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

1924 :: Death of A. Wolf

Mortuary. A. Wolf. 

Rockdale lost another of her oldest citizens this week when A. Wolf, at the age of 77 years, succumbed to an illness of several weeks superinduced by old age. He died at his home Tuesday evening at 5:30 o'clock. The funeral will be conducted Friday at 4:00 p.m., Rev. Simon Spinneweber of the Catholic church officiating. Interment will be in the Old City Cemetery. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 28, 1924

1924 :: Death of Dr. H.C. Black

Monday's State papers carried the news of the death of Dr. H.C. Black, aged 69, at Waco. Decedent was once a citizen of Rockdale, but probably only a few of our older citizens will remember him as it has been about 35 years since he left here. He was found dead in his garage, having suffered a stroke of apoplexy as he was putting his car away after returning from a professional call. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. [51], No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 21, 1924

1924 :: Death of Miss Joe Walker

Miss Joe Walker, aged 73, died at the home of H.C. Newsome in this city Monday. The funeral was conducted Tuesday at the Salty cemetery, Rev. Jesse Garrett of the First Baptist church officiating. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. [51], No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 21, 1924

1924 :: Hunters Marooned in South Texas

Dallas Morning News. Rockdale, Texas, Dec. 25. -- Marooned for five days thirty miles from the railroad on a big ranch in Zapata County, south of Aguilares, near the border, and forced to remain in camp nearly a week before they could venture out, the party of Rockdale hunters who left here some three weeks since, returned Tuesday, thereby relieving the fears of their families and friends, who had received no word from them since leaving home. They were just getting ready to break camp when the "blue norther" hit that section last week. The party consisted of Dr. E.A. Swafford, Dr. T.D. Rountree and Lon Hudson. Dallas Morning News, December 26, 1924 

1924 :: The Diamond Earscrew

Special to The News. Rockdale, Milam Co., Texas, Feb. 6. -- Lost and found for the third time is the history of a diamond earscrew which has just been returned to Mrs. C.F. Drake by little Billye Gaither, who found the missing article on the radiator of the car which conveyed Mrs. Drake to a U.D.C. meeting some three weeks ago, since which time the car has traveled many miles over city and country roads. Although a believer in advertising, Mrs. Drake refused to advertise for the glittering bauble, contending that it would "find itself," which has been the case on two former occasions, being found on the streets of Rockdale last spring and again during the holidays it was found in the family car in Dallas, where it was picked up by her little grandson, with the baby exclamation, "Pretty bead." Dallas Morning News, February 7, 1924

1924 :: Store Robbed in Rockdale

Rockdale, Milam Co., Texas, Sept. 1. -- The H. & T. Confectionery Store on Main street, owned and operated by Hairston & Turner, was burglarized Saturday night shortly after midnight and robbed of $146, mostly in small change, the receipts of the day. The proprietors had secreted the money in a cabinet, the hour being too late for banking. The robbers left $5.75 in the sack from which they secured the money, also some checks. Dallas Morning News, September 2, 1924

1924 :: Rev. W.E. Copeland Dies in Rockdale

Dallas Morning News. May 25, 1924. Page Four. Rev. W.E. Copeland Dies in Rockdale. 

Special to The News. Rockdale, Texas, May 24. -- The Rev. W.E. Copeland, 85 years old, died at 8 o'clock Friday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C.K. Stribling of this city. Dr. Copeland was a veteran of the war between the States, losing a leg in the battle of Gaines Mill, Virginia. He served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church here for more than forty years. He was a member of Hood's Texas Brigade and life chaplain of the organization. He was a native of Scotland and was educated at Edinburgh University, coming to America when a very young man. Dr. Copeland is survived by three sons, Robert, John and James Copeland, and one daughter, Mrs. Stribling. Funeral services will be held at the Presbyterian Church and burial will take place Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

1924 :: Death of George Doss

Dallas Morning News. March 30, 1924. Rockdale Man Had Coffin Ready When Death Came. 

Special to The News. ROCKDALE, Texas. March 29. George Doss, 81 years old, died at his home in the Gay Hill community after an illness of several days. Mr. Doss has been ill for some time, and for quite a while had had his coffin at home ready. He was at one time the most prominent and progressive farmer in Milam County, taking his prize-winning exhibits to all the fairs. He was a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. Doss is survived by a large family, having been the father of ten sons and daughters, most of whom are living -- Ed Doss and Charles Doss, two sons, living near him all their lives. Funeral was held at Hamilton Chapel Cemetery Friday afternoon, the Rev. W.E. Copeland of Rockdale conducting the services.

1924 :: Mrs. Ellen Ames Buried at Rockdale

Dallas Morning News. January 14, 1924. Mrs. Ellen Ames Buried at Rockdale. Special to The News. Rockdale, Milam Co., Texas, Jan. 13. -- The funeral of Mrs. Ellen Ghent Ames, 75 years old, wife of R.H. Ames, formerly superintendent of the water works system in Rockdale, was held here Saturday afternoon. The body was brought from Little Rock, where death occurred some days ago, and was largely attended by citizens of this and near-by towns. The funeral services were conducted under the auspices of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, of which Mrs. Ames was for many years a member and president of the local chapter, the Terry Texas Rangers. The body was accompanied by Mrs. Ames' husband, her two sisters, Mrs. Mary Davis and Mrs. Victorine Arnold. Mrs. Ames' son was in Tampico, Mexico, and unable to be present.