Publius Virgilius Rogers Papers

Publius V. Rogers was born in Antwerp, NY on 30 December 1824 and died on 2 July 1895 at the age of 72. He received his elementary education in the schools of Antwerp and Watertown, moving onto the "Black River Literary and Religious Institute" of Watertown to prepare for college. He entered the sophomore class of Hamilton College in 1843 and graduated in 1846. Soon after his graduation, Mr. Rogers began the study of law in the office of Skinner and Brown at Adams, N. Y., spending an hour each day in bookkeeping at the Hungerford Bank. Afterward, he continued his legal studies in the office of judge George C. Sherman at Watertown, and moved on to take various jobs of cashier at different banks. Most notably was his time spent as cashier and later president of the First National Bank of Utica, where he worked for 42 years, serving as president from 1876-1895. He served Hamilton as a trustee from 1868-1895, and held the office of treasurer from 1880-1887. He deeply enjoyed travel abroad, particularly around Europe, where he spent many months sightseeing. However, he found his highest happiness in his home and in his family. His sympathy, kindness, and gentleness were unfailing, for nothing in his public and private life was more remarkable than his dignified and gracious courtesy. He left behind a wife, Elizabeth J. Rogers (married 11 September 1861), and a son, Charles Butler Rogers, who succeeded his father as president of the First National Bank of Utica.