1893 :: Colonel W B Woody is Postmaster

Rockdale, Tex., March 29. -- Colonel W.B. Woody's appointment as postmaster here is received with much pleasure by his friends and the general belief is he will give the patrons of the office a very satisfactory service. Dallas Morning News, March 31, 1893

1889 :: Witcher is made Postmaster

Washington, March 23. -- The president sent the following nominations to the senate to-day: . . . Also, a number of fourth-class postmasters; among them John C. Witcher, at Rockdale, Texas. . . . Austin Weekly Statesman, March 28, 1889

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John C. Witcher was made Postmaster as of the 26th of March. The Witcher family was prominent in the early days of the city. John C. Witcher located here in 1883 [sic?], as a contractor and builder. When the town was incorporated in June 1874, he was elected city marshal and served four years during which there were some turbulent times.

1913 :: Killing of P H Burke

The body of Pleasant Burke, 36 years old, who was killed Tuesday afternoon during an affray at 628 East Commerce street, was sent to Liberty Hill for burial yesterday. A committee of the Scottish Rite Masons, of which he was a member, composed of A.J. Milheiser, S.P. Palmer, Ben Hovenor and P.D. Mathis, escorted the body to the train. San Antonio Light, March 27, 1913 [Note :: His widow, Cora, was formerly a resident of Rockdale.]

1929 :: Death of young Preston Perry

Rockdale, March 20. -- Preston Perry, only child of Ed Perry of the Salty community, was accidentally killed last Tuesday by the discharge of a .22 calibre rifle in the hands of his playmate, Alvin Duett, aged 10 years. Duett had gone to the Perry home to spend the night. In the afternoon, the Perry boy handed Duett the rifle, telling him to shoot the rabbit in the thicket nearby, he having gone ahead to direct the way, when the gun was discharged, taking off the back of Perry's head. He was rushed to Taylor sanitarium but died before an operation could be performed. Waco News-Tribune, March 21, 1929 

1914 :: St. Patrick's Day in Rockdale

Rockdale, Tex., March 20. -- St. Patrick's Day was designated by Mayor H.C. Meyer as "clean-up day" for Rockdale. All stores were closed in the forenoon, their forces entering with spirit into the work. Curls of smoke rose from trash piles in all directions, tin cans were relegated and soon the city blossomed forth in cleanliness. The public schools were also closed, giving the boys and girls a chance to contest for four cash prizes offered. The winners were: First girl's prize, Miss Mary Rothrock; second girl's prize, Miss Margie Lewis; first boy's prize, Bailey Reeves; second boy's prize, Shelby Brieger and Fred Green (divided). Dallas Morning News, March 21, 1914 

1907 :: Death of Bloxum Howard

Rockdale and Milam county mourns the loss of a popular citizen and a good officer. Mr. B. Howard died Tuesday and was buried Wednesday at 10 a.m. by the K. of P. assisted by the Woodmen and the ministers of Rockdale. Mr. Howard was very much attached to his horse, which was tied to the hearse, saddled ready as if to mount. He leaves a wife and four children. The following people went over from Cameron to attend his funeral: W.C. Ross, A.W. Taber, J.T. Kemp, Jim Pate, Sheriff and Elmer Holtzclaw, Allen Hooks and Graham Gillis. All business was suspended in Rockdale to attend the funeral. Cameron Herald, March 21, 1907 

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Rockdale, Tex., March 19. -- B. Howard, who has been constable of this precinct for about six years, died this afternoon about 5 o'clock, the immediate cause being measles. His wife was called from Austin yesterday, where she had undergone an operation. Bartlett Tribune, March 22, 1907 

1901 :: Death of B.F. Ackerman

Mr. B.F. Ackerman died suddenly Tuesday morning of heart failure, superinduced by chills. He had eaten a hearty breakfast and apparently was all right. A little later he complained of having a chill and was assisted to his room. Shortly after a friend entered his room to see how he was getting along and found him sitting in a chair dying. The friend immediately went for a physician and summoned Dr. Monroe, but Mr. Ackerman was passed all human aid when they arrived. 

The body was removed to the residence of his step-son, T.G. Sampson, from where on Wednesday morning the funeral procession formed and followed the hearse to the Goodhue Wilson grave yard, where the mortal body of Mr. Ackerman was returned to earth. "For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." 

The deceased was 72 years of age and was an old citizen of Cameron, and was at one time worth considerable money. He was liberal hearted and well liked by all his friends. 

Three children survive him, B.F. Ackerman, who is married and lives in Palestine, Will Ackerman, who lives in Cameron, and Mrs. G.B. Tracy, who lives with her husband about five miles in the country. Our sympathy goes out to all in their affliction. Cameron Herald, March 21, 1901

1874 :: Rockdale at Two Weeks of Age

. . . The new line has only been finished to Rockdale since the second day of February, and the company has not had time to complete the extensive stock yards which it is erecting; yet application has already been made by owners for the transportation of over 50,000 head of cattle. The yards, I understand, will be finished within the next week, when Rockdale must necessarily become a busy place and a great cattle centre. In fact, I see nothing to prevent its becoming one of the most important cities in the State. 

