Rev. E.C. Rogers was Edinboro's local Baptist minister, and a simple farmer.
The First Regular Baptist Church in Christ, located in Edinboro (formerly Washington Township), was organized in 1838, with twelve members. Elder Clark was the first pastor. Rev. E. C. Rogers was the minister in charge for about twenty-seven years. He was succeeded in 1874 by Rev. H. H. Phelps, who preached to the congregation for five years. Revs. Norman Thomas and J. R. Pendell each maintained the pastoral relation for about a year. In April, 1882, Rev. Phelps was recalled, and supplied the congregation, which was small. Services were held in the schoolhouse until 1871, when the society purchased the Old School Presbyterian Church. The Church seats 400 persons, and had 27 members.
Rogers is mentioned in many genealogical archives for performing marriages. This record is typical:
"Hamilton, Armstrong
Married - At. Wash. Twp., Aug 31, 1848.
Armstrong Hamilton and Miss Martha Stone, both of Wash.
By Elder, E. C. Rogers, E. G. September 7, 1846"
Some historical research is initially unclear, as there was another Rev. E.C. Rogers, a Baptist minister turned Unitarian, who died in Hingham, Mass. in 1860. Also, there was an Edward Coit Rogers who wrote an iconic anti-slavery book titled "Letters on Slavery Showing its Illegality" (Boston, Bella Marsh, 1855) under the pseudonym O.S. Freeman. Whether there is any connection with the Edinboro Rogers is undetermined. Records of Baptist conferences mention a Rev. E.C. Rogers who successfully promoted strong anti-slavery resolutions.
Rev. Rogers' wife was Margaret Culbertson. The photo card above was found with the diary. The photo was produced at the studio of F.M. Lewis, at Clarion, Pa., 78 miles from Edinboro. It is in the 'cabinet card' format which became popular in the early 1870s. While there is no definitive proof that this is a photo of Rev. Rogers and wife, it is helpful to have a contemporary image.
