Delphia Rogers - Ex- slave and obituary
submitted by: Pat O'Dell - genpat@netins.net
 

OVER A CENTURY OLD.
Mrs. Delphia   Rogers, Colored, 106 Years Old—Resides in Clarinda With Her Daughter.
Probably few of the citizens of Clarinda are aware that there is in their midst a lady who has passed the century mark in life, but nevertheless, such is the ease. An old colored lady, with snowy hair, Mrs. Delpha Rogers, lives on 10th street near East Washington street, with her daughter, Miss Phoebe Rogers.

It is not definitely known just how old she really is, as she was born a slave and no record of her birth was kept, but enough information has been ascertained to justify the statement that, she is about 106 years of age. Although quite feeble in health, yet Mrs. Rogers is able to be around and looks as if she was good for a score or more years of life.

She was born not far from Jefferson City, Missouri, and her parents were the slaves of Geo. Casson. Her parents were born in old Virginia and afterwards lived in Kentucky for many years before coming to Missouri.

In an interview with Mrs. Rogers, she told the Herald representative many interesting stories of the life in those days. .She said her father lived to be over a hundred years of age and was for a time a slave of George Washington. She remembers hearing her father tell of bringing three suits of Washington's old worn out uniforms to Missouri, where they were sold at exhorbitant prices to the whites who wanted them as relics.

While yet a young girl, Mrs. Rogers was sold to Jas. Howe, who owned a large plantation in Missouri and had a number of slaves. The principal crops they raised then were flax and hemp and she can remember of spending many tiresome hours spinning the flax and making cloth. She has made many handkerchiefs of cotton which she spun and wove.

During the civil war many battles and skirmishes took place in Missouri and Mrs. Rogers vividly recalls seeing several battles in which many men lost their lives. On one occasion two of the contesting armies met near their plantation and the air was filled with dense smoke from the guns, while the sound from the cannons and fire arms was terrific. She remembers going over the battle field afterward and saw the wounded and dying soldiers by the hundreds lying on the bloody field.

In the year 1862 Mrs. Rogers and her family were brought to Iowa by the union soldiers and they landed at College Springs. There were but few houses there and the college building   was just being erected. They lived there for several years and then resided on a farm about three miles southwest of Clarinda.

When Mrs. Rogers first saw Clarinda, only a few small stores were on the square and the residences were few and far between. In fact, there were but very few homes in the town. Mrs. Rogers said that an old log house stood on the site where Mr. Dalrymple now lives and another log house was occupied by Mr. George Ribble. The old building now located just north of S. W. Nelson's meat market was on the southeast corner of the square then and used as a store building and post office combined. Dr. Powers' father had a drug store, J. D. Hawley was running a grocery and Mr. J. P. Burrows had a drug store on the east side of the square.

Mrs. Rogers has three children living, her daughter with whom she resides and a daughter in Omaha and one in Creston. She has the honor of being selected for Queen of the day on the 4th of August when the Emancipation Proclamation will be celebrated. CLARINDA HERALD, Clarinda, Iowa, Jul 26, 1904

OBITUARY

Iowa's Oldest Inhabitant.
When "Aunt Delphia" Rogers died at her home on East Washington street Tuesday morning at 9:15, perhaps the oldest person in the state had passed to the other world. She was born in West Virginia, but the exact date is not known, as the ages of colored people was not a very important matter a century ago—especially in the Old Dominion. It is known that she was born nearly at the beginning of the 19th century, and in a lengthy coversation with the writer, only a few days ago, she said: "As near as I can tell, I am about 106 years old. My father, Uncle Ned Caisson, while a very young man, went into General Washington's army as a servant, but when actual hostilities were on, he carried a gun, and took part in the hottest fights."
They came to Kentucky and thence on to Missouri while "Aunt Delphia" was only a little tot, but her mind was a complete store house of the leading events of this country during the past century almost, and it was an education in itself to be able to talk with her for an hour or so on events of the past. Her mind was as bright as that of radiant youth, but crowded with the experiences of a century—wonderful indeed.
For many years she lived as a slave at or near Plattsburg, Mo., later moving to Savannah. She knew St. Joe when Joseph Robidoux, the founder, still lived in his Indian cabin at the mouth of Blacksnake Creek. She saw all this western country when about the only inhabitants were the Indian, the prairie dogs and coyotes. She had lived to see all this western waste and wilderness blossom like a rose, and where there was nothing but a vast, wild prairie, are now the most beautiful farms and homes. Aunt Delphia said she had scarcely ever known a sick day in her life. During the Civil War her husband went away with the Union soldiers to St. Joe, and then disappeared as completely as if the earth had swallowed him up. This good old colored woman said that this caused her much worry—but in those troublesome days but little time could be spent in nursing one's grief, and she went bravely on in life's struggle alone, her life being given to his memory, by a pure life devoted to doing good to others.
She tells of how she labored for many years doing a man's work in the woods and fields, for even a much longer period than the average life of man—plowed, reaped, cut cordwood, made rails and all that, year in and year out—and yet lived to see generations born and passed away like "ships in the night."
She had lived here all the life of Clarinda, and had enjoyed a wonderful acquaintance, and her friends were only numbered by those who were fortunate to know her—the children, both black and white—knew    and loved "grandma" as a mother, who in their childish eyes almost wore a halo as a crown that overshadowed the pleasant but furrowed face that shone forth the goodness of a warm heart for others.
During recent years she has been cared for by her daughter, Aunt Phoebe Rogers, and her zeal in taking care of her mother has been a matter of favorable comment by the people of the city. Grandma did not die of any sickness. She simply wore out. She was able to go alone to her nearest neighbor's for a visit only a few days ago. A friend leaving town, who bid her goodby was told by her—"If I never see you again in this life, remember I'll see you 'over there' ".
Her, death was peaceful—let her life be a benediction.
She was a faithful member of the A. M. E. church, and the funeral occurred this afternoon, her pastor, Rev. W. H. Robinson preaching the sermon, after which the burial occurred at the Clarinda cemetery. Her last were "I'm going home."
A century of struggle, strife and care, Have passed away,  we   know not where.
But those who live them true and best, Over there will have eternal peace and rest. A Friend.CLARINDA HERALD, Clarinda, Iowa, May 20, 1909

Aunt Delpha, the old colored lady, died Tuesday night.    According to her memory data she was 106 years old. PAGE COUNTY DEMOCRAT, Clarinda, Iowa, May 20, 1909