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.

1966 :: Mrs. Alma Lewis Dies Friday at Local Hospital

Mrs. Alma Lewis, 81, daughter of one of the first early-day residents of Rockdale, died at 1:35 p.m. Friday in Richards Hospital. She had been in failing health the past three months and in the hospital four weeks.

Funeral services were held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Phillips & Luckey Chapel with burial in Oak Lawn Cemetery. The Rev. D.D. Simpson and the Rev. Allen Cearley, Baptist ministers of Rockdale and Milano, officiated. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Rockdale.

Born in Rockdale on Feb. 9, 1885, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Scott, both deceased. She was one of 12 children. Her father, a photographer, was a passenger on the first train that came to Rockdale when the railroad extended its line this far west. He was one of the first city councilmen in Rockdale.

She and Valdie Lewis were married here in 1902 and six children were born to them, an infant preceding her in death. Her husband died Oct. 3, 1947.

Survivors include a son, C.D. Lewis of Lufkin; four daughters, Mrs. E.A. Tucker of Houston, Mrs. V.B. Douglas of Los Angeles, Mrs. Alvie Blackmon of Milano, and Mrs. D.E. Taylor of Milano; two sisters, Mrs. Sue Hill of Longview and Mrs. Billie Neal of Longview; nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

Pallbearers were Gordon Mason, Holice Mason, Arnold Mason, Wayne Tucker, Michael Johnson, and Charlie Tucker. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, December 08, 1966

1923 :: Death of John Scott, Photographer

News was received in Rockdale yesterday of the death of John Scott in Fort Worth, and his daughter, Mrs. A.V. Lewis, of the Harmony community, left at once for that city to attend the funeral.

Decedent will be remembered by all old-time Rockdale citizens. He was a citizen here for many years, conducting a photograph studio in the rooms now used as Woodmen Hall. He closed his studio about twelve years ago and left Rockdale, since which time most of his friends had lost sight of him.

Mr. Scott was a man of rugged, honest and sincere character. He served at one time as one of the Rockdale aldermen, and is said to have made a splendid officer in that capacity. The news of his death will be received by his friends with universal regret. Rockdale Reporter, Thursday, December 6, 1923

1899 :: Photo of Cameron Street

J.F. Lewis, the photographer, has recently made a picture of Cameron street that is fine. It is a splended advertisement for Rockdale, as it shows the street loaded with wagons from Mistrot's store to the city hall. He is selling these splendid pictures at a reasonable price. The Rockdale Reporter, November 1, 1899

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

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

1913 :: John Scott's Notice

This is to notify all people who have had photographs taken by me from the beginning of Rockdale until the present time, that with few exceptions, my negatives will be at my daughter's, Mrs. Valdie Lewis, about four miles southeast of Rockdale. All who want them can get same at following prices: Negatives up to and including cabinet size, 50 cents each, and all larger than cabinet, $1.00 each. Look on the back of photo and get the number and you can get them at above prices. She will have my register with names of parties and the number of negative. So I bid you all a kindly farewell. John Scott. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, April 24, 1913

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

1920 :: Death of Retta Daniel

Houston, Tex., Nov. 13. -- Mrs. Retta Daniel, wife of G.W. Daniel, civilian employee at Ellington Field, died early this morning at the post hospital from burns received Thursday when, mistaking gasoline for coal oil, she attempted to start a fire and an explosion resulted. Her body will be sent to Rockdale for burial. Hutchinson News, Kansas, November 13, 1920

1914 :: St. Patrick's Day in Rockdale

Rockdale, Tex., March 20. -- St. Patrick's Day was designated by Mayor H.C. Meyer as "clean-up day" for Rockdale. All stores were closed in the forenoon, their forces entering with spirit into the work. Curls of smoke rose from trash piles in all directions, tin cans were relegated and soon the city blossomed forth in cleanliness. The public schools were also closed, giving the boys and girls a chance to contest for four cash prizes offered. The winners were: First girl's prize, Miss Mary Rothrock; second girl's prize, Miss Margie Lewis; first boy's prize, Bailey Reeves; second boy's prize, Shelby Brieger and Fred Green (divided). Dallas Morning News, March 21, 1914 

1997 :: Homecoming's Deep Roots

Rockdale Reporter, Thursday, June 5, 1997. Homecoming's Deep Roots Traced to '33-'34 Gatherings. 

Rockdale's annual homecoming . . . has some mighty deep roots. Franklin D. Roosevelt had been in office less than three months and not too many people outside Germany had even heard of a fellow named Hitler when the Rockdale Home Coming (that's the way it was chartered) Association was formed on a sunny Sunday in 1933. . . .

Rockdale's annual homecomings are the brainchild of Ira Perry, a rancher and former Rockdale resident who settled in the Pipe Creek area of Bandera County but never lost contact with Milam County. Under Perry's guidance, a small group gathered at Fair Park in June 1933, for the first homecoming.

They elected officers and planned a 'full-fledged' homecoming the next year. That's the meeting where it was decided to hold the annual homecoming on the second Sunday of June. Marion Burck Smith of Austin was named the first association president with Mrs. C.M. Sessions of Rockdale vice-president, Perry as secretary, and Mrs. D.H. Sanford of Rockdale and Mrs. W.A. Morrison of Cameron as historians.

The Rockdale Reporter termed the 1933 gathering "a rather impromptu affair" but had praise for Perry. "The fact that he was named to the key position of the organization is a guarantee that the next annual meeting will be largely attended," John Esten Cooke, Reporter editor, wrote.

FIRST TRAIN. Rockdale roots don't come much deeper than those of Mrs. Smith, first homecoming association president. She was the daughter of A.A. Burck, Rockdale's first mayor. Burck brought his family to Rockdale on the first International & Great Northern (I&GN) train that chugged into the new town in 1874. Rockdale's official founding is traced to that year, when the bustling new community was the railroad's western terminus.

Mayor E.A. Camp called the first homecoming to order and delivered a speech. "An hour or two was then spent in general conversation and the relating of reminiscences of the 'good old days.' Miss Polly Smith of Austin, the attractive daughter of the president, and an expert photographer, took several pictures of the group." In addition to Rockdale, Cameron, Austin and Pipe Creek, the first homecoming drew participants from Dallas, Rocksprings, Taylor, Palestine, San Antonio, Bastrop and Houston.

MOMENTUM. Perry began the next day to seek addresses of "all former Rockdale citizens" for the next event. Having decided to hold each reunion on the second Sunday in June, the new association used an interesting 1934 calendar and scheduled the next homecoming for June 3.

Nevertheless, over 60 persons participated including E.H. and W.A. Richardson of Dallas, sons of Rockdale's first lumber dealer, and C.G. Green of Hamlin, Rockdale school superintendent for almost two decades. City Secretary Branch Lewis, R.L. Orr and Mayor Camp helped organize the meeting. 

Names of those attending form almost a litany of Rockdale history and include Marrs, Isaacs, Sessions, Baxter, Phillips, Bullock, Williams, Baggerly, Mundine, Porter, Henry, York, Wallace and, as the Reporter noted, "probably others who failed to register."

The 1933 and 1934 meetings provided the momentum for all future homecomings. . . .