As Mayor of Buffalo (1868-1869), William F. Rogers was instrumental in establishing Buffalo’s system of public parks, and he helped to create the Buffalo Board of Park Commissioners to oversee the parks and their construction. As Mayor, he appointed the first Board members. Having not sought reelection as Mayor after his term, he was subsequently engaged by the Board of Park Commissioners to served as Secretary and Treasurer, a position he held for eighteen years until his resignation on 10 October 1887, when temporarily relocated to Bath, New York.
He was born in 1820 in Pennsylvania, and his family moved to Philadelphia when he was 4 years old. He attended public schools there until 1832, when, after his father’s death, the family returned to their former home in Easton, Pennsylvania and he began work as a printer for the local newspaper, the Whig. In 1834 he moved back to the Philadelphia, working for the Philadelphia Enquirer. From 1840 to 1846 he operated his own newspaper in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
Rogers moved to Buffalo in 1846. He worked for the Courier and then for the Express. During 1848-1849 he operated the Buffalo Republic as an organ for anti-slavery Democrats.
Rogers took an active interest in military affairs. He joined Company D of the Buffalo City Guards in 1846, shortly after his arrival in the city. He was a Captain in the 74th Infantry, NYNG at the outbreak of the Civil War. When that regiment was refused service when the original call for 90 day volunteers was recognized as inadequate, the President issued a call instead for two year volunteers. Captain Rogers volunteered for service under those provisions, and was assigned to, and subsequently elected colonel of, the 21st New York Volunteer Infantry. His regiment saw duty from 1861 to 1863, including action at Battle of Gainesville, the Second Battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. Rogers received a brevet of Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers in recognition of his service. His regiment was mustered out in May, 1863. In 1865 he was appointed a Major General in the New York National Guard and commanded its 8th Brigade for a number of years, retiring when reorganization of the National Guard disbanded that organization.
In 1864 he was appointed as Auditor for the City of Buffalo, and then in 1864 he was appointed Comptroller. He then successfully ran for Mayor in 1867, his term running from 1 January 1868 to 2 January 1870. His term as Mayor complete, he was engaged by the Board of the Park Commissioners as the Board’s Secretary and Treasurer on 4 February 1870, a compensated position. He held that office for 18 years, resigning in 1887 to accept other employment. Gen. Rogers was elected to the 48th Congress in 1883 as a Democrat. He served for one term, after which he retired from active politics.
He was one of the founders of the New York State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home at Bath, New York in 1879 though his activities with the Grand Army of the Republic, was a member of the committee charged with selecting the site, was then a member of the building committee, and he was one of its trustees from its inception until 1887. That year he was selected by the board to be its Superintendent for the Home, where he then served and resided until 1897.
Gen. Rogers died in Buffalo on December 16, 1899. He is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
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