1930 :: Burial of Mrs. John Redding

The remains of Mrs. John (Kidd) Redding, who died one year ago in Hollywood, California, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ida Penn, were brought to Rockdale from California Wednesday afternoon on the Sunshine Special, under escort of a grand-daughter, and placed in a granite mausoleum in the Old City Cemetery. . . . Mrs. Redding resided here with her interesting family for many years. Her husband, John Redding . . . died here suddenly many years ago, so bringing the body here was only a final homecoming to the family. . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 58, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 30, 1930 Page: 4 of 8

1931 :: No. 911 is no more

Sipe Springs, Oct. 26. -- Today witnessed the discontinuance of telephone line No. 911, about the oldest line around Rockdale. It was put up about twenty-five years ago and has served us well. We are sorry it is no more. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 29, 1931 Page: 4 of 8 

1932 :: Death of Early Day Trail Driver, Dan Cass

Dan Cass, age 85, a pioneer citizen of this county, and one of the early-day trail drivers between Texas and Kansas, died last Sunday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. S.E. Scott, in the Sipe Springs community, . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 27, 1932 Page: 1 of 6

1934 :: Theodore Crohn, Old Time Rockdalian, is Dead at Long Island

. . . Theodore Crohn is remembered by local old timers as an outstanding citizen and merchant here when Rockdale was in its infancy. He was born in Germany and located in Rockdale in the late 70's or early 80's, being the junior member of the mercantile firm of Baum & Crohn. . . . lived in Rockdale at the old Mundine Hotel, which was burned about 1888, and in which fire Crohn's younger brother, Isaac Crohn, lost his life, together with ten other persons. . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 62, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 25, 1934 Page: 5 of 10

Former Residents of Nashville

The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 23, 1924 Page: 3 of 10

. . . the following description of the old town of Nashville [is] from a letter from Mr. Frank Brown, who lived in Nashville as a boy and who after sixty-three years of absence, retained a vivid picture of the place as it existed in its palmiest days: . . .

It is impossible after a lapse of 63 years to give the names of all the families that lived in and near Nashville. In 1836, and up to the winter of 1839 and 1840 when I left there, I knew nearly every one. The village was small, not over 15 or 20 families in town and immediate vicinity. . . . I call to mind only the following residents:

• Neill McLennan
• John McLennan and others of that name.
• Calvin Bowles
• Jacob M. Harrel
• Jasper Crouch
• ? Bell
• W.D. Thomson
• John Duff Brown
• Robert Davidson
• James Shaw
• Gid Bowen
• Jack Hopson
• Lige Bailey, with others lived just below the river.
• Capt. James Howlett (first surveyor of the County of Milam)
• Capt. Goldsby Childers
• George and Herman Chapmen

Among those at Nashville more or less, and at different times in the middle and late 30's were:

• Timas C. Thomson
• Sterling C.R. Robertson
• E.S.C. Robertson (then a youth)
• Alexander Thomson
• James G. Swisher
• O.T. Tyler 
• Laughlen McLennan
• George B. Erath
• Capt. Eastland
• Ehan Stroud Fleruy
• Captain John Bird
• James Robinett
• W.S. Wilson
• Maus Griffin
• W.B. King
• Ben Bryant
• Joseph Rowland
• ? Campbell
• R.M. Coleman
• Thos. H. Barron
• Daniel Cullins
• David Clark
• James Coryell
• Stephen Fazier
• Moses Cummins
• Frank W. Johnson
• Mrs. Matilda F. Connell [widow of John Connell; daughter of Elisha Roberts]
• James Graves
• William Moore
• Lewis Washington
• Isaac Parker, and his brothers
• Daniel Moses
• Massilon Farley
• N.C. Raymond [attorney]
• F.T. Duffau
• John Cockrell
• Henry Kattenhom
• Daniel McKay
• Gus Sullivan
• E. Lawrence Stickney
• W.H. King
• John R. Craddock
• C.M. Hubby
• John Pool
• William and Thomas Robers
• John Taylor (a lawyer)
• George Green
• Lewis Moore
• Jacob Gross
• ? Icleberger
• ? Chalmers and his son, Albert

1920 :: Death of Mrs. Julia Robinson

The body of Mrs. Julia Robinson, who passed away at a sanitarium in Taylor at 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon, arrived in Rockdale on the 2:46 I. & G. N. train Sunday, and was borne to the Old City Cemetery where interment was made by the side of her husband in the family plot. . . . At the time of her death she was 76 years, 11 months and 1 day old. She was a native Mississippian, and in 1864 was married to Richmond Robinson. . . . They moved to Rockdale 46 years ago and established a home, and assisted in the upbuilding of the town. . . . 

