1880s

The Life of John Travers Rogan (1888-1951)

joelowry1982 1880s, 1950s, Paternal, Rogan, Travers , , , ,

John Travers Rogan, son of James Francis Rogan and Catherine Anna Travers, was born on June 19, 1888, in New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.[i] John was the oldest of nine children, and the only boy in the group, watching over his younger sisters, Kathleen, Veronica, Anne, Frances, Mary, Elizabeth, Mercedes, and Ruth. He was named after his maternal grandfather, John Travers, who had died a little over eight months before the grandson was born.[ii]

John grew up in New Castle, in the family home at 353 West North Street, owned by his parents in the city’s 6th Ward. His father worked in the tin mill. Next door lived the family of his uncle and aunt, James and Margaret Travers Deskin; Margaret and Catherine were sisters. In 1900, 12-year-old John was in school.[iii] A decade later, although still living at home at age 22, he was working as a machinist in a local plant’s engineering works.[iv]

In June 1916, John was charged in the Lawrence County court with larceny from person, meaning he likely pick-pocketed. He was found guilty and sentenced to three months in the Allegheny County workhouse.[v]

As America entered World War I, the draft was enacted in May 1917. In early October, John was called for his physical examination by the local draft board, and on December 13, 1917, he was inducted into the National Army.[vi] At the time, he was residing at home with his parents at 703 West North Street, New Castle. He was assigned to the 308th Ammunition Train. On December 25, 1917, he was promoted to Wagoner, a role responsible for keeping wagons and draft animals in condition and ensuring supplies reached their destination. On April 17, 1918, he was transferred to the 25th Company of the 7th Training Battalion. Although World War I was raging, he never deployed overseas. Instead, he suffered an injury while in camp and was honorably discharged on June 15, 1918.[vii] The war ended on November 11, 1918.

Following his military service, John returned to civilian life. In 1920, he was enumerated in New Castle’s Sixth Ward, employed as a machinist in a bronze factory, likely the Johnston Bronze Company, where he had worked before his induction into the Army.[viii] By 1930, however, he was listed simply as a laborer, doing odd jobs. Even at age 38 he was still living at home with his parents and five of his sisters.[ix] Still, he had social connections and in the mid-1930s, was on the executive committee of the local American Legion chapter.[x]

By the time John reached his early 40s, he was suffering from several chronic maladies. In April 1932, he was noted in the New Castle News as having returned from a stay in the Philadelphia Naval Hospital.[xi] Later that year, in August, he spent a month in Bath, Steuben County, New York, where he entered the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. His admission records noted several health conditions: moderate chronic bronchitis, significant dental disease with many missing teeth, multiple scars from tuberculosis and childhood trauma, chronic back strain in the sacroiliac region, and traumatic psychoneurosis — a psychological disorder related to wartime trauma (in modern terms, post-traumatic stress disorder).

John had returned to Pennsylvania by February 2, 1934, when he requested a state military pension for his World War I service. Living at 219 North Beaver Street, New Castle, the record notes that he had no wife and no children. A pension of $10 per month for six months was granted. By 1942, during the World War II “Old Man’s” draft registration, he was living at 208 Avenue J in Weirton, Hancock County, West Virginia in the home of his sister, Mary Rogan Gallagher, along with her husband John and four children.[xii] He reported himself as unemployed at that time. What brought him from New Castle to Weirton is unclear, although a search for work is possible. His work history during the Depression indicates that he struggled to keep a job and moved at least a few times. His health issues likely didn’t make keeping a job easier.

By 1950, it was clear that John’s life was difficult. He was enumerated in the 1950 U.S. Census as being a prisoner in the Youngstown City Jail.[xiii] The criminal charge and how long he spent in jail are not known. He died less than a year later, on March 2, 1951, in Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio, aged sixty-two. John was buried three days later in St. Mary’s Cemetery in New Castle.[xiv]

Sources:

[i] “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918,” digital images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 September 2025), John Travers Rogan, registration at Draft Board 1, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; citing World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918, NARA microfilm publication M1509, roll 1907346, Records of the Selective Service System (Record Group 163), National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[ii] “Death of John Travers,” The Daily City News, New Castle, Pennsylvania, 4 Oct 1887, pg. 3, col. 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 Sep 2025).

