1916 :: Public Dinner

The ladies of the Cemetery Association will serve dinner on Gentry Bros. circus Day, Tuesday, Nov. 14, in the Simms building. A good dinner for 25c. Your patronage solicited. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 2, 1916 Page: 8 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 

1916 :: Mr. Kennerly in the News

. . . Mr. Kennerly is almost 80 years of age, yet despite that he is still suffering from a bullet wound received in the Civil War, he is quite active. Just 52 years ago this month he was shot through and through, at Morgan's Ferry, Louisiana. The bullet struck him squarely in the center of the breast and passed entirely thru his body. He lay on the battlefield from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. without attention, and has never recovered fully from the wound . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 28, 1916 Page: 1 of 10 

1916 :: Just following the flag

"Just following the flag," was suggested at the sight of one 87-year-old ex-slave, Alfred Booker, who in hickory shirt and overalls voluntarilly brought up the rear carrying an American flag. He sawed the postoak block that supported the first raw-hide house in Rockdale, and drilled by hand out of Granite Mountain the 24-foot columns that support the state capitol. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 6, 1916 

1916 :: Death of Mrs. M.J. Orr

Mrs. M.J. Orr died at the residence of her son-in-law, H.D. Brodnax, on Brushy Creek, last Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock, after an illness of several weeks. Decedent was eighty years old, and was one of the pioneers of this section, and a much-loved Mother-in-Israel who passing will be sincerely mourned by a wide circle of true friends. The funeral was held at the Odd Fellows cemetery in Rockdale at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Rev. H.B. Smith, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating. The Reporter joins in expressions of sympathy to those bereaved. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, Thursday, May 18, 1916

1916 :: Death of Pauline Hansen

Oakdale Community Shocked by Sudden Death of Popular Girl 

Oakdale, Tex., Jan. 25. -- Our community was shocked and grieved last Sunday evening by the unexpected death of Miss Pauline Hansen. She was visiting her brother, John Hansen, of this place, when she was taken ill with la grippe, and it was not thought that she was in a dangerous condition until Saturday. She grew worse rapidly, until Sunday evening, at 6 p.m. she breathed her last, surrounded by her loving mother, sisters and friends. . . . Uncle Silas. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, January 27, 1916 

1916 :: Old Reliable Photographer

John Scott, the "old reliable photographer," he of early days in Regal Rockdale, but who left here three years ago, was mixing with his friends about town this week. He has been up in Oklahoma, and more recently at Palestine. He is now visiting his daughter, Mrs. A.V. Lewis, south of town. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, April 20, 1916

1916 :: S.G. Hodge Died Suddenly

Rockdale Reporter - S.G. Hodge, prominent Rockdale business man, died suddenly at 4 p.m. Thursday at Randle Lake, ten miles north of town, where he had gone for a few hours fishing, and in the best spirits and seeming good health.

Mr. Hodge was accompanied by Dr. T.D. Rountree and Dr. R.W. Wallis. They left won about 11 a.m. in Mr. Hodge's car, and had enjoyed several hours fishing with good results, and had cooked the fish and had sat down to eat. Mr. Hodge was in the best of spirits at the time, and had assisted in the cooking of the fish. He had just taken a bite or two, when he suddenly groaned and fell over on his back. Both the doctors were right at his side, and say that his death was as near instantaneous as it could possibly be, and that he gave not the slightest sign of recognition or understanding after he was stricken. They administered powerful restoratives hypodermically and ued artificial respiration, exhausting every means at their disposal, to no affect.

The remains were brought to town and placed in the care of Undertaker E.B. Phillips. After embalment they were removed to the residence of Mrs. J.R. Rowland, where the deceased had for so many years made his home, and in which family he was a big brother and a kind father, and than whom in all this wide world there are none who will mourn his loss so deeply. Cameron Herald, March 2, 1916

1916 :: Death of Arthur Jenness

Rockdale, Texas, April 4. -- Arthur Jenness, a prominent farmer and former business man of this city, was instantly killed near Kolbs' gin nine miles northwest of town this afternoon by a falling tree. Mr. Jenness was supervising some road work, which included the removal of a lot of extra large pecan trees, one of which fell sooner than expected. Mr. Jenness met his death in an effort to save his saddle horse, which had strayed under the tree. His neck was broken and skull crushed. Dallas Morning News, April 5, 1916