1896 :: Killing of E.B. Shipman

The Galveston Daily News
October 14, 1896

Committed Without Bail.

Rockdale, Tex., Oct. 12. -- In the case of the killing of E.B. Shipman, an account of which was published in The News of the 10th instant, R.N. Penny, who was charged with the killing, was committed to jail without bail. It was developed in the examining trial that there had been bad blood between the parties since the father of the murdered man was accidentally killed by Tom Penny, a brother of the man charged with this murder, although E.B. Shipman was the father-in-law of his slayer, Penny having married his daughter about a year ago.

1921 :: C.H. Sullivan Body Found

BODY OF ROCKDALE FARM MANAGER IS RECOVERED

Special to The News. Rockdale, Tex., Sept. 16. -- The body of Charles Hewlett Sullivan [sic, e.g., Hewlett Chiles Sullivan], drowned in the recent flood, was recovered at a late hour this afternoon by Ottie Alford, a member of the Rockdale searching party which has been at work ever since last Monday. Sullivan's home was in Anderson, S.C. Galveston Daily News, September 17, 1921

1893 :: Marriage of Marcus Rich and Mary Riley

MARRIED IN ROCKDALE.

Rockdale, Tex., Sept. 12. -- This morning at 11 o'clock at the Rockdale Roman Catholic church the priest in charge joined in marriage Mr. Marcus Rich* of Palestine and Miss Mary Riley*. The groom is well known as an International and Great Northern railway locomotive engineer. The bride is a Rockdale raised lady, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. Riley and a general favorite. The bridal party received friends at the residence of Mrs. J.C. McCawley, sister of the groom. The Galveston Daily News, September 13, 1893 [*Reitch, Reilley, Reilly]

1884 :: Drowning of Shelton Sisters

Galveston Daily News
July 31, 1884

Distressing Occurrence.

Two Young Ladies While Bathing Venture Beyond Their Depth and are Drowned.

[Special to The News.]

Milano, July 30. -- The community was terribly shocked by the news brought this morning of the drowning of Misses Lou and Florence Shelton, daughters of J.M. Shelton, resident of this immediate vicinity, in Little river, near McCowan's ferry.

The young ladies, aged twenty-one and nineteen years, were in company with their father and had camped for the night in the locality near where the accident occurred. . . . 

The young ladies were members of the temperance council in this place, and were active and zealous in the cause.

The council in a body, with a large number of the citizens, attended the funeral this afternoon from the father's residence.

The quiet little village is enshrouded in gloom.

1894 :: Death of Miss Fannie Murff

Rockdale, Milam Co., Tex., June 25. -- Died, at the residence of her sister, Mrs. Kawkins, Miss Fannie Murff, daughter of Captin R.S. Murff of Burlington. The Galveston Daily News, June 27, 1894

1878 :: Death of John Cole

Hearne, May 30. -- The people of this city are again called upon to witness a sad accident in railroad life. The victim is a promising young man by the name of John Cole, a resident of Rockdale, Texas, and lately a brakeman on the I. and G.N. railroad. Young Cole, it seems, was attempting to board a freight train, and missing his hold was crushed beneath the wheels, severing his left arm near the shoulder and crushing his left leg below the knee. Owing to some delays that it seems could not be avoided the patient lost a good deal of blood. Drs. Morrison and Matkin, of this place, and Drs. Horton and Walker, of Rockdale, are in attendance, but up to 8 o'clock P. M. the man is too weak from loss of blood to endure the amputation of his mangled limbs, and but little hope is entertained of his recovery. Galveston Daily News, May 31, 1878

1892 :: Waterworks Accepted

Rockdale, Tex., March 31. -- Tuesday at 4 o'clock the test of the Rockdale waterworks took place in presence of the city government. The fire department turned out for drill with water. Everything came up to contract and was satisfactory. The city council received and settled and Rockdale will have regular water service from now on. The water supply is abundant and first class for domestic and commercial purposes. Galveston Daily News, April 1, 1892

1897 :: Little Boy Accidentally Shot

Rockdale, Milam Co., Tex., March 18. -- The little son of Mr. Henry McDaniel, near Gardner, was seriously wounded in the face last Saturday night by the accidental discharge of a pistol in the hands of Mr. Wayne Holmes. Physicians were called in and dressed the wound, but did not succeed in extracting the ball. Galveston Daily News, March 19, 1897

1888 :: Red saddle stolen

Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
25 December 1888

Sheriff's Department. Milam County. Rockdale, Tex., December 21.-- Stolen at this place last night from S.E. Luckey one bay horse pony and red leather saddle; the pony is about 4 years old, branded LUK connected over the left shoulder; saddle red leather, branded J.N. Redden, maker, Rockdale. Will give a liberal reward for horse and saddle returned to J.R. Arthur, city marshal, Rockdale, Tex., or J. Lewis, sheriff, Cameron, Tex.

