The enterprising and industrious gentleman, whose name is at the head of this article, has made from the wild land that he took as a homestead in 1895, a model farm and one of the finest home places and productive farms in the vicinity of Gifford. It lies about one mile north from town and is a tasty and beautiful rural abode. Mr. Rogers devotes his attention to general farming, and also to raising stock He has a fine orchard, good buildings and is prosperous and a substantial citizen.
Reverting to the personal details of his life, we note that Mr. Rogers was born in Minnesota, on May 22, 1858, being the son of Samuel D. and Mary J. (Kerns) Rogers. The parents removed to Scott County, Iowa, when our subject was an infant and later went to Iowa County.
For sixteen years Alvah remained there, working on the farm and gaining his education from the schools in winter. After leaving home he rented land there and farmed until 1890, when he decided to try the west, and accordingly came to the vicinity of Garfield, Washington, and there farmed successfully for five years. The next move was to his present place, described above. Mr. Rogers and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, while in political matters he is allied with the Republican Party. He is not desirous of preferment in this line, although he has given his time on the school board for the promotion of good schools.
On July 3, .Mr. Rogers married Miss Alary B. Lewis, daughter of William R. and Nancy A. (Branson) Lewis. Mrs. Rogers has two brothers: Benton and Joseph, living in Columbia County, Colorado. Her father was a captain in the Civil war. Mr. Rogers has one brother who is still living in Iowa. Mr. Rogers’ father was a soldier for two years and one half in the Civil War and received a wound in his head from which he is still suffering. He was reported lost, but afterward made his way home, having suffered greatly. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have been blessed by the advent of six children: Oscar W., Mary P., Roy S., Walter A., Arthur L., and Milton C.
Source: An Illustrated History of North Idaho: Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho; Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903