By Tracy Gupton

Board members of the Columbia Historical Museum are struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of our friend and fellow board member Flem Rogers. His absence from our lives, his presence at our monthly meetings, and his guidance in all matters historical related will be deeply felt by all who knew and loved Flem.

News of Flem’s recent passing at his East Columbia home took us all by surprise. Hospital stays in Galveston had become routine as he continued to battle a variety of health issues in recent years. But I don’t think any of us were prepared to accept the realization that Flem is gone. How will we have a “Meet Your Ancestors” event each year moving forward at historical Columbia Cemetery without Flem and his crew setting up the tiki torches for us. He was so adept at portraying historical figures, not only for “Meet Your Ancestors,” but in numerous recreations of West Columbia and East Columbia area historical events such as on San Jacinto Day and the frequent reenactments of the funeral of Stephen F. Austin in late December at the end of each passing year.

The Sons of the Republic of Texas presented Flem Rogers of East Columbia with a plaque of appreciation in 2023 for his presentation to the group on weaponry used by both the Mexican Army and the Texans during the 1830s when the Republic of Texas was in its infancy. Ray Beall, left, was president of the local Sons of the Republic of Texas group at the time of Flem’s presentation in Angleton.

Flem Rogers was formerly the president of the First Capitol Historical Foundation and chairman of the West Columbia Chamber of Commerce. A January 17, 2015, Facts newspaper story on the 58th Annual West Columbia Chamber Appreciation Banquet at Heritage Hall quoted Flem: “I feel in my heart that I have only done what someone would do for their home,” after he was announced as the 2015 Man of the Year recipient at the Chamber banquet. “I’ve been lucky enough to have the time to become involved and to show everybody in this community that this is my home.”

Flem wasted little time getting involved in community affairs after he and his wife Sheryl bought a pair of historical old homes near the banks of the Brazos River in East Columbia. They were innkeepers of the Aycock-Crews bed and breakfast house while living next door in the antebellum style mansion once owned by the Smith family. That house was originally built by the Dance family in the 19th century. Flem and Sheryl also own the property across the street from their home, which is where the Dance brothers once manufactured rifles and pistols that were used by Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Flem took great pride in his collection of original Dance pistols and other rifles, muskets and armory.

In a July 10, 2015, story in the Fort Bend Herald newspaper, Flem Rogers was labeled a “Nationally recognized firearms historian and popular lecturer.” That story from 10 years ago promoted an event later in July 2015 where Flem Rogers was going to speak to the Fort Bend Archeological Society in Richmond. Rogers’ topic of that meeting was J.H. Dance and Company Firearms Manufacturers of the Civil War. “Rogers lives in East Columbia in the home originally built by J.H. Dance, and also owns the property where the foundry was originally built and where archeological excavations have recently occurred,” Fort Bend Herald reporter Katie Stamy wrote. “In 1858, James Henry Dance and his brothers David Etheldred and George Perry moved to Brazoria County and began building gristmills and cotton gins. When the Civil War broke out, J.H. Dance and Company began manufacturing firearms, which are still collected.”

Flem Edward Rogers was the son of Luther B. “Luke” Rogers and Tokuyo “Teddy” Morita Rogers. His father was born in Houston in 1933 and passed away December 14, 2018, in Llano, Texas. His parents had been married 61 years at the time of his Dad’s death six years ago. His mother had been living in East Columbia with Flem and his wife, Sheryl Carughi Rogers. Flem had a brother, William Roy Rogers, and aunts Edna Rogers Eaton and Susan Rogers Anderson. Luke Rogers was survived by grandchildren, Luther John Rogers and Anna Catherine Rogers.

The Columbia Historical Museum’s Board of Directors will be keeping Flem’s wife Sheryl and the rest of his family in our thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time. May he rest in peace! A memorial service honoring the memory of Flem Rogers is planned for some time in the future at the museum, 247 East Brazos Avenue in downtown West Columbia.