[iii] 1900 U.S. census, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, New Castle, Ward 6, ED 109, pg. 16A, household 307, family 315, household of James Rogan; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 Sep 2025); citing NARA microfilm publication T623.

[iv] 1910 U.S. census, Lawrence County, population schedule, New Castle, ED 134, pg. 6B, household 145, family 148, household of James Rogan; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 Sep 2025), citing NARA microfilm publication T624.

[v] “Pennsylvania, U.S., Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records, 1829–1971,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 September 2025); citing Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Register to Include All Prisoners Tried and Sentenced to Hard Labor Books, Series 197m.16, Allegheny County Workhouse; entry for John Rogan, prisoner no. 67626; digital image 3784 of 6346.

[vi] “Examination on Tuesday,” The New Castle News, New Castle, Pennsylvania, 10 Oct 1917, pg. 16, col. 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 Sep 2025).

[vii] “Pennsylvania, U.S., WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 September 2025), > Army > Rodgers, Earle Marshall – Rohlfs, Frederick G (367) > application of John T. Rogan, number 65948, digital image 2506 of 4160; citing Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, “World War I Veterans Service and Compensation File, 1934–1948,” record group 19, Series 19.91, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

[viii] 1920 U.S. census, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, New Castle, Ward 6, ED 103, sheet 15B, household 348, family 349, household of James F. Rogan; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 Sep 2025), citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 1586.

[ix] 1930 U.S. census, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, New Castle, ED 18, sheet 7B, dwelling 161, family 161, household of James F. Rogan; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 Sep 2025), citing NARA microfilm publication T626, FHL microfilm: 2341794.

[x] “Davis Names Committee on Hayes Banquet,” The New Castle News, New Castle, Pennsylvania, 21 Apr 1934, pg. 12, col. 7; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 Sep 2025).

[xi] “Rogan Home From Vets Hospital,” The New Castle News, New Castle, Pennsylvania, 1 Apr 1932, pg. 20, col. 8; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : accessed 7 Sep 2025).

[xii] “U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Mar 2025), entry for John Travers Rogan, Hancock, West Virginia, serial no. 2704, order no. [blank]; citing The National Archives at St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) for the State of West Virginia, Records of the Selective Service, Record Group 147, Series Number M1937.

[xiii] 1950 U.S. census, Mahoning County, Ohio, population schedule, Youngstown, enumeration district (ED) 100-49, sheet 72, line 78, John T Rogan, inmate; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 Sep 2025); citing NARA microfilm publication T628, roll 1047.

[xiv] “U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 Mar 2025), entry for John T. Rogan, service number 1957058; citing “Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941,” microfilm publication M1916, Record Group 92, (National Archives and Records Administration: Washington, D.C.).

Amanuensis Monday – Last Will and Testament of Jacob Pepperney (1805 – 15 Aug 1888)

joelowry1982 1880s, Amanuensis Monday, Paternal, Pepperney

Just what is “Amanuensis Monday?” An amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. I’m not employed but by you, my dear reader, and will use the occasional Monday to transcribe family documents. Transcribing forces me to make a very close reading of the text, thus perhaps showing some detail I may have otherwise missed. When printed on the blog, it makes information more findable for search engines and others interested in the same topic.

One way to easily learn about the last years of an ancestor is to read their last will. Many are available online and recently I was able to locate the will of Jacob Pepperney, my 4th great grandfather. Jacob was born in in or near present-day Austria in 1805. He died in Allegheny (present-day Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania on August 15, 1888. One of his last acts before his death was to have drafted in his name a last will and testament. This document is available through the records of FamilySearch and is itself a transcription. Instead of keeping thousands of wills and testaments in different formats, entire probate records were transcribed into journals for record keeping. This ensured a more complete record that was uniformly organized. I’ve transcribed the transcription. While nothing earth-shattering – Jacob wasn’t bequeathing any family treasure – it does show that he left a small sum to his grandson whose father died a few years prior. The details are below; I’ve transcribed it as best I can but apologize in advance for any errors.

