Death Comes to 100-Years-Old William Persky, Oldest Citizen of Milam County and Last of the County's Confederate Veterans; Funeral Sunday
William Persky, 100, oldest citizen of Milam county and the last Confederate veteran of the county, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E.J. Rinn, at Sharp on Friday night. . . .
Mr. Persky celebrated his 100th anniversary last November 21st. He was born in Germany in 1844 but at the age of six came with his family to America. They settled in Austin county, where he grew to manhood and followed the farming industry. His wife, who was Miss Theresa Rundge, also of Austin county, died fifty years ago.
Mr. Persky moved to Bell county in 1901 and remained there until nineteen years ago when he came to Sharp to make his home with his daughter. For the past few years Mr. Persky had been a semi-invalid due to his age and bad eyesight. . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 73, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 15, 1945 Page: 1 of 8
According to Matchless Milam: History of Milam County Texas -- A Texas Sesquicentennial Edition -- compiled and edited by Milam County Heritage Preservation Society in 1984 - Milam County (Tex.) . . . On June 12, 1982, a Texas Historical Marker honoring William Carl Persky was unveiled at his gravesite in the Sharp Cemetery in Milam County. . . . the text on the marker reads as follows . . .
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| Texas Historical Marker |
A native of Germany, William Persky migrated to the United States with his family at the age of eight. He enlisted in the confederate army during the civil war and served time as a prisoner of war. A farmer, Persky lived in Austin and Bell counties before moving to this area in 1925. He lived to be 100, and at the time of his death in 1945 was the oldest resident and the last confederate veteran of Milam County. [see Historical Markers of Milam County, Texas]
Probably the oldest citizen in Milam county is Mr. William Persky, of Sharp, who on Tuesday, November 21, reached his 100th milestone.
Mr. Persky has lived in Sharp for the past twenty years and is the father of five sons and a daughter, Mrs. E.J. Rinn, with whom he makes his home.
Mr. Persky is a native of Germany but has lived in Texas since a lad of eight years, coming to America at that age with his parents and settling in Austin county. He is a Confederate Veteran, the last in Milam county. Mr. Persky followed the farming industry most of his life. For the past four years due to ill health he has not led an active life. He is the grandfather of E.H. Rinn of Rockdale. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 72, No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 23, 1944 Page: 20 of 20
CARLYLE POST NO. 358 (Researched by Louis Rinn)
Carlyle Post 358 was organized May 2, 1922. The name Carlyle was selected to honor two local fallen comrades, Hicks Carlyle and James W. Carlyle. The two brothers were killed the same day, October 8, 1918, only thirty days before Germany raised the White Flag of surrender. The Carlyle brothers resided in the Hamilton Chapel Community which is four miles southwest of Rockdale.
The first meeting of Carlyle Post 358 was held in an upstairs room of the Dr. H.T. Coulter Building at the corner of North Main and West Cameron streets. Later a meeting place was furnished by the city at the City Hall.
At the first meeting of Carlyle Post the following men were elected as officers of the Post: Dr. C.E. Wisecup, Post Commander; Percy Diehl, Vice Commander; H.H. Turner, Post Adjutant; John T. Hale, Finance Officer; Fred Eads, Post Historian; Dr. I.P. Sessions, Post Chaplain; and C.U. Cates, Sergeant at Arms.
The following men were also charter members of the Post: H.E. Blenden, Robert H. Floyd, Dr. H.T. Coulter, Max Ferrari, William F. Vogel, Clyde Franklin, Dr. T.E. Crump, J.P. Horton, Alvin M. Johnson, and Ralph Larrieu.
In 1935 Carlisle Post purchased the Wolf Hotel at the corner of North Main and East Milam Streets. Plans for a new home were soon drawn by Clyde Franklin. This home was completed in the early forties.
1952 was the peak year for membership. The total membership for that year was 326. W.P. (Red) Hogan was commander of the Post at that time.
Carlisle Post has sent at least one boy to Boys' State in Austin each year since it was organized. The Post has sponsored the American Legion baseball team and has participated in civic affairs that have taken place in the city of Rockdale. A History of Rockdale, Texas 1874-1974
According to a Rockdale Reporter article dated Nov. 15, 2001 . . . In 1935, Post 358 purchased the former Wolf Hotel, one of Rockdale's most historic turn-of-the-century structures. The hotel, at the corner of Main and Milam, was renovated and served as Carlyle Post's home for more than 60 years. Carlyle Post has been through periods of inactivity but still retains some membership and has plans for a new building. The old Legion building (Wolf Hotel) has been razed. That project was completed earlier this year.
Preston H. Harriss Succumbs at Rockdale. Rockdale, Texas, Feb. 10. -- Funeral services for Preston H. (Boots) Harriss, 42, who died suddenly Wednesday, were held here Thursday. The Rev. T. Miller Smith officiated. Since a young man he had been associated with lumber and oil interests. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Flora Scheihing Harriss; three children, Johnny, Virginia and Bobby Harriss; two brothers, Lon Harriss of San Antonio and Dr. W.D. Harriss of McKinney; four sisters, Mrs. Bryan Bernard of Austin, Mrs. Buford Hall of California, Mrs. J.C. Oliver of Dallas and Mrs. E.H. Rinn of Rockdale. Dallas Morning News. February 11, 1950.
