JACOB ROGERS was one of the most popular and useful preachers that ever labored within the bounds of Salem Association. His father, MATTHEW ROGERS, was an Irishman, and was probably born in Ireland. From whence he emigrated to Kentucky, is unknown. He settled in Nelson county, and erected a fort, at Beech Fork, near the present side of Bardstown, in 1780. He was a Baptist, and occasionally "exercised a gift" in preaching or exhorting. He was probably one of the original members of Cedar Creek church, the oldest organization of the kind, in Nelson county, and next to the oldest in the State. He raised a large respectable family, and is still represented by a numerous posterity, some of whom still linger around the site of the old fort. Of his sons, three were preachers. Two of them moved Est, and the third, is the subject of this sketch.
Jacob Rogers was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, June 6, 1794. During his boyhood, he attended school about six months, in which time he learned to read and write. The remainder of his youth was spent in hard labor. In early life he was deeply impressed with the importance of his soul's salvation. After a long struggle with the power of sin, he was enabled to trust in Christ for salvation, and rejoice in the evidence of pardon. On the 24th of May, 1810, he was baptized by Daniel Walker, and became a member of Cedar Creek church, in his native county. On the same day, Precious Lovelace, was baptized, by Isaac Taylor, at Mt. Moriah, is the same county. On the 26th of November, 1812, Jacob Rogers and Precious Lovelace, daughter of Zadok Lovelace, were married. In the spring of 1815, Mr. Rogers, not yet twenty-one years of age, moved with his young family, to Hardin county, where he rented land one year and then bought a piece of ground on a credit, without an acre of cleared land, or a dollar in money, with a helpless wife who required much of his attention, and the house-hold duties to perform with his own hands, Mr. Rogers began the labors of life, on his own land. These circumstances would have discouraged a man of less energy. But he proved himself equal to the task before him. He possessed good health and a strong constitution. He did much of the clearing of his ground in the night. In a few years he had his land paid for, and a farm opened. In the midst of his pressing domestic duties, he was deeply impressed with a sense of duty to preach the gospel to dying sinners. Against these impressions he plead an almost entire want of education, and a growing young family to provide for; but conscience, at last, prevailed on him "to try." After exercising in public a year or two, he was ordained to the full work of the ministry, at Severns Valley, in September, 1831. His reading was very limited, and almost entirely confined to the Bible. But he brought into his new field of labor a strong mind, a strong body, inured to hardships, a strong voice and a tireless energy. Once convinced that the Master required him to preach the cross, he consecrated all his powers to that important work. His manner was rough and his language was uncouth; but his ideas were good, and his whole soul seemed to be in the work. His improvement in preaching was very rapid, and he grew as rapidly in popular favor. In a few years he became the leading minister of Salem Association, and so continued till his death. He was generally pastor of four churches. His longest pastoral relation was twenty-three years, at Mill Creek, Hardin county. Besides his labors as pastor, he did a great deal of preaching at destitute points. He was frequently appointed by the Missionary Board of Salem Association, to labor among the destitute, within her bounds. In every position he occupied, he seemed to be blessed of the Lord with a large measure of success.
In 1837, Mr. Rogers was first elected Moderator of Salem Association, and contineud to occupy this position, with the exception of two years, until his death. The following incident is related of him, which shows his illiteracy: On one occasion while he was occupying the moderator's chair, the house beame so crowded with spectators that it became difficult to proceed with the business of the body, when Mr. Rogers arose and said, in a firm, commanding tone: "The female sisters will sit on the left, and the male brethren will sit on the right." It was customary to have preaching at a stand in the woods, while the business of the association was being transacted at the house. When the hour of preaching came, Mr. Rogers arose and made the following announcement: "The hour for preaching have ariv. Bro. Hix are gone to the stand, and Bro. Thomas are a-goin."
The pedant may smile at the idea of putting a man of such homely language in the ministry; but if God calls men to this great work, however weak and illiterate they may be, he can cause them to accomplish all his will. It is highly probable that Jacob Rogers baptized more people during his ministry than any classical scholar ever has baptized in Kentucky, during the same length of time.
Mr. Rogers' last sermon was a funeral discourse, delivered at Westpoint; he preached with great earnestness and force. He was taken very ill in the pulpit. Next day he was carried home in a carriage. Medical attendance was secured, but "the number of his months" was accomplished. He died of pneumonia, on the 23d of March, 1855. "He rests from his labors and his works do follow him."
Mr. Rogers was a man of great power in the pulpit. He never said anything quaint or humorous in his sermons. He began a discourse in a calm and measured style, but as he grew warm with his subject, his voice became louder, and his words flowed more rapidly, until it became like a resistless torrent, bearing down everything before it.
As a disciplinarian he had few superiors. Whether he was in the pulpit, the social circle, or at his own fireside, he maintained a native dignity that gave him great influence.
He was twice married, and raised ten children all of whom were baptized before his death. One of his sons, Warren J., became a preacher in Hardin County, and another, Colmore G., is a minister in Missouri.