Obituary of CHRISTOPHER ROGERSON
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser January 22nd 1926.
The funeral took place on Tuesday to St. Cuthbert’s Churchyard, Kirkcudbright, of Mr Christopher Rogerson, senior partner of the firm of Messrs Rogerson and Black, merchants, St Cuthbert St, one of the best known figures in the business life of the county town for nearly half-a-century. Mr Rogerson, considering his long life of nearly seventy-five years, enjoyed good health up to about three months ago, when he was laid aside with an illness which, despite the best medical attention, proved fatal, death taking place at his residence in St Cuthbert Street in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Mr Rogerson was a native of Wamphray (Dumfriesshire) and after his school days were over he served his apprenticeship as a grocer in Dalton. About fifty-four years ago he came to Kirkcudbright as an assistant to Mr A.R. Milligan, Fairfield, who at that time had a grocery business in premises which now form part of the Royal Hotel, and which were afterwards occupied by Mr John Milligan, whose death is also recorded in this issue. Over fifty years ago Mr Rogerson started business on his own account in St Cuthbert Street on the site where the present handsome buildings were built after a destructive fire some years ago. The business increased largely, and eventually Mr Robert Black was assumed as a partner, and the firm’s connection with the trade as wholesale and retail grocers, cheese merchants, and bacon curers became one of the most extensive in the south-west of Scotland.
Mr Rogerson was of a rather retiring disposition, but he nevertheless took a great interest in public affairs in the town. He was for a time a member of the Town Council, and was also for a number of years a member of the now defunct School Board. He was one of the most prominent Liberals in the county town, being president of the Association. He was an enthusiastic churchman, a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and after the Union, of which he was a great supporter, a member of the United Free Church, of which at the time of his death, he was an elder and manager, also holding the office of preses of the congregation and being ruling elder of the Presbytery and the General Assembly. Mr Rogerson was a widower and is survived by one son, Mr James Rogerson, who is also a member of the firm.
The funeral on Tuesday was very largely attended, and there were many floral tributes. Short services were conducted at the house and the churchyard by Rev. J.M. Hunter of the United Free Church.