1892 :: Watchers Shot in the Leg

Rockdale, Tex., Nov. 26. -- Billy Doss, living four miles west of Rockdale, has been annoyed recently by some person rocking his house at night. Last night while Edna Hinter and George Doss were on guard to catch the perpetrator of the outrages unknown persons slipped up and shot both men in the legs, Hinter seriously and Doss slightly. Papers have been taken out for the arrest of August Silky [Seelke?], suspected as the guilty party. Dallas Morning News, November 27, 1892

1904 :: Death of Col. N.H. Tracy

Cameron, Tex., Nov. 23. -- News was received here last night from Rockdale of the death there at 9:30 of Col. N.H. Tracy, who has resided in that city for several years and who has been a member of the Milam County bar a long time. He was a member of the Legislature from this county and Mayor of Rockdale for some time. A number of Cameron people left this morning for Rockdale to pay their last respects to the deceased. He was also a soldier in the Confederate Army. Dallas Morning News, November 24, 1904

1875 :: Death of Hattie Baines

Earlier this year . . . on the 25th day of June . . . the Keeper of this Rockdale history blog was doing some work on Find-A-Grave regarding the Old City Cemetery in Rockdale, Milam County, Texas . . . two of the photos posted on Find-A-Grave during that work session are of the final resting place of a little girl with the name of Hattie R (1873-1875), Dau. of Wm. M. & E.V. Baines. . . . little Hattie died on this date (23rd day of November) in the year 1875 . . .







As far as is currently known, there are no other Baines buried in this cemetery . . . and the parents were not listed as being buried elsewhere in Milam County . . . so, a search was begun for her family members . . .


The 1880 census quickly revealed that amongst the inhabitants of Rockdale as of June of that year were 37-year-old Wm. M. Baines, his 39-year-old wife, Elizabeth V. Baines, and an assortment of children . . . also in the same household were William's 33-year-old brother, Geo. W. Baines, and his 24-year-old wife, Cornelia . . .


Further research led to the fact that these Baines brothers are two of the sons of George Washington Baines, Sr. and his first wife, Melissa Ann Butler . . . this info wound up placing these Baines brothers in the waayyy distant branches of the personal family tree of the Keeper of this blog, where . . .


On the 26th day of June, in the year 1881 . . . a baby girl is born in Collin County, Texas . . . she is the first of three children known to have been born to her parents, Joseph Wilson Baines (1846-1906) and Ruth Ament Huffman (1854-1936) . . . and they give her the name of Rebekah . . . 

Rebekah's father, Joseph, is a brother to the above named William and George . . . which makes Rebekah a first cousin to the little Hattie who is buried in the Old City Cemetery in Rockdale, Texas . . . 

Rebekah grows up to marry Samuel Ealy Johnson . . . and they are the parents of the 36th President of the United States . . . who is a 9th cousin twice removed to the Keeper of this Rockdale history blog . . .


Did y'all follow all of that!?! :)

1904 :: Street Carnival

Rockdale, Tex., Nov. 19 -- A street carnival is being arranged for Rockdale, to come off Nov. 28 to Dec. 3. Dallas Morning News, November 20, 1904

1874 :: Death of Mrs. Dorcas Groce

The Rockdale Messenger announces the death of Mrs. Dorcas Groce, on the eighth instant, aged seventy-four years, five months and two days. Austin Weekly Statesman, November 19, 1874 

1881 :: News from Rockdale

Weekly Democratic Statesman
Austin, Texas
November 3, 1881

Rockdale, October 31. -- We were all summoned to pay three dollars, a few days ago, in lieu of manual labor on the streets. This highly delightful privilege is afforded us quite frequently, but the only effort toward cleaning the streets which has come under the observation of your correspondent, has been made by poor old Bender, whose only compensation is generally a few drinks.


A very large number of ladies and gentleman assembled at the Mundine House on Thursday evening of last week, the occasion being a reception party to Mr. H.A. Gladdish and bride [i.e., Annie Joynes]. All present seemed to enjoy themselves highly.


Mr. George B. Randle is putting up a hall in the second story of the brick building on the corner of Commerce and Burleson streets. This will supply a long felt want in Rockdale, and Mr. Randle merits the grateful esteem of the community for his public spirit. 

1942 :: Death of Harry Whipp

Harry Whipp of Houston, son of Mrs. C.M. Whipp, 812-A Avenue K, died at his home Friday night. A sister, Marguerite, and brother, Cecil, of Lubbock left Saturday night to attend the funeral services. Mr. Whipp's mother is visiting a daughter, Mrs. D.D. Stewart, in Louisville, Ky., and will go to Houston from there and another sister, Mrs. Ronald Shands of Oklahoma City, former Lubbock resident, will attend the funeral. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Lubbock, Texas), November 1, 1942, Page 7

P.S. . . . FYI . . . in 1952, Harry's daughter, Mary Sue (who was born in Rockdale), marries L Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology . . .