Captain T. J. Rogers, founder of the Rogers National Bank of Jefferson,
and one of Jefferson’s oldest citizens, was born in 1832, in Hinds
County, Mississippi. In 1849 he came to Texas with his father and
family. In 1856 in Gilmer, Texas, he married Emily Mayberry and they
moved to Jefferson, living in what is now known as the Brewer home, with
the family of Dr. B. J. Terry. During the Civil War, he served in the
Confederate Army in General Ochiltree’s regiment (the 18th) in General
Waul’s division, as a lieutenant, later being made captain, after
Captain John Cocke, brother-in-law, was killed, in the battle of
Mansfield. After the war he returned to Jefferson, again engaging in the
mercantile business. In 1868 he went into business for himself. He was
identified with the material, civic and religious interests of
Jefferson. He was one of the promoters of the East Line and Red River
railroad (later a branch of the M. K. and T. railroad of Texas.) He was
secretary and treasurer of this railroad until it was sold to the M. K.
and T. He was also principal owner of the Jefferson Cotton Oil Mill,
later selling his interests to the Jefferson Cotton Oil Company, which
operated until it was burned in 1903.
In 1896 the banking business, T. J. Rogers & Son, was founded in
connection with the mercantile business which was now under the name T.
J. Rogers & Son, (Ben Rogers).
In 1904 T. J. Rogers & Son, bankers, was nationalized, becoming the
Rogers National Bank of Jefferson, with T. J. Rogers president and B. F.
Rogers active vice-president. In 1904 Herbert A. Spellings was elected
cashier, which position he held until 1918 when he succeeded to the
presidency by reason of the death of Capt. T. J. Rogers, in the meantime
B. F. Rogers, vice president, had withdrawn active participation in the
bank’s management.
Shortly after Mr. Spellings became president the bank became one of the
honor banks of the United States and maintained this position to the
present time, and throughout the most depressing period the banks have
ever faced the Rogers National Bank of Jefferson under Mr. Spellings’
guidance maintained more than its legal reserve, willingly met the
demands made upon his bank and was never embarrassed to the least
extent.
When the national moratorium was declared and conservators were being
appointed for the safety management of national banks. It was freely
stated that the Rogers National Bank had had a conservator for many
years in the person of Mr. Spellings, therefore the government would not
be called upon to appoint one for that bank, and this bank was one of
the first in the United States to re-open without a special examination.
Mr. Spellings remained as president until the summer of 1935 when he was
removed by death and was succeeded by Mr. Rogers Rainey as president.
Mr. Rainey being a grandson of Capt. T. J. Rogers, and nephew of Ben F.
Rogers, the founder of the bank, which is the only bank in Marion
County, and an outstanding one in the State of Texas.