1893 :: Matches in a Gin

Rockdale, Tex., Oct. 17. -- In attempting to gin seed cotton suspected of having matches in it a fire was started in Rexford Wells' gin house here. As every preparation had been made for an emergency the fire was promptly extinguished by the gin house hands without material loss. This demonstrates the oft mooted question that matches in cotton going through a gin will start a fire. Galveston Daily News, October 18, 1893

1920 :: Family Reunion

Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
22 August 1920

Two Families Hold Reunion:
187 Descendants are Present.

Special to the News. Thorndale, Tex., Aug. 21.-- A most delightful occasion was the reunion of the descendants of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Jackson and Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Caffey, two of the pioneer couples of Milam County. These two families came to Texas from Alabama in 1874 and located in Bastrop County. Mr. Caffey and family moved to Milam County in 1875, and Mr. Jackson and family in 1876, and located in the community which has since been their homes. Mr. Caffey is 83 years old and Mr. Jackson 76. Their wives are sisters and are a few years their junion. Both Mr. Jackson and Mr. Caffey are confederate veterans.

There are 187 descendants of these two families. In the Jackson family there are twelve children, seventy-one grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren, and in the Caffey family there are seven children, forty-four grandchildren, and thirty-eight great-grandchildren. Four generations were in attendance at the gathering that day. About 200 relatives and friends were in attendance. A bounteaus dinner was spread.

1885 :: Death of Green Taylor

Dallas Morning News. Casualties. Drowned in Little River. [Special to The News.] Cameron, August 6. -- Green Taylor, who formerly resided in this (Milam) county, and is now a resident of Minden, was drowned, yesterday evening, in Little River, near Davilla. Mr. Taylor was in attendance upon the Probate Court of this county. Galveston Daily News, August 7, 1885 

1896 :: Trouble with the Waterworks

Rockdale, Milam Co., Tex., July 25. -- The waterworks company here has been having trouble with its well for several weeks, so much so that they concluded two days ago to sink a new well. In two days and three nights they have gone down a distance of fifty-four feet. In two or three days more they think they will have the new well ready to furnish all the water needed for all purposes in the city, and by holding in the reservoir sufficient water to use with direct pressure in case of fire furnish a sufficient supply for all other needs. In other words, the supply of water for general purposes has been just a little short. The company says, however, that this will be overcome in just a few days more. Galveston Daily News, July 26, 1896 

1896 :: First Bale of Cotton

Rockdale, Tex., July 24. -- The first bale of cotton of this season's crop was brought in here yesterday morning, was ginned by Mr. Rexford Wells, and was sold to Strelsky & Clark for 6.80c. There was a premium of $12.50 paid, making it net the owner $52.75. The bale of cotton was raised by Mr. Forrest Randle on Mr. John T. Randle's farm in Little river valley about fifteen miles northwest of Rockdale, it weighed 598 pounds and classed middling. This is the earliest by three days that the first bale was ever before received here. Galveston Daily News, July 26, 1896

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.

1895 :: Stubblefield - Fraim Wedding

Dallas Morning News. Milano, Tex., June 2. -- Mr. John Stubblefield and Miss Annie Fraim were married here to-day at the First Baptist church, Rev. J.D. Shelton officiating. The Galveston Daily News, June 3, 1895

1905 :: Death of Mrs. Winnie Price

Temple, Tex., May 12. -- Two of Temple's oldest citizens were removed by death yesterday. Mrs. Winnie Price, mother of Mrs. D.R. Munn, died at the residence of her daughter at the ripe age of 72. The body was taken to Rockdale for burial. . . . Galveston Daily News, May 13, 1905 

1921 :: Crop Indications Good

Rockdale, Tex., March 26.-- It is believed that never before were prospects better for a huge crop of small fruits, berries, etc. in this section of Central Texas. The fields and woods and uncultivated spaces are white as snowbanks with dewberry blossoms. Other fruit trees are in full bloom. If labor is available when the ripening time comes Milam County will be able to furnish an almost unlimited quantity of dewberries to the consumer. Galveston Daily News, March 27, 1921

1896 :: Death of G.W. Heywood

Rockdale, Tex., March 20. -- G.W. Heywood died at the McGuyre hotel yesterday and was buried at the Odd Fellows cemetery this morning. During his prosperous days he paid for the plot of ground now known as the Odd Fellows cemetery and presented it to that society. He also bought and stored away a fine coffin to be buried in. This casket has patiently awaited his demise for several years. Galveston Daily News, March 22, 1896

1892 :: Death of F A Hill

Rockdale, Tex., Jan. 26. -- Colonel F.A. Hill, born in North Carolina, and for forty years a prominent practicing lawyer in Texas, eighteen years of which he lived* in Rockdale, died here Sunday afternoon of la grippe in the 70th year of his age, surrounded by a large circle of relatives and friends. The Galveston Daily News, January 27, 1892

*Mayor Rockdale in 1877