St. Clair County Obits

(Mayor) Leslie Rodgers

St. Clair County Democrat
21 January 1915
Mayor Rodgers is Dead
End of a Busy Life Came Early Tuesday Morning.
The death of Leslie Rodgers, which occurred at 3 o'clock Tuesday morning, while not unexpected, cast a shadow of gloom over the entire community.
Few people in the county who did not know and honor Leslie Rodgers.
He was born in Carroll County in 1843 and resided there until the early 1882 when he removed to Osceola and entered the employ of Hon. John H. Lucas as an abstractor. This balance he followed to the end, being at the time of his death president of the Osceola Abstract and Loan Company and a large stockholder in several other enterprises.
His wife died several years ago and he never remarried, devoting all his affection on his son and daughter, the latter of whom he idolized, and who returned his affection with an ardor seldom witnessed.
Mr. Rodgers was stricken with sickness a couple of years or more ago and to his close friends he stated that it would result fatally. They tried to laugh him out of the belief, but he grew gradually worse from the first, and for several months it was recognized that the end was near. He still met all with a smile, put his house in order and stated that he was ready for the summons. His end, like his life, was calm and peaceful.
Two years ago next April Mr. Rodgers was elected Mayor of the town and this position he was holding at the time of his death.
Probably no man in Osceola or the county was as well acquainted with land and land values as Leslie Rodgers. He knew from personal inspection or close investigations every quarter section in the county and could give off hand its topography and improvements and its ability to be cultivated. In this he was an oracle and his word was taken without question by both buyer and seller.
Leslie Rodgers was an honest and a truthful man, and would have scorned to do an unkind act even for self-gain. He left his children well provided for, but every dollar is an honest dollar earned by faithful service and saved by economical methods. He might have been worth more, as the world judges a man's worth by his dollars and cents, but he was too honest to take advantage of the ignorance of others and too charitable to turn a deaf ear to the appeals for help.
He passed away in his sleep, having been conscious and expressing satisfaction with his condition as late as 11 p.m., when his children bade him good night and went to snatch a few hours' rest from their waiting and watching.
Truly when the recording angel opens the book of life and turns to the page of Leslie Rodgers he will render the verdict - "This was the noblest work of God - an honest man."
The funeral took place at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon and after eulogy by the Rev. Henry Howard the Odd Fellows took charge of the body and followed by a vast concourse of sorrowing friends laid it beside his wife in God's Acre on Sunshine Hill.