1918 :: Death of B.V. Arnold

B.V. Arnold died at his home just north of the city limits Sunday night at 10:45 o'clock, after an illness which confined him to his bed only for a few days, but succeeding several years of what might be termed the gamest fight ever made by a Johnny Reb for his life. . . . He enlisted in the Confederate cause in December, 1861, in the Army of Northern Virginia, Longstreet's Corps, Hood's Texas Brigade, 18th Georgia Regiment, Company F, as a private soldier. . . . Mr. Arnold was for many years a regular attendant upon the annual reunions of the Hood's Brigade, and two years ago last June, he had the honor and satisfaction of serving that command as its president at its annual reunion held in Rockdale, having been elected president at the previous year's meeting at Floresville. . . . Thus passes one of Rockdale's most interesting characters. B.V. Arnold was a fine type of the Southern gentleman. With a heart naturally as gentle as that of a child, yet with convictions which when aroused brought forth all the old ante-bellum fighting blood, he was a type of the Old South which is rapidly passing to the Great Beyond. . . . Peace to his ashes. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. [45], No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 17, 1918 Page: 4 of 8 

1913 :: Confederate Pensions

County Judge John Watson was over from Cameron Tuesday for the purpose of fixing up the papers for a number of old Confederate soldiers who were applying for pensions under the new law. Final proofs were taken for the following:

• Isaac Long, Milano, Route 3.
• Dr. E.W. Allen, Rockdale.
• Lee Wallace, Minerva.
• N.C. Jones, Rockdale, route 2.
• Mrs. E. Denham, Rockdale, route 2.
• Mrs. Mary Joyner, Rockdale.
• Mrs. E.J. Ashby, Rockdale.
• Benj. F. Arthur, Rockdale, route 6.
• G.H. Davenport, Rockdale, route 3.

Applications and part proofs were taken also for B.V. Arnold and A.L. Pleasant.

There is a deal of seemingly unnecessary red tape to be unwound before these old heroes can avail themselves of the pittance awarded, but Judge Watson is using all due dilligence in the matter, and is entitled to the thanks of the veterans for the interest manifested. According to the red tape each of the applicants is supposed to make a trip to Cameron, taking along their proofs and witnesses, and Mr. Watson's trip over here was quite an accomodation and appreciated by all concerned.

Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, August 28, 1913

1896 :: Confederate Veterans Reunion at Rockdale

Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
24 July 1896

Confederate Veterans. 
Reunion at Rockdale. 
Selecting a Burying Ground. 

Rockdale, Milam Co., Tex., July 22.-- Second day's programme Camp Ben McCulloch No. 29, United Confederate Veterans opening this morning. 

The camp was called to order at the stand at 10:30 a.m. Music by the choir. Colonel W.B. Woody, who attended the reunion at Richmand as a delegate from this camp, was called upon for his report. His report was received and adopted. The camp then went into the annual election of officers, which resulted as follows:

Commanding officer, Colonel N.H. Tracy; adjutant major, J.B. Moore; treasurer, Captain J.B. Wolf. Rev. James Peeler had heretofore been elected permanent chaplain, which was ratified.

Adjourned for dinner.

At 2 p.m. the camp assembled again for business. It was proposed that the camp buy two acres of ground on the opposite side of the river, adjoining the plot on which the camp is situated, which belongs to the city of Rockdale, and build a pavilion and make it a permanent meeting place for the camp. In furtherance of this plan the camp elected Captain J.W. Perry, Messrs. D.S. Harriss, J.H. Sparkman and W.M. Gill as trustees to consummate the purchase and receive the deed to the property.

Major J.B. Moore and Captain J.B. Wolf were appointed to receive the deed from the cemetery association at Cameron to a plot of ground donated to the camp by the ladies of Cameron for a burying ground for indigent ex-confederate soldiers.

Captain J.J. Irwin, R.C. Turnham, D.S. Harriss, H.E. Joiner, Captain L.L. Lee, M.M. Caldwell, Captain G.W. Adams and B.V. Arnold were appointed as a finance committee to solicit funds to be used for the different interests of the camp, especially for the burial of indigent ex-confederate soldiers, it being one of the principles of this camp that an ex-confederate shall never be buried as a pauper.

The business interest of the camp was then adjourned, to meet on the same grounds on July 21, 1897.

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.