It has already, in its short two weeks' existence, become a lumber market for a region of 100 miles around. The International Road runs, through the heart of the great pineries of Eastern Texas and brings to this place about twenty car-loads of lumber a day. There are already three lumber yards here doing a thriving business. 

The people in this section have had heretofore nothing but oak lumber, which has cost them from $35 to $40 a thousand. Now, since the completion of the railway, they can get the best pine for $25. The result is that the planters are putting up elegant residences and abandoning the old log cabin of two rooms and a passage way between, in which they have spent their lives. 

The professional wagoners, who haul the cotton from the plantations, sometimes fifty miles, instead of returning empty handed, buy a load of lumber and sell it on the way back, thus doubling their income of the ante-railway time. This place must become a considerable lumber market, as well as a centre of supplies for the rich counties that lie northwest of here, there being no other railway point within their reach.

Rockdale is situated in Milam county, thirty-five miles west of the Brazos, and in the heart of the cotton region, known as the Brazos uplands, which average a bale to a bale and a half to the acre. It is in the most thickly settled portion of Central Texas, the famous lands and wealthy population of Bell county lying on the north, and whose market and outlet Rockdale must be. 

From 9 o'clock until noon to-day I counted 160 odd bales of cotton brought by wagons into the town and sold for shipment over the International and Great Northern to Galveston. And the town not two weeks old! 

The cotton planting interest of the region, which must make this a shipping point, will alone be sufficient to maintain a considerable city, leaving out the cattle and lumber handling, which must be its main business. 

I am not writing up a mushroom town. I am telling what I see as I go along; and I think I see another Denison, though I don't own any corner lots. When Texas becomes a great and populous State, as she must within the next few years, I am satisfied that Rockdale will be one of the big lettered names on her map. Enoch. Austin Weekly Statesman, March 19, 1874

1914 :: Reporter is 40 Years Old

The Rockdale Reporter was forty years old on the 12th, and has always been a good paper and is still a good paper, and its last issue was one of its best. Cameron Herald (Cameron, Texas), March 19, 1914

1876 :: S H Hume and family

S.M. Hume and family left for Rockdale, Texas, to make a home. Schuyler Citizen & Rushville Times, March 17, 1876

1893 :: Death of Shadrac Taylor

A Venerable Darkey Dead. 

Rockdale, Tex., March 9. -- Shadrac Taylor, an old freedman born in Kentucky 82 years ago, died here yesterday after a protracted sickness. Shade was brought to Texas sixty-two years ago and had been living in Rockdale from the foundation of the town. He leaves a large family of children and grand children. He was buried from the African Methodist church, of which he was long a member. Dallas Morning News, March 11, 1893

1940 :: Death of Billy Colvin

Billy Colvin, 18 year old Freshman student at A&M College was killed at 6 p.m. Sunday on highway 79 a short distance from Gause when the car in which he was returning to college, crashed another machine. Maurice Ferrari of Rockdale, another Freshman at A&M who was returning to the college with Colvin, was critically injured and was rushed to a hospital in Hearne.


The students were riding in a car with Robert Grisom of Houston. The car was proceeding east on highway 79, and Representative Mason D. Harrell of Smithville and a companion, Mrs. Mary Helen Nash of Austin were traveling west. Shortly after the Grisom car crossed a bridge near the George Ditto home the crash occurred. According to information received by the Cameron Daily Herald, the Harrell car was being driven by Mrs. Nance. The representative had been spending the week end in Kosse with the family of Mrs. Nance. He was partially asleep but saw the Grisom car approaching and was unable to explain just how the crash occurred.


Colvin is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Will C. Colvin of Rockdale and Ferrari is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Max Ferrari of Rockdale. The driver of the car, Mr. Grisom, was only slightly injured. Mr. Colvin, father of the dead youth, is constable for Precinct 4.


Funeral services were to be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday from the funeral home of Phillips & Lucky in Rockdale. A detachment of Highway Patrolmen from Austin were in Cameron Monday and in conjunction with the office of Sheriff R.M. Kennedy, an investigation was being made. Cameron Herald, March 7, 1940

1890 :: Altercation in a Restaurant

Rockdale, Tex., March 5. -- On Saturday night a negro called Fred Taylor entered the restaurant of John C. McGuire and insisted on having a seat with the white folks. This resulted in a controversy which ended by the proprietor peppering the colored citizen with a No. 38. The ball entered the lower part of the abdomen and punctured the bladder. The next morning Dr. A.C. Walker performed a surgical operation. Dallas Morning News, March 6, 1890

1874 :: Milam Messenger

The Milam Messenger has been moved from Cameron to Rockdale. Galveston Daily News, March 5, 1874