1874 :: Milam County Marriage

Milam County. -- The Messenger says: . . . "Married : Mr. James Rodgers and Miss Keziah Ann Search." Galveston Daily News, September 18, 1874

1874 :: News from Rockdale

Milam County. -- The Messenger says : "The claim of Jesse Stancel, as attorney in fact for Media Thompson, to the William Allen survey, upon which the greater portion of Rockdale is situated, is spurious and illegal. 

We have fully investigated the matter and find that the International Railroad Company has a perfect chain of title to the land in question, and deem it our duty to warn the public against this unjust, unwarranted and shameless resort of these unprincipled land sharks, to deprive them of their legally acquired rights and property. There is not the slightest cause for alarm, and no one, unless sadly demented, would either make or accept an offer of compromise." 

The writer is not half so emphatic about the "Jesse" as was J.B. Simpson when he wrote of him. . . . A snake, nicely coiled in one of the cases of the Messenger office, and which had been out of use for several days, was discovered by one of the compositors, who was looking for a certain style of letter. The reptile immediately died a violent death. Galveston Daily News, July 7, 1874

1874 :: Rockdale ought to be happy

. . . Rockdale ought to be happy -- she has five notaries public, and in a few days more her city government will be in full operation. -- How often the press is called on to record such criminal carelessness as the following, which we find in the Messenger : "An accident, much to be deplored, occurred in Rockdale on the 16th inst. Mr. Brophy and another young man were playfully struggling with each other; after amusing themselves in this way for some time, they suddenly separated, and each picked up a gun, there being two in the house. The other young man pointed his gun at Mr. Brophy, and through some unaccountable cause it was discharged, the entire contents, being bird shot, entering the face of Mr. Brophy. It is thought that he will lose his right eye. The parties were warm friends and no blame is attached to them, only in their careless use of fire-arms. Galveston Daily News, June 21, 1874

1874 :: Milam Messenger

The Milam Messenger has been moved from Cameron to Rockdale. Galveston Daily News, March 5, 1874

1874 :: Rockdale, a flourishing town

The Milam Messenger says: 

"Rockdale, the present terminus of the International Railroad, has already grown to be a live and flourishing town, and in a few weeks will number several thousand inhabitants. We have been informed by contractors and merchants who have purchased lots, that more than fifty large buildings are now under contract. The sound of the hammer is heard from morning until night." Galveston Daily News, February 18, 1874

1874 :: Death of J E Featherston

The Milam Messenger has an account of the sudden death of Mr. J.E. Featherson, an agent of Glenny & Wagoner, live stock dealers, New Orleans. "He retired to his room Monday night, complaining of a slight indisposition from the effects of a disease of the heart, to which he was at times subjected. Early the next morning he was discovered in an unconscious and dying state, and died about 2 o'clock Monday evening. Austin Weekly Statesman, October 29, 1874