1890 :: Death of N W Hatcher

Rockdale, Tex., Aug. 29. -- N.S. Hatcher [sic], a highly respected citizen, died to-day of consumption. Deceased was a member of the Knights of honor. Dallas Morning News, August 30, 1890

1902 :: Death of Little Nellie Gray

Nellie Gray, the 12-year-old daughter of Dr. Gray, was fatally burned at Rogers by the explosion of a lamp. She lingered six hours. Shiner Gazette, August 27, 1902

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Hosts of people in Caldwell will deeply sympathize with Dr. E.H. Gray, of Rogers, in the tragic loss by fire of his little daughter, Nellie, on Tuesday of last week. The particulars are given as follows by the Rogers News:


On Tuesday afternoon at about 8 o'clock, little Nellie Gray, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. E.H. Gray, was fatally burned by the explosion of a lamp. Nellie and her mother were preparing to go to the country to visit the family of Mr. A.W. Howard. Being through with the curling irons, Mrs. Gray attempted to blow out the light, when the lamp exploded with a loud report.


Little Nellie seeing her mother's clothing on fire, came to the rescue but, in an instant, she herself was wrapped in flames and fled from the house out through the front yard into the street. Mrs. Gray caught her daughter as she fled, and tried to extinguish the flames, but could not restrain her. 

Mr. M.P. Wynne arrived on the scene as Nellie reached the street and came to the rescue. He threw the child down and tried with all his power to save her, but to no avail, while he himself sustained severe burns on the hand and arm. 

In a few minutes the fire had consumed all but a handful of the poor child's garments and she was carried back to the house blackened and burned all over except the upper part of her face, and her feet which were protected by her shoes. 

No more horrible tragedy could be conceived of. Mrs. Gray had in the mean time suffered serious injury, but owing to her woolen clothing and the prompt assistance of Miss Nettie Ratliff, she escaped death.


Strange to say, after the terrible torture, Little Nellie seemed to lose all sense of pain and passed quietly and peacefully away at about midnight.


The funeral services conducted by Elder Lincoln were held at the Christian church on Wednesday afternoon. On Sunday -- just three days previously -- Bro. Lincoln had baptised Little Nellie on a profession of faith in Christ. Now, he comes to conduct the last sad rites over the remains of her who but a few hours before had been such a sweet little maiden, the idol of her father's and mother's heart, loved and admired by all.


Several very pathetic incidents occurred in connection with this remarkable tragic death. Just a few moments before the explosion occurred, little Nellie expressed a desire to play and sing, "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus," but her mother told her they wouldn't have time, as she thought she heard Mr. Howard's folks coming to take them to the country.


When Nellie discovered her mother on fire, she rushed to her assistance, exclaiming, "O mamma, honey, you're burning up!"


A large number of people, including friends and relatives from Milano, Rockdale, Caldwell and other points, made up the procession that following the remains to their last resting place. Many floral tributes came from friends and relatives of other towns, and the grave was literally buried in the most beautiful flowers.


No sadder event ever occurred in the history of Rogers, and a gloom has hung like a pall over our little city. The hearts of our entire people are touched with sympathy for the broken-hearted parents and relatives. We wish it were in our power to speak words that would console and comfort these stricken friends. 

But, alas! No human words can take away such depths of sorrow, and, in our sense of weakness, we would commend the bereaved to God whom they serve, and who has in all ages been the refuge and comforter of his people. Caldwell News-Chronicle, August 22, 1902

1949 :: Death of Mrs. Emma York Hudson

Funeral services for Mrs. Emma York Hudson, 88, an early resident of Highland Park, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Sparkman-Brand Chapel, 2115 Ross. Dr. Marshall Steel will officiate. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. A native of Alabama, Mrs. Hudson was brought to Texas by her family when she was still in her teens. They settled in Rockdale, Milam County. She was married there and later lived in San Angelo. She moved to Dallas thirty-five years ago. Her husband, the late J. Sid Hudson, was manager for the George P. Ide Company, shirt manufacturers who were on Commerce Street for many years. Mrs. Hudson and her husband were among the first to move to Highland Park when the development was opened. Her home was at 3715 Gillon. Later, she moved to 322 East Tenth, where she died Friday. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Burt C. Blanton; a sister, Miss Jennie Lynne York; a granddaughter, Mrs. Jeanne Freeman, and a great-grandson, all of Dallas. Dallas Morning News, August 21, 1949

