Phillip Rogers

Phillip Rogers (August 15, 1812 – December 13, 1856) was a settler of Irish origin who migrated to the Chicago area from Watertown, New York in 1836. He built a cabin on Ridge Avenue and bought a tract of land in the unincorporated area now bounded by Touhy Ave., Western Ave., Ridge Ave., and Morse Ave. from the government for $1.25 an acre.[1] He continued to accumulate land and eventually owned approximately 1,600 acres (6.5 km²), farming much of it.[2]

Rogers's son-in-law, Patrick L. Touhy, inherited his holdings, subdivided some of the land, and began developing it in the 1870s.[3] In 1878 a village was incorporated and named Rogers Park after Rogers. Following annexation by the City of Chicago in 1893, the neighborhood continued to be called Rogers Park.[4]

Besides the former village and present community area, landmarks named after Rogers include Rogers Avenue, the public park called Rogers Park at 7345 N. Washtenaw Ave., Rogers Beach Park,[5] and the Phillip Rogers Elementary School. As of 1925, ruins of the original Rogers homestead were still present on Ridge Ave., but were not preserved.[1]