Sheriff Joseph Rogers

End of Watch : June 26, 1896

SHERIFF JOSEPH ROGERS
McLeod County Sheriff's Office
Died June 26, 1896

On Wednesday evening, June 26, at 7:00 p.m., Sheriff Joseph Rogers and Deputy Louis Link were traveling in Glencoe Township about three miles from town when they saw two men on the road. After passing them, the officers stopped the buggy in which they were riding and Sheriff Rogers got out and told the men, "I want you fellows." One of the men, Henry Cingmar, 24, shot at the sheriff with his revolver. The sheriff then stepped back two steps, pulled out his revolver and returned fire. When the men told the sheriff they were going to shoot, the sheriff told them, "Blaze away." Suddenly, Cingmar, with his revolver and his partner, Dorman Musgrove, 27, with a rifle, shot at the same time at a distance of only eight feet. Sheriff Rogers was hit in the chest and the arm and he fell to the ground. Leaving him there, Deputy Link drove the wagon about a mile down the road to get some help. The suspects fired three shots at the sheriff as he lay on the ground and three at Link as he drove away. Link located two farmers to help him and they returned to the scene about a half-hour later. By that time, the sheriff was dead.

The citizens of McLeod and Sibley Counties organized a search for the suspects. The next day, they were located in a swamp in Dryden Township in Sibley County where they surrendered and were taken into custody.

Sheriff Rogers had been marshal in Glencoe for seven years, from 1887-1894, and had been elected sheriff in 1894. He was survived by his wife, Margaret, and son, Joseph. His funeral was held on Saturday, June 29th at 2:00 p.m. at Glencoe City Hall. He was buried in Westside Cemetery.

Sourced from: The book "We Will Remember"
With permission from Lisa Lovering, Author and Board of Director
MN Law Enforcement Memorial Association
L.E.M.A. 2009

Albert Winkelmann

Charles Wetsel