Folksy Facts About Will Rogers, America’s Favorite Cowboy
Will Rogers could simultaneously throw three lassos, but nothing could protect him from the fatal journey that took his life.
1. He Was A Cowboy Philosopher
Will Rogers started out as a cowboy doing rope tricks on Vaudeville, but he opened his mouth and started talking, audiences couldn’t get enough of his homespun wisdom. Before long he was writing columns in The New York Times, appearing on Broadway, and starring in Hollywood films.
But his success only makes his tragic and unexpected passing even harder to fathom.
2. There Was Tension
Will Rogers was born on November 4, 1879 in Oklahoma. His parents, Clement V Rogers and Mary America Schrimsher had Cherokee ancestry, and Dad was an attorney and judge for the Cherokee Nation. Rogers felt closer to his laid back mom, but Clement had high hopes for his son.
It was becoming a battle royale between father and son—until a collection of tragedies burst the family wide open.
3. He Suffered Early Tragedies
For a short period, Rogers lived in a rather full household. Sadly, of his seven older siblings, only three lived to become adults. But the tragedy wasn’t over yet.
When Rogers was 10 years old, his mother caught amoebic dysentery and didn't survive the infection. Even worse, mom had been Rogers’ close ally when dad was pushing him too hard.
Now Rogers had to face his father alone.
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4. He Disagreed With His Father
Dad’s ultimate goal for his son was a job in the business world, but that was the last thing Rogers had an interest in. In fact, he disappointed his father by quitting school when he was in the 10th grade.
Rogers was no academic—he had something else that thrilled him. He loved everything to do with being a cowboy.
He had a plan to make this into a career—whether his father liked it or not.