Page 1 of 2. Click to enlarge
Page 2 of 2. Click to enlarge
No 307
Last Will and Testament 
of
Jacob Pepperney
In the name of God, Anew, 
I, Jacob Pepperney of the City of 
Allegheny, County of Allegheny,
 and State of Pennsylvania, being of sound mind, memory, and underst-
anding, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby
revoking and making void all former wills by me as anytime hereto
-fore made by me.
And as to my world Estate and all the property, real, personal, or 
mixed, of which I shall die seized and possessed, on to which I shall be 
entitled at the time of my decease, I give, advise, bequeath, and 
dispose thereof in the manner following, to wit:
First, my will is, that all my just debts and funeral expenses
shall by my Executor herein after named, be paid out of my Estate, as
soon after my decease as shall by him be found convenient.
Hence, I give, devise, and bequeath to my grandson John Pepperney
(child of my deceased son John Pepperney) the sum of One Hundred
dollars.
All the rest, residue and remainder of my Estate, real, personal,
and mixed, of what nature or kind so even and whensoever the
same shall be at the time of my death I give, devise and bequeath
unto my son Frank Peppperney and to my daughter Mary Beck
(wife of John Beck) their heirs and assigns forever share and 
share alike.
And I do hereby constitute and appoint my said son Frank
Pepperney Executor of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof, I, Jacob Pepperney the Testator, have to
this, my will written on one sheet of legal Cap-paper, set my 
hand and seal, this second (2) day of March A.D. 1882.
Jacob (his X mark) Pepperney
————————————————————————
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Jacob
Pepperney, as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, 
who have hereto subscribed our named as his required as witnesses
thereto in the presence of said testator and of each other.
Joseph Schmid            Adam Hohmaun
Nikolaus Manz            George Roesch
————————————————————————
State of Pennsylvania
Allegheny County
Be it known, that on the twentieth day of August A.D.
1888, before me, Samuel P Conner, Registrar of Willis, **** and for the
County aforesaid, came Adam Hohmam and Nikolas Manz and
on August 22nd 1888 came Joseph Schmid three of the subscribing 
witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of Jacob Pepp
erney deceased and on this their solemn oath did depose and say that
they were present and did see and hear Jacob Pepperney the test-
ator therein named, sign (my making his mark) seal, publish 
and declare the same as and for his last will and testament, and
at the time of so doing he was of sound mind and memory to the 
best of their knowledge and believe and as his request and in his 
presence they subscribed their named as witnesses thereto.
Sworn and subscribed before me the above date:
Samuel P Conner, Registrar
Adam Hohmaun
Nikolaus Manz
Joseph Schmid
————————————————————————
Now, August 23rd AD 1888, the testimony of the above named witnesses
being sufficient, I do hereby admit that foregoing Will to Probate, and
order the same to be recorded as such.
Given under my hand the above date
Samuel C Conner
Registrar
————————————————————————
State of Pennsylvania
Allegheny County
Be it known, that on the 23rd day of August A.D. 1888.
Letters testamentary with a copy of the Will annexed upon the Estate of
Jacob Pepperney deceased was duly granted unto Frank Pepperney
the Executor in said Will named who was duly sworn to well and 
truly administered the goods and chattel rights and credits which
were of said decedent and to faithfully comply with the acts of ass-
embly relating to collective inheritances.
                           Given under my hand the above date
                                                                  Samuel P. Conner
                                                                  Registrar
Source:
“Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-28781-6621-99?cc=1999196&wc=MDSG-YWL:268499101,283261801 : accessed 03 May 2014), Allegheny > Wills 1887-1889 vol 33-34 > image 320 of 691.