William Rogers, who is occupying the position of deputy assessor in Sweetwater county, was born in South Wales, December 4, 1862. His father came to America with his family in 1869 and located at Bevier, Missouri. There he engaged in coal mining to the time of his death, which was the result of an accident in the mines, he being but thirty-nine years of age when, on the 16^th of August, 1878, his life's labors were ended. In early manhood he had wedded Mary Jones, a native of Wales, who came to America in the fall of 1871 to join her husband, who had previously made preparations for a home for his family. She, too, passed away in Bevier, having reached the age of sixty-seven years when death called her on the 28^th of March, 1968.
    William Rogers was the second in order of birth in a family of eight children, six of whom are yet living, two having died in infancy. He pursued his education in the public schools of Bevier, Missouri, and in St. James Military Academy, where he studied under Bishop Tolbert, of the Episcopal denomination. He started out to earn his own livelihood when a youth of thirteen years by working in the mines, his first employment being that of a trapper, his duties being the opening and shutting of doors in the main lines, and for his work he received a wage of seventy-five cents per day. Previous to this time, however, he had earned the munificent sum of a dollar per month by lighting the fires in the schoolhouse and sweeping out the schoolroom. After the death of his father he became the head and sole support of the family and continued to follow mining in Missouri until 1890. In that year he removed to Wyoming, first settling at Rock Springs, where he was employed in the old No. 1 mine by the Union Pacific Coal Company. He there remained for eleven years, during which time he also followed other pursuits. He became one of the prominent and influential residents of the community and was called upon to serve as a member of the school board, while for five years he was clerk of the board. In January, 1902, he removed with his family to Green River to accept the position of county treasurer under appointment, and later he was elected to the position for two consecutive terms. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, afterward endorsed him for the position of postmaster of Green River and he served during the administrations of Presidents Roosevelt and Taft and for two years under the administration of President Wilson. On the 1^st of February, 1907, he assumed the duties of the position and continued to act in that capacity until the 1^st of February, 1915, covering exactly eight years. He is now acting as deputy assessor of the county and has made a most creditable record as a public official. Aside from his duties in this connection he is known in business circles as one of the directors of the First National Bank of Green River and as a member of the Green River Mercantile Company, of which he is the secretary.
    At Bevier. Missouri, December 7, 1887, Mr. Rogers was married to Miss Isabella Pierce, a native of North Wales and a daughter of Samuel C. and Sarah Pierce. The father is deceased, but the mother makes her home in Brookfield, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have been born three children: Eve, the wife of Frank J. Viox, a representative of an old pioneer family of Green River; Thomas E., who is cashier of the State Bank of Green River; and Sarah.
    Fraternally Mr. Rogers is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he has been a representative for twenty-eight years. He is most loyal to its purposes and its teachings and has many friends among his brethren of that organization. Mr. Rogers is truly a self-made man and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. He was early thrown upon his own resources and had to provide not only for his support but also for the support of the family. He was present at the time his father was killed in the mine, being within ten feet of him when the cave-in occurred. It is a recognized fact that under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of necessity the best and strongest in man is brought out and developed. This was evidenced in the case of Mr. Rogers, who resolutely set himself to the task which confronted him and as the years went on made for himself a most creditable position in business circles. He has eagerly grasped the opportunities which have come to him and yet his path has never been strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes. He has been thoroughly just in all of his dealings and as a public official has made an excellent record by the prompt and faithful manner in which he has discharged his duties.