1960 :: Grave of Lawson Woods

. . . Some slaves are buried near their masters. Most of these graves are unmarked but one simple monument erected by a white friend marks the grave of Lawson Woods, a former slave of the Wilson - Sampson family. The Cameron Herald (Cameron, Tex.), Vol. 101, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 24, 1960

1904 :: Death of Dr. H.V. Lowenstein

On last Wednesday night Dr. H.V. Lowenstein, one of our prominent citizens, died of consumption and was buried in the hebrew cemetery at Rockdale. The doctor has been a citizen of Cameron for several years; was married to Miss Sarah Cohen, daughter of Mr. M. Cohen, one of our merchants. He was raised and educated in St. Joe, Mo., where all of his family still live with the exception of one brother, Mr. James Lowenstein, of Fort Worth. Dr. Lowenstein was an occulist well known throughout the State and his many friends will regret to hear of his death. The Cameron Herald, September 8, 1904

1917 :: Death of Frank Clement

On Monday morning between the hours of 1:30 and 6 o'clock the Angel of death hovered close to earth and carried away the spirit of one of the best men that the Great Ruler has seen fit to let live among us, Captain Frank Clements. At 1:30 Monday morning a coughing spell came over the deceased and his son came to his bedside to administer that loving care with which he and his brothers and sister had been giving him through his last days, after the spell was over his son saw him peacefully asleep again never to awake any more.

Frank Clements was born in McNairy County, Tenn., on October 3rd, 1831. At the age of 24 he was married to Miss Martha Bryant. In 1870 he with his family moved to Milam county and has resided here ever since.

Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clements one of whom died in infancy and five after they were grown. Those who survive are Mrs. J.H. Bonds of Rockdale, F.J. of Austin who is connected with the State Comptroller's department; Sam, cashier of the Thorndale State Bank; Jack B., a rural mail carrier out of Thorndale and Jones who is connected with the grocery department of the Thorndale Dry Goods and Grocery Co.

The funeral services were conducted at Salty church which the deceased had built many years ago, by Rev. C.E. Garrett of the Thorndale M.E. church and interment took place immediately following in the Salty cemetery. Masonic honors were bestowed upon Captain Clements at the cemetery. Thorndale Champion. Cameron Herald, May 3, 1917

1936 :: Mrs. J.T. Harrigan Dies in Chicago

News has been received in Cameron of the death of Mrs. J.T. Harrigan of Chicago, by Mrs. Ertelle Mitchell, a cousin. Mrs. Harrigan was the former Miss Vivian Bowen and lived in Rockdale. She was a niece of the late J.T. Westmoreland, well known pioneer Cameron citizen who died in 1935. Friends here will be grieved to learn of the death of Mrs. Harrigan. Cameron Herald, April 16, 1936

1963 :: Death of Fin Yardley

Funeral services for Finley A. Yardley, former Milam County Resident, were held in Tuson, Ariz. in March. He died March 14. He was reared in the Ben Arnold Community where he attended school and later attended Southwestern University in Georgetown. He once played baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1917 - 1921. He was married to the former Miss Johnnie Patterson of Sharp and Washington D.C. Surviving are his wife; a daughter, Mrs. George King of Tuson, Ariz., and a son John Yardley of Cape Canaveral. John Yardley is the designer of the Mercury Capsule. The Cameron Herald, (Cameron, Tex.), Vol. 104, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 11, 1963

1936 :: Rockdale Goes Wet

Milam County voters Saturday broke the 19 year drouth with a deluge of ballots for repeal of the law enacted in 1917 against the sale of liquor. . . . Cameron Herald, April 2, 1936

With a total vote polled of 3,733 -- only about half the county's voting strength -- Milam county went definitely into the "wet" column last Saturday when by a majority of 943 votes Milam county voters declared for legalizing the sale of hard liquor. The ballot read "for legalizing the sale of all liquors," and "against legalizing the sale of all liquors." The vote was 2343 "for," and 1390 "against." . . . Rockdale joined the wet in this election by a vote of 182 to 71. . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 64, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 2, 1936

1914 :: Rockdale Reporter is 40 years old

Brady Standard. The Rockdale Reporter last week rounded out the fortieth year of its usefulness. The Reporter -- like some other things we have heard of -- heard of, mind you -- improves with age, and the Standard congratulates Editor John E. Cooke on the vigorous health of the two score year oldster. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, March 26, 1914

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Cameron Herald. The Rockdale Reporter was forty years old on the 12th, and has always been a good paper and is still a good paper, and its last issue was one of its best. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, March 26, 1914

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Gause Guide. The issue of March 12 marked the passing of the 40th mile-stone for The Rockdale Reporter. We, for one, assure Brother Cooke that the sheet has been a big auxiliary in the growth and up-building of Rockdale, and a credit and an asset to Milam county in general. The Reporter will undoubtedly make Rockdale of such prominence that the foreign folk will not have to look on the map to tell a possible ignorant one where the town is. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, March 26, 1914

