John Rodgers
Lieut-Col. John Rodgers (c1857-1919), managing director of Joseph Rodgers and Sons.
1857 Born in Sheffield[1]
1861 George Joseph Rodgers 33, manufacturer of cutlery, lived in Ecclesall Bierlow with Gertrude Rodgers 29, Maurice George Rodgers 5, John Rodgers 4, Averilda Rodgers 2, Gertrude Rodgers 1[2]
1873 Started work for the family firm
1881 Gertrude Rodgers 49, lived in Ecclesall Bierlow with Morris G. Rodgers 35, commercial traveller, John Rodgers 24, manufacturer's clerk to silver plate manufacturer, Averilda Rodgers 22, Gertrude Rodgers 21, Wilfred F. Rodgers 19, manufacturer's clerk[3]
1890 Became Managing Director of Joseph Rodgers and Sons.
1901 John Rodgers 44, cutlery and photo manufacturer, employer, lived in Hallam with Emma Rodgers 29, John Rodgers 8, Geoffery L Rodgers 3, Stuart J Rodgers 1[4]
1919 Died. Read his obituary in The Engineer 1919/01/24.
1919 Obituary [5]
JOHN RODGERS, an original member of the Institute of Metals, and Chairman and Managing Director of Joseph Rodgers and Sons, Ltd., died on January 20, 1919, at his Sheffield residence after a short illness.
Mr. Rodgers was the lineal descendant of the John Rodgers of whom actual records exist of his having carried on the business in 1724, and the deceased represented the sixth generation of the famous family.
After being educated at Malvern College and in Germany, he became associated with the firm in 1873, and in 1890 he was made Managing Director jointly with his brother, the late Mr. Maurice Rodgers.
Mr. John Rodgers never aspired to active participation in local government, and the demands of business left him only limited opportunities of sharing in what is known as public work of any kind. To the cause of Volunteering, however, he gave freely of his time and energy over a period of twenty-four years. He himself formed the "H" Company of the Hallamshire Rifles in 1883, and took over its command. Before retiring, he had attained the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, and was second in command of the battalion. He took a great interest in musketry, both before and after his retirement, and gave a silver cup annually for competition amongst the officers.
He became a member of the Cutlers Company in 1904, and had served some years on the Council of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce. He was a director of Messrs. Cocker Bros., Ltd.
Mr. Rodgers was a great lover of sport. In his college days his prowess amongst his fellows was noted, and for many years he held the college record for the long jump. In the larger field he was recognized as an excellent footballer and cricketer, and was associated as a player with some of Sheffield's oldest clubs. He married a daughter of the late Sir Henry Stephenson. His eldest son, Captain John Rodgers, M.C., of the Hallamshire Rifles, was killed in action in France in September last. His second son, Mr. Geoffrey Rodgers, is associated with the firm of Joseph Rodgers and Sons, Ltd.