1920 :: Death of Mrs. Julia Robinson

The body of Mrs. Julia Robinson, who passed away at a sanitarium in Taylor at 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon, arrived in Rockdale on the 2:46 I. & G. N. train Sunday, and was borne to the Old City Cemetery where interment was made by the side of her husband in the family plot. . . . At the time of her death she was 76 years, 11 months and 1 day old. She was a native Mississippian, and in 1864 was married to Richmond Robinson. . . . They moved to Rockdale 46 years ago and established a home, and assisted in the upbuilding of the town. . . . 

Almost coincident with her passing, the old homestead erected by the late Richmond Robinson, known of late as the Cottage Hotel, situated in the heart of the city, was sold and demolished, perhaps to make way for a more pretentious business house on the sacred site, in keeping with the modern buildings on the newest of blocks that marks the city's growth within the past quarter century. It was here they spent the greater part of their lives, surrounded by their children, . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 21, 1920

1940 :: Death on a Mississippi river bridge

Vicksburg, Miss., Nov. 22. -- (AP) -- A man tentatively identified as James W. Hogan, 61, of Rockdale, Texas, was killed last night when struck by a truck at the west end of the Mississippi river bridge here. The body was taken to Tallulah, Louisiana. Waco News-Tribune, November 23, 1940

1896 :: Death of James E. Mosely, Sr.

Rockdale, Tex., July 29. -- James Edward Moseley, Sr., [sic, i.e., Edward B Moseley] died yesterday morning at 2 o'clock at the residence of his son, J.E. Mosely, Jr., [sic] nine miles southwest from Rockdale, in the 83d year of his age. Mr. Mosely was an ex-confederate soldier. He was living in Mississippi when the war broke out, and served in the army of Tennessee. After the war was over he removed with his family to Texas and settled in the community where he died. About a month ago Mr. Mosely fell from the front gallery of a neighbor's house and hurt himself, from the effects of which he never recovered. He was under the care of a physician but twice in his life. Galveston Daily News, July 31, 1896 

1896 :: Keeping Batch

To Correspondents -- When writing a letter to this department, first give your full name, postoffice and state. Use pen and ink, on smooth paper, not larger than note size. Write only on one side of the paper and do not sew, paste or pin the sheets together. These rules must be observed to insure publication.


RUSH WITCHER, Rockdale, Tex. -- Mr. Big Hat and cousins: I have been reading the Cozy Corner and think it very interesting. I live eight miles from Rockdale, in the black land. I have not been in Texas long. My home is in Mississippi. My brother, myself and a friend are "keeping batch." We do our own cooking. We hunt and fish some and live very happy. But we are not old batchelors. We do not aim to keep batch always. My friend is a subscriber to your paper. I like it very much. My age is 17 years. Galveston Daily News, May 10, 1896

1898 :: Death of a Centenarian

Cameron, Milam Co., Tex., Aug. 7. -- Nelson, Hillery, colored, known as Dad Nelse, died last night on the Goodhugh Wilson farm, about three miles from Cameron. He was by far the oldest citizen of Milam county, being at least 100 years old. He was a good-sized mill boy, living in Mississippi, at the time of the great battle of New Orleans. About twenty years ago he borrowed a mule from Mr. Goodhugh Wilson, who was well off and liberal, and was told by Mr. Wilson to keep the mule until he got through with him, so Dad Nelse kept the mule until his death. Dallas Morning News, August 8, 1898

1910 :: Judge E.Y. Terral Dead

Dallas Morning News. June 9, 1910. Judge E.Y. Terral Dead. Cameron, Tex., June 8. -- Judge E.Y. Terral died at his residence here last night after a protracted illness. He was about 70 years old and a native of Mississippi. He belonged to Company F. Sixteenth Mississippi, and performed service in the Confederacy. He was a man of positive convicitions and a Democrat of the old "Hickory Jackson" type. He served as County Commissioner several years, and was County Judge from 1886 to 1892. He had a brother who was a member of the Supreme Court of Mississippi at the time of his death. Funeral and burial were observed at the Slocomb graveyard, near town, this afternoon. Judge Terral was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.

1930 :: Rockdale War Veteran Dies from Shell Shock

Rockdale War Veteran Dies From Shell Shock. Special to The News. Rockdale, Texas, March 13. -- A telegraphic message was received by Mrs. J.A. Phillips of this city that her eldest son, James Kolb Phillips, had died in a hospital at Chattahooche, Fla. The immediate cause of his death was a recurrence of shell shock, resulting from his service with the American Expeditionary Force in France.


Young Phillips was brought home from France in 1919, and remained in Government hospitals at Newport News, Va., and California, for some months before being discharged as cured. After two years in New Mexico, he returned to Texas and resumed his studies at Texas A.&M. College, where he graduated in the class of 1924 with his younger brother, Charles. For the last few years he had been engaged in the citrus fruit and nursery business at St. Petersburg, Fla., with his uncle, C.L. Kolb.


