Alfred Horace Rogers
Alfred was the first child of Frederick Horace Rogers and Mary Minton Long. He was born on June 25, 1865 in Melbourne, Australia. When he was ten, his mother died following childbirth and so did the infant boy. This was the second child that had died in the family. Alfred had a four-year-old sister named Clara who was subsequently cared for by a couple who were presumably friends of the family.
Alfred and his father set off on a voyage to America in the fall of 1875, leaving Clara in Brisbane. That was the last time the two children saw each other. The expected return to get Clara never materialized. Alfred's father was a photographer, and Alfred followed in his footsteps. He set out on his own at age 13, never having the opportunity for much schooling. At the age of 19, he married Lucy May Stephens and they had two children: William Horace Rogers, born in 1885 and Inez Rozelle Rogers, born in 1887.
In 1891, Alfred's desire to find his sister became a priority and he had a California lawyer write to the parish priest in Brisbane to ask for help in locating Clara. He was successful, and soon there were long letters written back and forth between the two siblings. Alfred's letters were saved by Clara and still exist today. Expressions of regret at not knowing each other and not being able to afford the long trip to Aistralia are prominent in Alfred's letters. His photography business did not provide a steady income. Alfred's hearing declined in what would be considered his mid-life years, and he died in 1917 at the age of 52.
Alfred and his father set off on a voyage to America in the fall of 1875, leaving Clara in Brisbane. That was the last time the two children saw each other. The expected return to get Clara never materialized. Alfred's father was a photographer, and Alfred followed in his footsteps. He set out on his own at age 13, never having the opportunity for much schooling. At the age of 19, he married Lucy May Stephens and they had two children: William Horace Rogers, born in 1885 and Inez Rozelle Rogers, born in 1887.
In 1891, Alfred's desire to find his sister became a priority and he had a California lawyer write to the parish priest in Brisbane to ask for help in locating Clara. He was successful, and soon there were long letters written back and forth between the two siblings. Alfred's letters were saved by Clara and still exist today. Expressions of regret at not knowing each other and not being able to afford the long trip to Aistralia are prominent in Alfred's letters. His photography business did not provide a steady income. Alfred's hearing declined in what would be considered his mid-life years, and he died in 1917 at the age of 52.