Changes

His epigrams were a delight:

His epigrams were a delight:

:When I die, my epitaph or whatever you call those signs on gravestones is going to read: "I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I dident like." I am so proud of that I can hardly wait to die so it can be carved. And when you come to my grave you will find me sitting there, proudly reading it.<ref> 1930, in Paula McSpadden Love, ''The Will Rogers Book,'' (1972) pp. 166–67 </ref>

:When I die, my epitaph or whatever you call those signs on gravestones is going to read: "I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I dident like." I am so proud of that I can hardly wait to die so it can be carved. And when you come to my grave you will find me sitting there, proudly reading it.<ref> 1930, in Paula McSpadden Love, ''The Will Rogers Book,'' (1972) pp. 166–67 </ref>

==Early life==

==Early life==

Rogers was born on November 4, 1879 in [[Indian Territory]]; his parents were members of the [[Cherokee]] tribe and came to Indian Territory during the removals of the 1830s.  His father, Clement V. Rogers, was a leader within Cherokee society; he served several terms on the Cherokee Senate.  Clement Rogers also achieved financial success as a rancher and used his influence to help soften the negative aspects of white acculturation on the tribe. Roach (1980) presents a sociological-psychological assessment of the relationship between Will and his father during the formative boyhood and teenage years. The father had high expectations for his son and desired him to be more responsible and business-minded.  Will was more easygoing and oriented toward the loving affection offered by his mother Mary rather than the harshness of his father. The personality clash increased after the mother's death, and young Will went from one venture to another with little success. Only after Will won acclaim in vaudeville did the rift begin to heal, but Clem's untimely death in 1911 prohibited the full reconciliation.<ref> Fred Roach, , Jr. "Will Rogers' Youthful Relationship with His Father, Clem Rogers: a Story of Love and Tension." ''Chronicles of Oklahoma'' 1980 58(3): 325-342. Issn: 0009-6024 </ref>  

Rogers was born on November 4, 1879 in [[Indian Territory]]; his parents were members of the [[Cherokee]] tribe and came to Indian Territory during the removals of the 1830s.  His father, Clement V. Rogers, was a leader within Cherokee society; he served several terms on the Cherokee Senate.  Clement Rogers also achieved financial success as a rancher and used his influence to help soften the negative aspects of white acculturation on the tribe. Roach (1980) presents a sociological-psychological assessment of the relationship between Will and his father during the formative boyhood and teenage years. The father had high expectations for his son and desired him to be more responsible and business-minded.  Will was more easygoing and oriented toward the loving affection offered by his mother Mary rather than the harshness of his father. The personality clash increased after the mother's death, and young Will went from one venture to another with little success. Only after Will won acclaim in vaudeville did the rift begin to heal, but Clem's untimely death in 1911 prohibited the full reconciliation.<ref> Fred Roach, , Jr. "Will Rogers' Youthful Relationship with His Father, Clem Rogers: a Story of Love and Tension." ''Chronicles of Oklahoma'' 1980 58(3): 325-342. Issn: 0009-6024 </ref>