Homer Rogers

Homer Rogers
Born	Template:Birth date Sudbury, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	November 10, 1907(1907-11-10) (aged 67) Allston, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, public official, educator
Years active	1862–1907
Known for	Leatherboard manufacturing; Boston Board of Aldermen member; 1892 Republican mayoral candidate

Homer Rogers (October 11, 1840 – November 10, 1907) was a prominent American entrepreneur and public official who served on Boston's Board of Aldermen and was the Republican candidate in the 1892 mayoral race.

Early life

Born in Sudbury, Massachusetts, to Walter and Emily Rogers—descendants of distinguished colonial ancestors—Rogers spent his childhood on a farm. He attended local village schools and Wadsworth Academy before earning his degree from Williams College in 1862. During his time at Williams, he also held teaching positions and acted as principal of Sanderson Academy located in Ashfield, Massachusetts. Following graduation, Rogers joined the Union Army as a sergeant with the 45th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, engaging in four battles near New Bern, North Carolina. After completing his military duties in 1863, he contributed to the United States Christian Commission and returned to education by serving as principal of Natick High School from 1864 until 1866.

Business career

In 1867, Rogers partnered to establish Rogers, Edwards, & Company, specializing in leatherboard production in South Sudbury. After acquiring the Edwards brothers' shares, the firm operated as S. B. Rogers and Company. By 1875, Rogers and associates launched the Mousam Manufacturing Company in Kennebunk, Maine, furthering their leatherboard manufacturing interests. The Mousam enterprise expanded in 1881 through the acquisition of Leatheroid, leading to the creation of the Leatheroid Manufacturing Company. A decade later, in 1891, Mousam merged with several regional firms—including Harwood Manufacturing of Leominster and Towne Manufacturing based in Boston—to form the Consolidated Fibre Board and Leatheroid Company.

In 1893, Rogers joined forces with S. Herbert Howe to purchase the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, famed through Longfellow's Tales of a Wayside Inn. They undertook extensive renovations before selling the property in 1897 to Edward Lemon, a businessman from Boston.

Beyond manufacturing, Rogers held executive roles such as president of both the National Market Bank and Allston Co-Operative Bank and served as a trustee for the Home Savings Bank.

Personal life

Rogers married Ellen E. Perry of South Natick on January 15, 1868. Together they had six sons and one daughter. In the 1880s, the family moved to Boston’s Allston district. As a dedicated Congregationalist, Rogers was instrumental in establishing the Allston Congregational Church.

Political career

Rogers was elected to Boston’s Board of Aldermen in 1888 and secured reelection through 1890; he held the position of chairman during 1889. After an unsuccessful bid for the Republican mayoral nomination in 1891—losing to Horace G. Allen—he earned the Republican nomination without opposition in 1892 but was defeated by incumbent Democrat Nathan Matthews Jr., receiving approximately 40% of votes cast.

Death

He passed away at his residence in Allston on November 10, 1907. His sons took over leadership at the National Fibre Board Company, which was renamed Rogers Fibre Company in 1918.