1943 :: Death of Nellie Clement

Funeral services for Mrs. W.K. Clement were held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Salty with burial in the Clement burial plot near Thorndale. Mrs. Clement was the daughter of the late Judge W.L. Davidson and widow of the late W.K. Clement, a pioneer lawyer in Milam county, and a member of the law firm of Clement, Garnet & Clement in Rockdale. Mrs. Clement died suddenly at her home in Austin. She was 71 years of age. Services were held in Austin on Monday. Cameron Herald, February 11, 1943

1974 :: Vandals Topple 'The Colonel'

"The Colonel" has fallen. After almost 70 years of overlooking the country side around the Bushdale Cemetery, the tall marble statue of Col. Herman Henniger now lies broken at the base of its pedestal. The statue, a landmark as well as a conversation piece for generations was tumbled down by vandals on Christmas night, a malicious act that has prompted Sheriff Carl Black to offer a $50 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandals. Constable Spud Caywood of Rockdale has added a $25 reward to that offer. The Cameron Herald, January 7, 1974

1923 :: Diehl Blacksmith Corner

Rockdale Reporter. -- W.P. Henry has closed a deal for the purchase of the old Louis Diehl  blacksmith corner on North Main street, the consideration being $4000. Workmen yesterday began tearing down the old building, preparatory to the erection by Mr. Henry of a modern garage and drive-in filling station. The lot is 62 1-2 by 90 feet, and the new building will cover the entire lot. The filling station will occupy the corner position and will have a double drive-way and full equipment. The garage proper will be equipped to take care of any class of auto repair work, and Mr. Clint Henry will be in charge of that. It is the intention of Mr. Henry and sons to push the completion of the plant with all possible speed, and they hope to ready for business in record-breaking time. Cameron Herald, August 23, 1923

1923 :: Evangelistic Meeting

Rockdale, Texas, August 19. -- Beginning August 28, the congregation of the Church of Christ will hold a two weeks' evangelistic meeting under the Rev. Arthur Slater of Corpus Christi. The meeting will be conducted daily on the large vacant lot next to the Rockdale postoffice. Cameron Herald, August 23, 1923

1923 :: August Menn Monument Works

Rockdale, Texas, August 18. -- August Menn has leased a large lot and built a new shop and office for his monument works. This improvement and the new garage being built by W.P. Henry disposes of the last of older Rockdale, doing away with the long-standing mule barn and steer lot in the business part of town. Cameron Herald, August 23, 1923

The Rockdale Reporter, January 8, 1920

1914 :: Death of John Gambill

Deaths. Special to The News. Gambill -- Cameron. Milam., Tex., Aug. 3. -- John T. Gambill Sr. died at Rockdale Saturday and was buried yesterday morning. The deceased was in the Confederate army and was well-known and highly esteemed in this county. He is survived by a large family. Dallas Morning News, August 4, 1914

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The news of the death of Mr. John Gambill was received here with deep regret. Deceased had many relatives as well as friends in this community who will miss this genial and benevolent old gentleman. Quite a number of our people attended his funeral, which occurred in Rockdale, Sunday August 2. Cameron Herald, August 6, 1914

1920 :: Death of R.L. Hale

Death claimed one of Milam county's leading citizens Monday evening of this week when Mr. R.L. Hale of Rockdale died at his home in that city. Mr. Hale was manager of the Scarbrough & Hicks General Merchandise store, one of the largest mercantile institutions in Milam county. He was a man of fine business ability and had friends through this section of the state by the thousands. His death, which occurred at 6:30 was unexpected, as he had spent the entire day at his place of business, only leaving at 6 o'clock. After leaving the store he visited his aged mother for a few moments and then went home. A short while after reaching his residence he was seized with acute indigestion and died immediately.

R.L. Hale started life on his own hook and is a self made man. Thirty-seven years ago he took a place with Scarbrough & Hicks store and grew from delivery boy to manager of the store.

The funeral of Mr. Hale was held Wednesday afternoon at the First Baptist Church at Rockdale, of which he has been a life long member. The services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. Stewart, assisted by Rev. B.B. Blaylock of Cameron, formerly his pastor, and Rev. Hamlett of Austin. Interment was made in the I.O.O.F. cemetery.

Those attending from Cameron were: Jeff T. Kemp, W.G. Gillis, Will T. Yates, Newton McDonald, Jack Lewis, Dick Clark, Clyde Franklin, Miss Minnie Wolf, Mrs. M.C. Sapp, Mr. and Mrs. T.S. Henderson, Mrs. Wm. Henderson and Miss Mary Lake Henderson. Cameron Herald, July 15, 1920

1929 :: Death of Steve N. Wilson

Rockdale Reporter. -- Steve N. Wilson, a resident in and near Rockdale since the late seventies died Wednesday noon at the hospital at Cameron, where he was taken following a stroke of apoplexy about ten days ago. Funeral services, in charge of the local Masonic Lodge, were held Thursday evening at 6:00 o'clock from the home of his sister-in-law, Mrs. R.S. Wilson in Rockdale, burial being made in the family burial ground at the Old City Cemetery.

