1936 :: Burial of Ed Henke

ROCKDALE, Tex., Sept. 8. -- Funeral services for Ed. P. Henke, 54, Rockdale merchant, who was found dead at his place of business here Sunday, were held at the home Monday afternoon. Interment was in Oak Lawn cemetery. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Rosa Brockenbush Henke; an aged father in Germany; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Bollen of New Braunfels, Mrs. Charles Richter of Rockdale, two brothers, Henry and Will Henke of Thorndale. San Antonio Express, September 09, 1936

1923 :: KKK in Rockdale

ROCKDALE, Texas, Sept. 3. -- There were 167 masked men in the Ku Klux Klan held here Saturday. The parade drew a large crowd and traffic officers were necessary to keep the parade line open. The best of order prevailed. There was a barbecue at Tourist Park. . . . A speaker from Austin who did not unmask addressed the crowd at the city fountain. The 167 marching klansmen were reported as being from Taylor, Bartlett, Cameron, Granger, Gause, Hearne, Thorndale, Austin, and towns between here and Austin. The Eagle, September 3, 1923

1939 :: Burial of Reid Laurence

The body of Reid Laurence, superintendent of Utopia public schools, was brought to Rockdale for burial. The Rev. O.C. Acrey of the Cameron Presbyterian Curch was in charge of the service. Burial was made in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery with the Masons in charge. Those surviving are his wife, Mrs. Brownie Stribling Laurence; three daughters, Eugenia, Brownie Ann and Sylvis; his mother, Mrs. Agnes Laurence, and a sister, Miss Eloise Laurence of Thorndale, and a brother, Talbot Laurence of New Mexico. Dallas Morning News, September 2, 1939

1881 :: New School House

Dallas Morning News. The Hebrews of Rockdale are going to build a $1500 school house. Weekly Democratic Statesman, Austin, Texas, September 1, 1881