1901 :: Death of E.W. Graham

Cameron, Tex., Aug. 19 -- E.W. Graham died at his home near Davilla, Milam County, late yesterday, aged 82. He was born in Harvey District, South Carolina, on Aug. 27, 1819, and came to Texas in 1853. He worked on the old statehouse at Austin and remained in Austin about three years. He then returned to South Carolina, but came to Texas and located on Elm Creek north of Rogers. In 1861 he removed to the spot where he died and where he has continually resided. Dallas Morning News, August 21, 1901 

1883 :: Disappearance of Henry D. Kirk

J.A. Kirk, of Rockdale, Texas, desires information of his son, Henry D. Kirk, who mysteriously disappered from home about the 1st of May last. San Antonio Light, August 21, 1883

1897 :: Death of Peter J. Moe

Rockdale, Tex., Aug. 19. -- Peter J. Moe, a Norwegian, accidentally fell from a bridge on the International and Great Northern road last night and broke his neck. He was manager of the commissary at the Olsen mines and was popular with all. He was 45 years old and leaves a wife and one child. Dallas Morning News, August 20, 1897 

1901 :: Tragedy at Rockdale

Rockdale, Tex., Aug. 16. -- J.C. Watson, assistant postmaster here, was shot and killed here. The tragedy occurred in the postoffice. Watson received two wounds. The weapon used was a Colt's revolver. Lee Batte of Cameron surrendered to the officers here, had his examining trial before Justice Kennon and was admitted to bail in the sum of $5000, which was made in a few min(utes). Family trouble was the cause of the shooting. Batte and Watson were brothers-in-law. The Eagle, August 17, 1901

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Rockdale, Tex., Aug. 15. -- J.C. Watson, assistant postmaster here, was shot and killed at 10:25 this morning. The tragedy occurred in the postoffice. Watson received two wounds. The weapon used was a 45 Colt's revolver. Lee Batte of Cameron surrendered to the officers here, had his examining trial before Justice Kennon and was admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000, which was made in a few moments. Family trouble was the cause of the shooting. Batte and Watson were brothers-in-law. . . . Cameron, Tex., Aug. 15. -- R.L. Batte was for years City Marshal of this town and now owns a large ranch in Western Texas and is a prominent citizen. Batte and Watson were connected by marriage. Dallas Morning News, August 16, 1901

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About 10:25 a.m., Tuesday, 2-shots were heard in the direction of the post office and a few seconds later, R.L. Batte walked from the building with a smoking six-shooter in his hand and asked for an officer so as to surrender. J.C. Watson, deputy post master, the husband of Mr. Batte's sister-in-law, but the particulars have not yet been made public. Mr. Batte came in on the 9:45 S.A.&A.P. train from Cameron on business and in about 45 minutes, after his arrival, he went to the post office and called at the door and as Mr. Watson opened it, Batte opened fire without a word being spoken by either party. After firing, Batte walked out and went up to Hamilton & Raspberry's hardware store and surrendered to Mr. Hamilton. Watson's body was taken to Branch's undertaking establishment where the inquest is being held and the body will be prepared for burial. Rockdale Messenger, August 15, 1901

1908 :: Miss Lilly Riddle

Miss Lilly Riddle of Rock Dale, Texas, arrived [in Oklahoma] this week on a visit to her cousin Miss Ida Harris. Checotah Times, August 14, 1908

1874 :: Wounding of Mayor Burck

Little Misunderstanding. Rockdale, August 10, 1874. We had a little excitement in our city this evening. It appears the Marshal had arrested a stock man by the name of Olive, and some little misunderstanding having occurred between the Marshal and prisoner, so the Marshal, with all the dignity of his official capacity, struck the prisoner over the head with a loaded six-shooter, which went off, the ball striking the City Mayor, A.A. Burck in the neck, inflicting a slight flesh wound. With the exception of this, our city has been quite and very dry. Galveston Daily News, August 11, 1874

1903 :: Death of Rev. Fred L. Allen

Rockdale, Tex., Aug. 2. -- Rev. Fred L. Allen died at his home in Rockdale on yesterday afternoon in his 68th year. He had been in feeble health for some time, but the immediate cause of his death was from a carbuncle on his face, which almost wholly destroyed one side of his face. He was a member of the Texas conference of the M.E. Church for over thirty years, where he served as pastor and presiding elder. He had resided and labored in Rockdale for a number of years, where he was held in high regard. His remains were taken in charge by the members of Camp Sam Davis, of which he was a member, at his late residence, at 10 o'clock and escorted to the M.E. Church, where the funeral services were conducted according to the ritual of that church. His remains were then taken in charge by the Masonic fraternity and interred under the ceremonies of that lodge. Dallas Morning News, August 3, 1903 

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Frederick Lowery Allen was born of Christian parents in the state of Georgia, February 5, 1835, and died at his home in Rockdale, Tex., August 1, 1903. He came of a sturdy old stock, and is much indebted to his ancestors for the strong characteristics that made him a strong, manly man. His grandfather, William Allen, was in the Revolutionary War, and was badly wounded in the battle of Yorktown, and was left on the field for dead: but the God who watches over us even in battle and time of need brought him out of his peril, and partial recovery followed; but he never entirely recovered from his desperate wounds, and died in the prime of life. His parents were not converted until after they had resting on them the cares of a family, but from the time of their conversion they were devoutly pious.


