Joseph Donel Rogers was born on October 20, 1927, in Zebulon, North Carolina to Charles Reuben Rogers (44) and Candis Lois Pearce (34). He was the eighth or ninth child in a bustling household, surrounded by siblings whose lives intertwined through childhood games, chores, and the rhythm of mill village life. His older brother is Ollie Rogers, whom I told you about in a previous post. Though Joseph's life would eventually take him far from his roots, the traces he left behind in public records allow us a glimpse into his story; a life that like so many ordinary lives, deserves to be remembered.
1930 Census Wake Forest Township, North Carolina
Growing Up in Wake Forest, North Carolina
Joseph's birth records place the family living in Zebulon, but the 1930 census shows the family living in the Glenn Royal Mill Village. It’s fair to say the family moved not long after Joseph's birth. Joseph's father, Charles, worked as a Laffer operator in the cotton mill. For those unfamiliar with cotton mill terminology (I had to google this myself), a Laffer operator operates a machine that pressed raw cotton fibers into sheets, preparing them for spinning. His older brother Oscar, my great grandfather, worked as a card operator, running a machine that cleaned and aligned the fibers so they could be spun into yarn. Life in the mill village revolved around long hours, hard work, and close-knit community life. I was shocked when I found out my parental ancestors lived in this area. I never knew anyone on this side of my family and everything I did know led me to believe they always lived in Raleigh. It was a pleasant surprise to find they lived in the same community I grew up in, although they didn't live here for very long. During the 1930s the Great Depression caused everyone to fall on hard times, including successful businesses like the Glenn Royal Cotton Mill. It's possible that these financial struggles contributed to the Rogers family moving from Wake Forest to Banner Township in Johnston County.
Royal Cotton Mill circa 1920 courtesy of Wake Forest Historical Museum
Move to Banner Township and Early Adulthood
I'm not sure what year they relocated, but records show the move happened before 1940. Charles, Joseph's father, is listed as working "on own account", likely reflecting his role as a preacher during this period. Joseph, now 12, continued growing up among his other siblings who were under 18 years old; learning the values of hard work and family responsibility.
At the young age of 17, Joseph and his bride to be 15-year-old Vonnie Ella Gallion, travel to Gaffney, South Carolina to get hitched on September 9, 1944. The marriage soon brought a child, Joseph Eugene Rogers who was born on November 27, 1945. Records show Joseph registered for the draft in 1945 while living in Valdese, Burke County, North Carolina where he worked at a service station.
1940 Census Banner Township, Johnston County, North Carolina
Serving in the Navy
On December 28, 1950, Joseph enlisted in the U.S. Navy, marking the start of his military career. He served during the Korea war. Details of his military career are limited in public records, but his headstone provides important clues about his service.
His marker reads “MM2 US Navy Korea” This tells us three key facts:
- MM2: stands for Machinist’s Mate Second Class; a skilled engineering role responsible for maintaining ship engines and mechanical systems
- US Navy: confirms his branch of service.
- Korea: indicates that he served during the Korean War period (1950–1954).
Reaching the rank of Second-Class Petty Officer (E-5) shows that Joseph held a respected technical position and likely trained or supervised other sailors. While I have not yet discovered his ship assignments or deployment history, this detail adds depth to his story: Joseph served his country as a Navy engineer during a time of war. He served for almost four years being discharged on October 25, 1954, five days after his 27th birthday. This is a research area I hope to expand in the future.
California
While records from Joseph's childhood are scarce, available records from his adult life are even worse. I have been unable to locate any records that give meaningful details on this phase of Joseph's life. At some point Joseph and Vonnie's relationship ends. Vonnie would remarry and Joseph heads out west where he would also remarry. Joseph's motivates for moving to California are unclear, but we do know he settled down with a seconded wife, a woman from North Dakota Lucy Ann Kivley, though no record of this marriage has been found as of yet. On July 11, 1964, Joseph and Lucy would welcome their newborn son, Joseph Donel Rogers Jr. who was born in Anaheim, California. I suspect the couple had at least one more child if not two sometime after Joseph Jr.'s birth. Yet again the lack of records still leaves me unsure of basic facts about Joseph's life. I was able to locate Joseph and Lucy in a California phone book directory (who remembers those?) from 1968. Joseph is shown to live in Downey and either work at or possibly own Joe's Gulf Service Center. I have not located any records to show Joseph ever returned to North Carolina, but I certainly hope he was able to visit with his family after the big move. Living a life spilt between two coasts must have been incredibly difficult at times.
1968 California Directory
Later Life and Legacy
Joseph Donel Rogers passed away on July 18, 1993 and was buried in Riverside, California. Many details of his personality, relationships, and experiences remain unknown, but the records trace his movements, honoring the life of a man who, though ordinary in many ways, was extraordinary to those who knew him.
If you have information about Joseph Donel Rogers or his descendants, please contact me. Every detail helps preserve the full story, ensuring that no one in our family history is forgotten.
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