1918 :: The "flue" in our community

Sandy Creek - Oct. 27 - The "flue" is thought to be giving away in our community. There have been three burials in the Sandy Creek cemetery this week. One very uncommon thing happened in regard to one of Lewis Blackman's children. An order was given for a grave to be dug for the child. But before anything was done about digging the grave, word came not to dig it as the child had come to and is thought to be improving. . . . Mr. Will Williams brought his wife back from Rock Port and she was buried in the Sandy Creek cemetery. Lewis Blackman has had two daughters buried this week. We are sorry to hear of one of our Sandy Creek girls death in South Texas -- Mrs. Annie Cloud Mullins, Mrs. D.A. Cloud's daughter. We extend sympathy to the bereaved ones. HAWK. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, October 31, 1918

1936 :: Steamboat Washington Historical Marker

Sunday, November 8, at 2 p.m. This is the date and time for the celebration to be given for the unveiling of the historical Centennial marker known as Steamboat Landing Marker in Milam County. The event will be held at Lamkin Park, two miles southwest of Cameron at the highway bridge on Little river, according to Hon. T.S. Henderson of Cameron, who is in charge of arrangements.

Among those who will be present on this occasion, according to Henderson, is John Hobson of Buckholts. Mr. Hobson is the only survivor of those who witnessed the landing of the Steamboat Washington in 1851.

J.W. McCown Jr. of Houston, grandson of J.W. McCown, consignee of the cargo of merchandise brought by the steamboat, will also be present, as will Basil M. Hatfield of Ft. Worth, grandson of Basil M. Hatfield, captain of the steamboat Washington. . . . Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, October 29, 1936

1906 :: Awarded $500 Damages

In the district court at Cameron this week the jury in the case of G.B. Vandeventer vs. the I. & G. N. Ry. rendered a verdict giving Mr. Vandeventer $500 damages for injuring the stallion "Col. Kahla" when he was shipped to Rockdale. Rockdale Reporter, October 25, 1906

1850 :: The Census Taker

On this date in Milam County, Texas . . . the 21st day of October . . . in the year 1850 . . . T.J. Allen is acting as "the census taker" and is busy visiting residents of Milam County . . . this particular Mr. Allen just happens to be the third husband of Matilda Connell Allen Allen nee Roberts . . . who is an older sister of our Mahala . . . who is a 3rd great grandma to the Keeper of this Rockdale history blog . . . regarding the job of "the census taker" it has been written that . . . 

It was the first day of census,

and all through the land;

The pollster was ready,

a black book in hand.

He mounted his horse

for a long dusty ride;

His book and some quills

were tucked close by his side.

A long winding ride

down a road barely there;

Toward the smell of fresh bread

wafting up through the air.

As an enumerator for Milam County, one of the households Mr. Allen documented on this date contained the following family members . . .

Charlotte Dougherty 47

Lucinda Dougherty 3 [sic]

Elijah Goodnight 17 [sic]

Elizabeth Goodnight 16

Charles Goodnight 14

Cyntha Goodnight 12

The woman was tired,

with lines on her face;

And wisps of brown hair

she tucked back into place.

She gave him some water

as they sat at the table;

And she answered his questions

the best she was able.

He asked of her children

Yes, she had quite a few;

The oldest just turned nineteen,

the youngest is still two.

He noted the sex,

the colour, the age.

The marks from the quill

soon filled up the page.

They came from Illinois,

of that she was clear;

But she wasn't quite sure

just how long they'd been here.

They spoke of employment,

of schooling and such;

They could read some and write some,

though really not much.

When the questions were answered,

his job there was done;

So he mounted his horse

and he rode back toward home.

We can only imagine

his voice loud and clear -

"May God Bless you all

for another ten years."

As it turned out, by the time the next census is taken (1860), T.J. Allen has died of yellow fever while working as editor for The Galveston Journal . . . most of the members of this branch of the Goodnight and Daugherty family have moved on to other parts of Texas . . . and the above mentioned "Charlie Goodnight" has been a member of the Texas Rangers (1857) . . . 