He was the son of the late Dr. J.A. Phillips, and is survived by his mother, Mrs. J.A. Phillips of Rockdale; a sister, Mrs. Clyde Franklin, Rockdale; a brother, Charles C. Phillips of Vicksburg, Miss.; an aunt, Mrs. Maie Vanderventer, and an uncle, O.K. Phillips of Rockdale. The body will be brought to Rockdale for burial. Dallas Morning News, March 14, 1930

1937 :: Renflow Services Held Saturday

Dallas Daily Times Herald, January 1, 1937. RENFROW, Mrs. Alyne, age 59, died Friday at the residence, 217 Sunset. Born in Tupelo, Miss. Resident of Dallas seventeen years. Survived by husband, Dr. G.B. Renfrow, Dallas; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Farmer, Wichita Falls; Mrs. J.E. Little, Dallas; son, W.H. Renfrow, Corpus Christi; two grandchildren; father, W.H. Poole, Rockdale, Tex.; two sisters, Mrs. Hugh Estelle, Rockdale, Tex; Mrs. Gaddy Hall, Rusk, Tex. Services will be held Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Guardian Funeral Chapel, 2811 Oak Lawn, Rev. Wallace Bassett officiating. Remains will be taken overland to Rockdale, Tex., Saturday, for interment at 4:30 p.m. Leave flowers at her findagrave memorial page.

Dallas Daily Times Herald, January 2, 1937. RENFROW SERVICES HELD SATURDAY. Funeral services for Mrs. Alyne Renfrow, 59, who died Friday at her home, 217 Sunset Avenue, were held Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Guardian Funeral Church, following which the body was taken to Rockdale for additional services and burial. Mrs. Renfrow, wife of Dr. G.B. Renfrow, had been a resident of Dallas for seventeen years. Surviving, beside her husband, are one son, W.H. Renfrow of Corpus Christi; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Farmer of Wichita Falls, and Mrs. J.E. Little of Dallas; her father, W.H. Poole of Rockdale; two sisters, Mrs. Hugh Estell of Rockdale and Mrs. Grady Hall of Rusk and two grandchildren.

1897 :: Death of V.B. Orr

Dallas Morning News. Veteran Crosses Over. Was Member of Jeff Davis' Regiment in the Mexican War. 

Rockdale, Tex., Nov. 28. -- Mr. V.B. Orr died at his residence in this city yesterday evening at the age of 71 years. Deceased was a veteran of both the Mexican and confederate wars, having served through the Mexican war in in Jeff Davis' Mississippi regiment and in the confederate war in Col. H.L. Muldrow's regiment in the western army. He emigrated to Texas from Tuxilo, Miss., in 1882 and settled in Rockdale, which place he made his home up to the time of his death. He leaves a large family connection and a host of friends in this county. He was an honored member of the Knights of Honor and will be buried with the ceremonies of that society.

1896 :: The Cozy Corner

Dallas Morning News. May 10, 1896. The Cozy Corner. 

RUSH WITCHER, Rockdale, Milam Co., Tex. -- Mr. Big Hat and cousins: I have been reading the Cozy Corner and think it very interesting. I live eight miles from Rockdale, in the black land. I have not been in Texas long. My home is in Mississippi. My brother, myself and a friend are "keeping batch." We do our own cooking. We hunt and fish some and live very happy. But we are not old bachelors. We do not aim to keep batch always. My friend is a subscriber to your paper. I like it very much. My age is 17 years.


ANNIE LAURA BLOCKER, Rockdale, Milam Co., Tex. -- Mr. Big Hat and cousins: It has been a long time since I wrote. It has been raining for three days and I have to stay in out of the mud. Our school closed the 27th day of March, and I was so sorry. I think Mr. Big Hat is so kind to give the cousins a whole page. My papa takes The News and he says he can't do without it. I have got a little pig and his name is Joe. I hope Peggy is sick when my letter arrives. I help mama do the housework. I will answer Fannie Chernosky's riddle. It is a watermelon. My age is 8 years.

1932 :: Mrs. Mary L. Perry Is Buried at Austin

Mrs. Mary L. Perry Is Buried at Austin. From the Austin Bureau of The News. Austin, Texas, April 14. -- Funeral services were held Thursday for Mrs. Mary Lucinda Perry, 89. She was born in Starkville, Miss., April 7, 1843, and married to J.W. Perry Oct. 25, 1866. After her marrige she moved to Texas and settled at Lexington, Lee County, and later in Caldwell and Rockdale, where she lived for thirty-nine years. Fourteen years ago Mrs. Perry moved to Taylor, where she made her home with a daughter, and nine years ago she came to Austin. Surviving are six children, Ira Perry and Mrs. John Landis of San Antonio and E.H. Perry, Mrs. L.B. Baker, Mrs. E.E. Shropshire and Miss Rosalie Perry, all of Austin. Six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren also survive her. Dallas Morning News, April 15, 1932