Joseph Rogers, founder of the town of Rogersville, was born August 21,1764 near Cook's Town, Ireland, the son of James Rogers and his wife Elizabeth Brown. He was in the Holston country by 1785 and married Mary Amis October 24,1786. He settled on Crockett's Creek on land bought from the heirs of David Crockett, Sr. He was a tavern keeper and in November 1792 was appointed the first postmaster at Rogersville. The father of fourteen children, he died November 6, 1833 at Rogersville, "near the hour of midnight." This portrait, by William H. Scarborough, is owned by his descendants, the Misses Walker and shows a red-headed Irishman in a pink and cream striped coat.

The Act of the Legislature mentioned in the last chapter, establishing the county of Hawkins, provided that the first "Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions" should be held at the house of Thomas Gibbons, and thereafter at such place as might be designated.

At an early session of said Court thereafter, commissioners were appointed "for fixing on a place for building the Court House, Prison and Stocks."

Two places were competitors for this honor, Thomas Gibbons' place and Joseph Rogers'. The tradition is accepted that the usual methods used on such occasions for securing victory were employed by the friends of the competing localities. Col. Rogers, the proprietor of the land at the second mentioned place, was a man of influence and the proprietor of a tavern of growing popularity and reputation. As was customary at that day, a well stocked bar was kept for the accommodation of the commissioners and that the effect of good cheer and an abundance of it had its influence in bringing about a favorable decision for the future of Rogersville. At all events the records show that "on the 4th day of June, 1787," the said commissioners, who had been previously appointed for fixing a place for building a Court House, prison and stocks, came into Court and reported "that it be fixed at Joseph Rogers', on Crockett's Creek." Whereupon, "Joseph Rogers came into Court and gave up and relinquished the right and title of two acres of land for the use of the public buildings, all privileges and emoluments reserved for the benefit and uses of said buildings from him and his heirs." Thereupon, it was ordered "that Thomas Hutchings, Hutson Johnson, Francis Daugherty, Joseph Cloud and Thomas Gibbons be appointed commissioners to attend the survey and lay off a town at Joseph Rogers' on Friday, the 15th inst."

The two acres of ground conveyed for the use of public buildings, it is supposed, comprise what is now the Public Square for the town of Rogersville.

The county-seat thus established was named in honor of Joseph Rogers. The court house, jail and stocks first built were unpretentious, being like the first residences, built of logs. They were located in that part of the Public Square between the present residence of H. G. Kyle, Esq., and Main Street. There was also, at a later date, a public well in front of them, and just in the edge of Main street, near the Old Simpson corner, or the northwest corner of the square. Some years ago it was ordered filled up by the town authorities. Its location is at present marked by a semi-circular projection of the pavement or walk on the north side of Main Street.

It is certain that Joseph Rogers was not the first settler at the present location of Rogersville. The little creek which divides the town was named for the grandfather of the renowned Davy Crockett. Davy Crockett, in his autobiography, tells us that his "grandfather and grandmother were both murdered (by the Creeks) in their own house on the very spot where Rogersville, in Hawkins County, now stands. At the same time the Indians wounded Joseph Rogers, a brother to my father, by a ball which broke this arm; and took James a prisoner, who was still a younger brother than Joseph and who from natural defects was less able to make his escape, as he was both deaf and dumb. He remained with them for seventeen years and nine months, when he was discovered and recollected by my father and his eldest brother, William Crockett, and was purchased by them from an Indian trader and restored to his relatives." The Crocketts, husband and wife, are buried on the land now owned by Mr. A. B. Rogan, near the old Rogers homestead (where likewise repose the remains of Joseph Rogers and wife and other members of the Rogers family). Their graves are unmarked and their exact locality unknown.