This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/XiB.2ACI/1310.1.1.1 Message Board Post: First let me apologize, for not knowing who you were, and then by giving you the life history of Christopher Columbus Rogers, aka Chris Rogers. This is from the book "A Centennial history of Anderson County" by Pauline Buck Hohes, published 1936. Christopher Columbus Rogers One of Palestine's early peace officers who played a very dramatic part in days following the civil war,was Christopher Columbus Rogers, better known as Chris Rogers. Chris Rogers was born two miles south on Tennessee colony in 1846, and was the son of William Rogers, and ex-sheriff of Anderson County. Chris spent practically his entire life in Palestine; he was educated in the Palestine schools. Although but fifteen years of age when war was declared between the states, Chris Rogers volunteered for service, and was accepted, but was not allowed to go to the battle front. He was kept on guard duty at a confederate prison. Upon termination of hostilities, he returned to Palestine and went to work as a printer in the office of the Trinity Advocate, Anderson County's first newspaper. Col. James W.Ewing,editor, was his brother-in-law. With the death of Abraham Lincoln the south lost it's best friend for reconstruction. A period ensued in the south which tried men's souls. The bitterness engendered by the loss of thier property, with the consequent poverty of thier condition, the ravages of war which had devastated the South, all tended to render her citizens contemptous of the martial law the government placed over the south. On the other hand the Radicals in Congress saw in the situation a "hot bed of rebel's" Who were wilfully defying the law. Naturally, despotic laws were passed----and as a forgone conclusion, they were defied. In the calmer light of 1936, the unbiased observer must admit that both sides had arguments for and against thier conduct. However the thinker may decide the question, the fact ramains that martial law was declared in Palestine and good and true citizens chafed at many indignities suffered. A bureau of Protection for the Negroes was one measure to provoke the general dissatifaction, and when one objectionable "Radical" John R. Morrison, was made agent for the bureau, people, generally, objected. Morrison made himself an autocrat. It was enevitable that he and Chris Rogers should clash. In the ensuing quarrel between the two, Morrison threatened Rogers. Rogers proceeded to jump on Morrison and administer a severe beating, which was Chris Rogers, first recorded fight. About this time, Dan Cary, a "Carpet Bagger" from New York came to Palestine and the Radicals elected him city marshall. Cary was a bully, and he and Rogers had some trouble.Regardless Cary was killed by Chris Rogers. What it was no one knows at this late date, nor is there any court record of any charges brought against him. To follow Chris Rogers career step by step is not the design of the writer. There was too much blood shedding, for one reason. A brief residence in Tyler after the Cary Killing resulted in Rogers return to Palestine in 1873, with the added record of another man killed in Tyler---One Mose Remington, a saloon keeper, with whom he had a difficulty. He was tried for this in the Tyler courts and Acquitted. In 1874, Chris Rogers was elected City Marshall of Palestine, to hold this office untill his death in 1888. At this time, Palestine was said to be one of the "Toughest" towns in the state. To kepp order had been unheard of untill Rogers was elected Marshall. He quickly made his presence felt. This was the days before telephones or automobiles. His calls came by the slow means of the transportation facilities of the day. He answered them by flinging himself on the back of a swift horse, always kept ready, and dashing to the scene of the disturbance with great speed. With aim that was certain, and the speed of lighting, he "got his man", several times when his victim was either firing at him ot drawing his gun. During his fourteen years as City Marshall of Palestine, he killed nine men. As a general thing, these killing were considered nessary, and as an act of self-defence, and in the line of official duty. In 1878, a muder was commited in the old ioni Indian settlement about fifteen miles south-east of Palestine. Dr. Grayson, a physician and gin owner was killed. Whether the bitterness of the re-construction perion was at the bottom of the deed or not is not clear, but one report is that Dr. Greyson had shielded a negro the group wanted to lynch. In the Affair Mrs. Greyson was also killed. Chris Rogers was instrumental in arresting seven men. The ring leaders in the killing, as a tragic tesult of his activities in the Greyson affair, Rogers killed Jim Quisenberry, a brother of one of the men he had arrested. He had been told that Quisenberry, after making threats, was seen skulking about his place at night. He was tried for this a acquitted. In 1886, a railroad strike stirred the country. Practically everybody in Palestine worked for the railroad, in some capacity, and all were concerned in the strike. The railroad replaced strickers with other men, which cause much excitment.. Plans were made to stop the trains in Palestine, but Rogers was on the spot. Jumping on a train he turned to the angry crowd with the calm assertion:" I intend to run this train, and the first man to interfere, is going to get shot". He next deputized several citizens, and the train moved out unmolested. The strikers shortly after this returned to work. In 1887, Rogers killed his last man, Tom O'Donnell, who was resisting arrest. Rogers was under indictment for this when he met his own tragic fate in 1888. He was having a friendly glass of beer with Billie Young, when he called a friend of Young's a liar. A quarrel ensued and Young took out a knife and cut Rogers fatally. As he was under indictment for murder, Rogers had no gun on his person. He was buried in East Hill Cemetary in Palestine on June 27,1888. He was 42 years of age.