At the grave the Rev. Chas. F. Smith, of the Methodist Church of Rockdale gave a scriptural reading and offered a soulful prayer. The Masons then took charge, using the impressive ritual of that order. The casket and grave were covered with beautiful floral tributes, sent by friends, relatives and fraternal organizations, which speak in language that only flowers can speak of the esteem in which deceased was held by those who knew him best.

Mr. Wilson was one of the younger representatives of pioneer families in East and Central Texas. He was born in Marshall, Texas, and was the fifth son of a family of nine children. He came to Rockdale in the late seventies, when the town was but a village, where he was actively engaged in various business enterprises, until he retired to his ranch-home south of Rockdale, where he led the life of a refined southern gentleman, keeping in touch with public policies, and sharing his comradeship and time with his son, his books, his flowers, and made frequent excursions here for visits with relatives and friends. He was a good man, devoted father and brother, a loyal friend who was ready to lend a word of cheer and helpful hand to all who passed his way.

At an early date he married Miss Bertie Boone, daughter of Major and Mrs. Hannibal Boon, of Navasota. To this union three children were born one dying in infancy. The wife died leaving the young son, Jason Boone Wilson and daughter, Nell Wilson, who were reared by their father and his devoted sister, Mrs. C.A. Duffy, who claimed them as her very own.

Mr. Wilson was a highly patriotic citizen, who in his younger days served in Company B of the Old Texas Ranger force, under the now famed Col. Baylor. He was a member in standing of the Woodmen of the World, and a long time member of the Masonic Lodge and it was his request that the Masons conduct the service at his funeral.

Surviving are his son, Jason Boone Wilson of Rockdale; a daughter, Mrs. L.H. Ham of Hope, New Mexico; a brother, John Wilson, and sister, Mrs. C.A. Duffy, of Vivian, La. He is also survived by several grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Cameron Herald (Cameron, Texas), June 20, 1929

1914 :: Death of Mrs. P.A. Lewis

Rockdale, Apr. 30th. -- The funeral of Mrs. P.A. Lewis, who died at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Fred H. Graves, Wednesday at 2 p.m., while sitting in an easy chair, were held Thursday afternoon at 5 o'clock from the newly dedicated Presbyterian church, Rev. W.E. Copeland, the pastor, conducting the ceremonies. 

Mrs. Lewis was born in the state of Alabama, and was at the inauguration of the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. At the time of her death she was 79 years, 8 months and 29 days old. She had resided with a daughter in Rockdale, Mrs. E.S. Loper, for the past 27 years, where her life had been marked by a strong devotion to duty. 

Last January she suffered a fall from which she had never regained her former activity. To break the monotony, she would spend each alternate week with a grand daughter, which fell upon Monday. Each vied with the other in showering her with attentions. 

Her cherished prayers were that she might live to witness the dedication of the new church in which her labors had played so important a part, and to be able to walk without assistance. Both were granted. On Sunday, April 19, she was tenderly borne to the place, and given an honored seat amid an environment of palms, ferns and Easter lilies, when her choice anthem was sung. And the day she died, she walked to the midday meal alone. 

The last services were held at sunset in the Old City Cemetery. Probably no greater tribute was ever paid another than that extended to this favored daughter. Mrs. Lewis is survived by two daughters, Mesdames E.S. Loper of Rockdale, and Mattie Werner of Houston, fifteen grand-children, of which is Mr. Henry T. Werner [sic] of the Associated Press, Houston, and 30 great-grand-children. Cameron Herald, May 7, 1914

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

1918 :: Death of O.A. Bowen

O.A. Bowen who was formerly in the grocery business at Rockdale died at his home in Hamlin, Jones County, last Sunday, January 20th. Mr. Bowen was 62 years of age and was a highly respected citizen. He is survived by his wife and two children. The funeral was held at Hamlin on Monday of this week. Mr. Bowen was a brother-in-law to Joe Westmoreland of this city. Cameron Herald, January 24, 1918

1975 :: Death of C.W. Matson

C.W. Matson, 88, of Rockdale died Thursday in a Rockdale hospital after a long illness. Funeral was at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Murray Street Church of Christ with Minister George Hall and Minister Milton Pogue officiating. Burial was in Laurelland Cemetery in Dallas. Mr. Matson had lived in Rockdale since 1921 and was owner of the Matson Theaters in Rockdale and other Central Texas cities until his retirement several years ago. Surviving are a granddaughter, Dorothy Ann Wallis of Rockdale; his sister-in-law, Miss Lilly Hardeson of Rockdale; two brothers-in-law, Joe Hardeson of San Francisco, Calif. and W.F. Hardeson of Dallas. Cameron Herald, January 6, 1975

1921 :: Burial of Hicks Carlile

Hicks Carlile who was buried at Hamiltons Chapel Friday afternoon under auspices of the American Legion, was one of two sons of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Carlile of Rockdale, who paid the supreme sacrifice in the world war. He and his brother volunteered and were of the first to go over seas and both were killed in the same battle and almost at the same time. The remains of the other brother were not identified. A large concourse of friends of deceased and family attended the funeral services which were held on the public square around the flag pole in Rockdale. The flag hung at half mast. Cameron Herald, October 27, 1921