Before another census comes around in 1870, Charlie has been involved in a near state-wide round-up of feral Texas longhorn cattle that have been roaming free during the years of the war between the states . . . he has invented the "chuck wagon" . . . 

and he has used that early version of a "food truck" when he and Oliver Loving drove their first herd of cattle northward out of Texas along what would become known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail (1866) . . . 

Now picture a time warp -

it's now you and me;

As we search for the people

on our family tree.

We squint at the census

and scroll down so slow;

As we search for that entry

from long, long ago.

Could they only imagine

on that long ago day;

That the entries they made

would effect us this way?

If they knew, would they wonder

at the yearning we feel;

And the searching that makes them

so increasingly real.

We can hear if we listen

the words they impart;

Through their blood in our veins

and their voices in our heart.

Slightly adapted

from

original poem

by

Darlene Stevens

P.S. . . . as an additional tidbit . . . on this date in the year 1899 . . . Noah Smithwick dies in California . . . but back in 1850 he was also living in Milam County, Texas . . . and on the 11th day of September in that year, he was also enumerated by T.J. Allen . . . this Noah Smithwick is the author of Recollections of Old Texas Days . . .

1893 :: Matches in a Gin

Rockdale, Tex., Oct. 17. -- In attempting to gin seed cotton suspected of having matches in it a fire was started in Rexford Wells' gin house here. As every preparation had been made for an emergency the fire was promptly extinguished by the gin house hands without material loss. This demonstrates the oft mooted question that matches in cotton going through a gin will start a fire. Galveston Daily News, October 18, 1893

1901 :: Loewenstein's

Loewenstein's

Rockdale, Texas

A visit to our store will convince you that your business is in good hands if you trade with us.

The Messenger, Rockdale, Texas

Thursday, October 10, 1901

Click on image to enlarge.

1878 :: Death of Abner Kolb

Rockdale Brevities. . . . Four cotton gins have been burned here and near here within the past two weeks, only one of which was partially insured. A large amount of cotton was consumed and a son of Capt. P.M. Kolb was so badly burned that he died in a few hours. Weekly Democratic Statesman, October 3, 1878

1948 :: Henry Family Reunion

Rockdale Reporter, October 7, 1948 -- A family reunion of the Henry's was enjoyed by many in the home of Mrs. J.D. Hamilton Sunday. Dinner, which was furnished by all, was served buffet style.




Those attending from Rockdale were: Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Henry, Roberta and Oscar, Mrs. Will Henry, Mr. and Mrs. G.R. Henry and Weldon Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Backhaus, Ruth and Doris Ann, Mr. and Mrs. S.C. Christian, Mr. and Mrs. Vesper Christian and Donna, Mr. and Mrs. Milford Henry and Dale, Mrs. Howard Avrett and Darwin, Mr. and Mrs. Graham Kyle, Graham Jr. and Linda Sue, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Towery, Bohn, Dana and Sandra, Robert Phillips, Mrs. J.D. Hamilton and Laura.


Out of town guests were: Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Henry, Waco; Mrs. Velma Henry Smith, Waco; Mrs. Ida Halyard, Crockett; Georgia Faye Henry, Freeport; R.B. (Sonny) Rosenkrans, Freeport; Delores Sharp, Palestine; Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Reynolds, Palestine; Mrs. T.A. Newton, Palestine; Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Newton Jr. and Shirley, Palestine; Mrs. W.C. Newton and Luckey, Palestine; Mr. and Mrs Alton Peebles, Mary Jane and Martha Lou, Lexington; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Weldon Kyle, Nanette and Douglas, Houston; Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Fergeson, Houston; Delbert Kyle, Huntsville; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ceasar, Virginia Hope and Harry Douglas, Thorndale.

1914 :: Mose, the Barber

Has run a white shop for twenty-five years in Rockdale, and would appreciate very much a part of the trade. I shall at all times try to please each and everyone, having spent thirty-six years exclusively for the white trade. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, October 01, 1914

1914 :: War Horses

G.C. Murray informs The Reporter that he is now negotiating with contractors for a commission to buy up a large number of horses for the government army horse service. He hopes to have the contract closed within the next week and be able to make cash offers for horses. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, October 01, 1914