William Charles Rogers

William Charles Rogers (December 13, 1847 – November 8, 1917) was a Cherokee politician, Confederate veteran and farmer. He served as Principal Chief of Cherokee Nation from 1903 to 1917.

After serving as a representative and a senator in the Cherokee Council, he was elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1903, defeating E. L. Cookson. He served during the final liquidation of the independent Cherokee government by the United States of America and the establishment of the state of Oklahoma in 1906–7. He remained as principal chief, but with greatly diminished powers, performing largely ceremonial functions for the tribe until his death.

Early life William Charles Rogers was the son of Charles Coody Rogers and Elizabeth McCorkle. After being educated in tribal schools, he decided to become a farmer like his father. He acquired a tract of land about north of present-day Skiatook, Oklahoma, and began his own farm. In 1877, he constructed a general store on his own land on Bird Creek and established the original town of Skiatook.

Rogers married Nannie Haynie on February 15, 1892, in Kansas City.

After his four-year term of office was complete, he retained the status of chief, for purposes of dealing with matters of the handover of power to the United States.

Rogers was a Freemason and was buried in Hillside Mission Cemetery, about north of Skiatook, Oklahoma.