In a brief sketch of his life written by himself, in speaking of his early life he said: "My first recollection of my parents as religious people was in a love feast at Shiloh Church In Fayette county, Georgia. I was then about four years old. The strange feature of that scene left its impress on me, as I could not understand how religion made them cry and rejoice at the same time. Thank God, I understand it now." It is not strange that with parents who prayed in the home and rejoiced in the love feast, and who made so much of their religion, their children felt its power, that he should have been led in early life to give his heart to God. At nine years of age he joined the Methodist Church, but even earlier than this he said he enjoyed religion. When twenty years of age he felt called to the ministry, but like many others fought against duty and tried hard to escape its behest. He left his home three times and started out into the great West hoping to leave duty behind, but just as often God's Spirit followed him and led him back.


In 1861 he entered the Confederate Army, and for four years he endured the hardships and privations of a soldier's life and came out of the war without a wound, and with the honors and confidence of his comrades, having been promoted to the captaincy of Company F, Third Georgia Cavalry.


Of his fight against his call to preach, through all these years of trial, exposure, and danger, he says: "No one knows, except the called to this work, how much intense anxiety and mental anguish I suffered." But at last grace conquered, and he made a full and complete surrender to the work in which he lived so long and wrought so well. He was licensed to preach November 11, 1865, and was at once recommended to the Georgia Conference for admission on trial. When admitted he transferred to the Texas Conference, but reached the seat of the Conference after it had adjourned, and was employed by Rev. I.G. John, presiding elder of the Austin District, as supply on the Winchester Circuit.
 
From that year, 1866, to the time of his superannuation, in 1901, he was one of the most faithful, active, and consecrated members of the Texas Conference. No charge was considered too unimportant to enlist his most earnest efforts; on the circuit, in the station, on the district, he was the same earnest, faithful, painstaking "minister of the word."


He served the following charges: 1866, supply on Winchester Circuit, and reappointed to the same charge for 1867-8; 1869-70, Webberville Circuit; 1871-3, Cedar Creek Circuit; 1874-6, Bastrop Station; 1877, Austin Circuit; 1878, Bastrop Station; 1879-80, La Grange; 1881-2, Huntsville Station; 1883-6, Calvert District; 1887, Bremond and Reagan; 1888, Davilla Circuit; 1889-90, Cameron District; 1891-4, Calvert District; 1895-6, Franklin Station; 1897-9, Rockdale Station: 1900-1, Willis Station.


At the Conference of that year after thirty-five years of loyal and uncomplaining service to the Church, he was forced by declining health to ask for a superannuated relation, and allow his younger and stronger brethren to push the battle. He retired gracefully and with a Christian spirit, and waited in good hope till the Master called him up higher.


Brother Allen married in 1868 to Miss Celinda Whipple, of whom he wrote in his private diary: "A better helpmeet no itinerant preacher ever had." She shared with him the lights and shades of the itinerancy for nearly thirty-five years, and how much she helped him we will never know till we see "face to face." Three children blessed this union, all of whom survive him, his oldest son, Beverly, being an honored member of the Conference.


Brother Allen's preaching was earnest and effective; he spoke with authority, and seemed never to doubt his call or the sacredness of the message that he was commissioned to preach. His ministry was not barren and fruitless, but strong, earnest, and successful. The years he was presiding elder were years of widespread revival influence. He led in many a meeting that was crowned with wonderful success, and the districts were wrapped in revival flames from one end to the other. At the Conference held at Huntsville in 1901 he had to retire from the active work, and returned home to wait for his transfer to the Great Conference above. 

Soon after getting home he sent to the Texas Christian Advocate a very touching little piece, headed "I'd Do It Again." In it he spoke of the years he had spent in the ministry; the toils and privations, the hard places and the easy ones, the lack of sympathy, the times of discouragement and misjudgment; what he had given up and what he had suffered for his Lord and Master, and closed by saying, "If I had my life to live over, I'd do it again."


Blessed heroic spirit, known only to those who serve their Lord and love their fellow-men. His work is done. He rests from his labors, and has gained the crown. May we also be ready. 

Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for the Year 1902 (Google eBook) Methodist Episcopal Church, Southern Methodist Publishing House, 1902