BIOGRAPHY

Rogers was born in Wapello County, Iowa, USA, on 16 March 1852, to parents William M. Standley (1818–1905) and Matilda Ausmus (1824–1905). She had 13 siblings.

In 1871, she married Jacob Colmore Rogers (1848–1935). The couple had six children: Nora Robinson (1871–1918), Elmer Rogers (1879–1952), Ewltia Rogers (1881–1966), Emma Rogers (1884–1886), Eber Rogers (1885–1957), and Effie Watkins (1888–1962). In 1894, the family moved to a farm northeast of Rexford, Kansas, in a covered wagon, where they raised wheat and cattle on their ranch. She continued to reside there until her late 90s.

A week after celebrating her 100th birthday, she fell and broke her hip, which left her confined to a wheelchair. Shortly before reaching her 110th birthday, it was reported that she could still see and hear, although both faculties were declining. Her physician largely attributed her relatively good condition at that time to a combination of nutritious food and vitamin supplements.

Rogers passed away in Selden, Kansas, USA, on 30 August 1962, at the age of 110 years, 167 days. She was survived by two sons, 19 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren, 61 great-great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

In March 1962, she celebrated her 110th birthday, becoming the first recorded supercentenarian to reside in the U.S. state of Kansas and the first known supercentenarian to have been born in the state of Iowa.

Rogers held the record as the oldest person ever to reside in Kansas until her final age was surpassed by Kitty Harvey on 29 June 1970.

Her age was verified by Jimmy Lindberg and Daniel Gonik, and validated by LongeviQuest on 6 January 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* Matilda Standley Rogers – Find A Grave

* Matilda STANDLEY – FrazerandFrazer

* “To Celebrate 102nd Birthday On Tuesday” – Atchison Daily Globe, 15 March 1954

* “Selden Woman In 103rd Year” – Salina Journal, 16 March 1955

* “Matilda Rogers, 108 Years Old, Oldest Kansan?” – Chanute Tribune, 12 August 1960

* “Kansan Prepares For 110th Birthday” – The Southeast Missourian, 9 March 1962

* “Woman, 110, dies” – Wellington Daily News, 4 September 1962

GALLERY

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