Rogers, Buffon

Veterinarian, Horse Breeder

Birth: September 2, 1846, Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio
Death: March 17, 1920, Trumbull County, Ohio
Burial: Vienna Township Cemetery, Vienna, Trumbull County, Ohio
Find a Grave memorial

Published Biography

From Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio Embracing the Counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning. … (Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1893), pp. 389-91:

BUFFIN ROGERS (also spelled Buffon), a veterinary surgeon of Vienna, was born at Warren, Ohio, September 2, 1847 (1846 per tombstone), a son of Austin and Abigail (Tribbie) Rogers, both deceased in Vienna. The grandfather of our subject, Joseph Rogers, was a native of Long Island. He came to Trumbull county, Ohio, about 1802, located land, built and conducted the first hotel in Vienna township for many years, and also conducted one of the first tanneries in this county. He was a public spirited man, and loved to the advanced age of ninety years. Joseph Rogers married Lydia Lowry, a member of the oldest and one of the most prosperous families in the county. They had eight children: Loren, of Vienna; Royal, of Warren, Ohio; Austin and Gilbert, deceased; Addison, of Warren; and Charles, Minerva and Lucy, deceased.

Austin Rogers, father of our subject, was born in Vienna township, Ohio, in April 1822, read medicine with Dr. Payne, of Philadelphia, and attended the Cincinnati Medical College, where he was graduated. He afterward located with Dr. Payne in Warren, Ohio; next resided at Haysville for a time; loved and owned considerable land in Portageville, Wood county, Ohio; next, in connection with farming the former county, was engaged in buying and shipping horses in Findley, this State. In 1863 he embarked in the stock business in California and Nevada, and finally began the mercantile business at Vienna. He died in Vienna, February 2, 1888. Mr. Rogers married Abigail Tribbie, who was born in this State, a daughter of Jerry and Martha (Witherspoon) Tribbie, natives respectively of Maryland and Pennsylvania. To this union were born five children, namely: Buffin; Abigail, wife of frank Chamberlain, of Bazetta township, Trumbull county; Adella, deceased, was the wife of David Harrington; Addison, who was killed by the Mormons in Utah, Austin, deceased.

Buffin Rogers, the subject of this sketch, started in life for himself at the early age of fifteen years, locating a ranch near Austin, Nevada, where he was engaged in herding stock, employing a Mexican to do the work. Next, in partnership with a gentleman of that city, he opened a sale stable, which he conducted in addition to his ranch. About two years later Mr. Rogers took a course in mineralogy; next was employed in the Yellowstone country, and the South for a prospecting mining company, and later returned to his ranch and sale stable, also following freighting over the mountains. Mr. Rogers returned to Ohio in 1870, where he now owns the Ledger Stock Farm, located a mile and a half from Vienna, which consists of about 100 acres. He also owns the Vienna hotel property and a residence at Vienna Center. The Ledger Stock Farm contains some of the best blood in stock this county affords. King Ledger stands at the head of his stud, is the largest standard-bred stallion in this region and has produced many fine market horses. Among the men who owned and sold these Ledger colts were J. J. Holliday, John Cole, Abe Hoffman, Mr. Neely, Joe Rogers, John Rush, Chauncey Andrews, Mr. Shively, W. Hayes and others, prices ranging from $175 to $300. King Ledger was sired by Ledger, 1,669. His dam, Gray Betty, was a Manchester Tuckahoe, with a record of 2: 31 ¼. King Ledger, 5,783, carries in his pedigree the most noted crosses from extreme speed, Hambletonian Clay and pacing make up, running into the noted racing blood of Diomede and Messenger. Revenue, the son of Kind Ledger, is also owned by Mr. Rogers, and no young stallion in this part of the country can show better breeding than this noted animal. Mr. Rogers is also the original breeder of the Polled Delain sheep. This fine breed of sheep was produced by a judicious course of breeding of good families during a period of over twenty years. He claims a superiority in size, in length of wool and fineness. He has invented and manufactured the celebrated sheep dip, called the Safe Sheep Dip, for destroying ticks and scabs in sheep. Mr. Rogers is the first resident of Trumbull county to take a course in a veterinary college, he having graduated at the Ontario Veterinary College in 1882. He is now one of the best veterinarians in this section of the country, and is a member of the American Veterinarian Union.

Mr. Rogers was married in Ohio, October 5, 1870, to Miss Mary A. Leet, the only daughter of Abraham Leet. They have two children,--Katie and Bell. Mrs. Rogers is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In political matters, our subject is a staunch Republican, and is one of the well known and worthy citizens of Trumbull County.