Almost coincident with her passing, the old homestead erected by the late Richmond Robinson, known of late as the Cottage Hotel, situated in the heart of the city, was sold and demolished, perhaps to make way for a more pretentious business house on the sacred site, in keeping with the modern buildings on the newest of blocks that marks the city's growth within the past quarter century. It was here they spent the greater part of their lives, surrounded by their children, . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 21, 1920

1921 :: Soldier Boy's Funeral to be Held Tomorrow

The funeral of Private Hicks R. Carlile will be held tomorrow. The remains are due to arrive on the 2:40 p.m. I. & G. N. train from San Antonio. Mayor H.C. Meyer was requested by the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday night to take charge of the details of the funeral, which assures that the young hero will be shown due respect by our citizenship. The funeral will be under the auspices of the American Legion, and the body will be buried with military honors. Interment will be held at the Hamilton Chapel burying ground. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 20, 1921 Page: 1 of 8

1932 :: New Water Tower for Dr. Riddle

Jack Kyle, contractor, has found a new use for the frame bars of old Model T Ford, and has just completed the construction of a water tower that might be described as "three Fords high." . . . The tower was built for Dr. T.E. Riddle, who is this week installing a windmill, water tower, septic tank and modern bathroom equipment with hot and cold running water, in his home one mile south of town. . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 20, 1932 Page: 1 of 6

1917 :: Death of Ella Demore

  Last Sunday night at eight o'clock the sad news was spread over this community that the Death Angel had visited the bedside of Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Demore; taking away our dear beloved one, little Ella Demore, age seven years. Little Ella was taken sick about five weeks ago with whopping cough and hemorrhage of the bowels. The funeral was held in the Harmony cemetery Monday at one o'clock. We wish to extend our heart felt sympathy to the bereaved ones. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 18, 1917 Page: 7 of 8   

1916 :: Mrs. Ferguson to State Asylum

Sheriff Allen Hooks was here yesterday morning on his way to Austin with Mrs. Ferguson from the southern portion of the county. The unfortunate lady had been declared of unsound mind and Mr. Hooks was taking her to the state asylum at Austin. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 12, 1916 Page: 7 of 8 

1904 :: Death of Dr. Sprott

Dr. A.C. Sprott, an old and respected citizen of Rockdale, died very suddenly at his home last Sunday about noon. . . . Dr. Sprott came to Rockdale in the early days of the town's history, and had been a resident continuously ever since. The remains were buried Monday morning at 10 o'clock at the old cemetery, his former comrades, the Confederate Veterans, performing the last sad rites. . . . Dr. A.C. Sprott was born in Alabama in 1818 [sic]. He moved to Texas when quite young and settled at Cold Springs, in East Texas. He came to Rockdale in 1876, 27 years ago. . . . He was a Confederate soldier during the war between the states, and joined Sam Davis Camp, Confederate Veterans, when the camp was first organized in 1890. . . . A.C. Sprott, who was of company K, 14th Texas, Randle's brigade of Walker's division of the Confederate army, in which he volunteered in February, 1862, . . . It was on October the 2nd, at noon when the summons came to him to get ready for that great reunion beyond, . . . The Rockdale Messenger. (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 37, Ed. 1 Friday, October 7, 1904 Page: 8 of 8

1932 :: The Passing of J.M. Luckey

With the passing of J.M. Luckey . . . another name has been added to the list of long-time residents of this section who have left the ranks for a more fulsome life and entered into "the joy of their Lord." . . . In 1871, at the age of 20 years, he came to Texas, making the trip from New Orleans to Houston by boat, and from Houston to Brenham by train, where he took passage in an ox-wagon for this section of the state. There was no Rockdale on the map or railroad then in Milam county. . . . The famous Sandow lignite property is now on his old homestead. . . . Mr. Luckey was buried in the family burial plot in Pleasant Hill cemetery, near the community where he had lived so long. . . . Here he rests in peace, after living out his life of more than four score years in helpfulness to his fellowman. . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 6, 1932 Page: 2 of 4

1922 :: Old Green Residence

N.M. Bullock has bought the old Green residence from the School Board, and is this week moving it from the campus to lots on Bell street in Highland Park, where he will remodel it into a nice 5-room rent cottage. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 50, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 5, 1922 Page: 2 of 8

1913 :: Tidbits from Page Seven

Fresh lot of local-view post cards at Sherar's Cream Parlor. Mail 'em out and be a booster. 



For Sale. Good second hand windmill in fine shape. A bargain. E.M. Arledge.


Lilac. Sept. 29. -- We are sorry to state that the death angel visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stevens last Saturday morning and carried away their baby. The remains were laid to rest in the Lilac cemetery Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. Services were held by Brother G.W. Whatley. We extend sympathy to the bereaved parents. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, October 2, 1913