1898 :: The Small-pox

It seems Milam county has before it a continued siege with this loathsome disease. . . . One case in Rockdale will cost the business interest more than a two months rigid quarantine. Will our city fathers not stop people from going to and returning from Cameron? Rockdale Messenger. (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 8, 1898 Page: 1 of 8

1898 :: A Very Sudden Death

Miss Katie Lockwood, age 20 years, of Harris county, who had come to Rockdale a few weeks ago to make her home with her uncle, Henry Lockwood, was taken with black jaundice Wednesday night the 25, and died Friday at 12 o'clock. Her father died on the 29th of last month. Brother Henry Lockwood has the sympathy of all the good people of Rockdale in his bereavement. Rockdale Messenger. (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 3, 1898 Page: 8 of 8

1898 :: Jasper N. Ferguson Enlists

Jasper N. Ferguson of the Rockdale Messenger, has enlisted in company B, 1st Texas volunteers, with Captain R.C. Roberdeu, who left Sunday night for Miami, Florida, where they will await transport to Porto Rico. Southern Mercury (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 7, 1898

1898 :: Death of Ludwick Menn

Rockdale, Milam Co., Tex., July 2. -- Mr. Ludwick Menn, a prosperous German farmer, about 64 years old, living three miles west of Rockdale, committed suicide last night by shooting himself in the forehead. He leaves a wife and a large family of children. No cause is assigned for the rash act except that his mind was unbalanced. Dallas Morning News, July 3, 1898

1898 :: Death of Elder W T H Beezley

Rockdale, Tex., Oct. 14. -- Elder W.T.H. Begely [sic, i.e., Beezley] died in this city on Wednesday, Oct. 13, in his 76th year. He had been a minister of the Baptist denomination for forty-two years, and for all that time had preached the gospel in Milam, Burleson and adjoining counties. He was one of the pioneer preachers of this county, having settled here in 1848, when the buffalo were plentiful here as jack rabbits are now. He was widely known throughout central Texas for his sterling qualities and his uncompromising religious faith.


There never was a time in his ministry that he would not have gone to the stake rather than compromise one tenet of his faith. He was an ex-confederate soldier, having served through that war in Greene's brigade. After the war ended he with a colony of others went to Brazil to escape the reconstruction regime of the federal government. He was not pleased with that country and returned to his old home in Milam county at the end of four years. He leaves a widow and one son and an adopted daughter. His son lives in Temple, Tex., and his adopted daughter, Mrs. J.M. Alexander, lives in Rockdale. Dallas Morning News, October 15, 1898

1898 :: Death of a Centenarian

Cameron, Milam Co., Tex., Aug. 7. -- Nelson, Hillery, colored, known as Dad Nelse, died last night on the Goodhugh Wilson farm, about three miles from Cameron. He was by far the oldest citizen of Milam county, being at least 100 years old. He was a good-sized mill boy, living in Mississippi, at the time of the great battle of New Orleans. About twenty years ago he borrowed a mule from Mr. Goodhugh Wilson, who was well off and liberal, and was told by Mr. Wilson to keep the mule until he got through with him, so Dad Nelse kept the mule until his death. Dallas Morning News, August 8, 1898