight did not run to ungainliness, until recent years when there was a relaxation of muscular tissues, which caused him to have the difficulty usually experienced by the very heavy person. In his prime he was quick on his feet, very strong and agile. In the early eighties when the village of Gouverneur was experiencing what came to the mill and quarry town in these days,--the rough gang on the streets at night with the town bully and his gang--Mr. Rogers was selected by the village board of that community to clean things up, as night officer. Thus far the gang had made a clean sweep of things, and the bully and the gang had many pleasant evenings discussing the coming of the "big Canton stiff" who was to get his. As a result of the meeting of the new champion of law and order the gang was soundly licked, and jailed, and those who participated in the fracas served jail sentences. Mr. Rogers staid at Gouverneur long enough to place the streets of that village on a law and order basis, and they have so remained till this day, and the old timers, like Gene Campbell still recalls how Lyn. Rogers broke up the gang.

It was during his stay in Gouverneur that Mr. Rogers married his wife, Miss Nora Boscoe, of that village, in 1885. After this Mr. And Mrs. Rogers came to Canton and their home has been here since that time, practically all the time in the same section of the village where he died Sunday.

Mr. Rogers was in his prime a striking figure at a ball game, at the county fair or at any other place. He was a rooter for the home team and a loyal supporter of the town and village. During his long life he was a Republican in politics and took a great deal of interest in party politics. He was an admirer of the late Colonel Roosevelt and took off his coat and worked for him in 1912.

Mr. Rogers was a striking figure as drum major of the old Farmers Brass Band in the early eighties, marching, a real mountain of flesh in uniform, with the mighty bearskin on his head, and the mammoth staff in hand. The band in these years while a goodly musical organization was an added attraction with his unusual figure at its head. At his best he weighed 452--at death about 400.

A few years later when Odd Fellowship was strong in Canton, Mr. Rogers was one of the most enthusiastic wearer of the three links, and attended the meetings of this organization in and out of town. One remembers him marching with tri-link men to the train when the local lodge visited an out of town lodge, leading a goat--to the amusement of the grownups as well as the small boys.

For many years Mr. Rogers had his market on Main Street but during recent years a shop was built near his home, where for a considerable period of time he catered to a select clientele of old friends and customer.

During the past year or two this business gradually shortened as his great weight and advancing years made it difficult to exert himself. In 1921 he was elected collector of taxes for the town of Canton and again elected to that office one year ago the present fall. As collector he looked after the interests of the town and usually made a pretty clean slate before returning his warrant to the county treasurer.

On account of Mr. Roger's great size it was necessary to have a casket built especially for him--the order being sent by the undertaker to Syracuse, where one of triple size and strength was manufactured. This would not pass through a door of the house, and it was found that it could be removed through a window.

Mr. Rogers was a kindly man. He was generous with his substance and gave it away freely without thought of the morrow. He might have been quite wealthy as the word goes, but he didn't want wealth. Many a small boy now grown large will remember him kindly, for generosity at the fair, at the Fourth of July, at Christmas time. There was nothing mean about him, though now and then someone who had experience with his sharp tongue might have thought him mean. He took pride in his great size and Canton people at times shared in that pride. Lyn's shop was in the old days a gathering place for many of the old boys, including members of the G.A.E.--which became a sort of club, where good stories and good fellowship reigned. Lyn, was one of the good fellows--the club has long since closed--most of the good fellows of these club days have gone--Now Lyn has gone.

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