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

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 :: KKK in Rockdale

ROCKDALE, Texas, Sept. 3. -- There were 167 masked men in the Ku Klux Klan held here Saturday. The parade drew a large crowd and traffic officers were necessary to keep the parade line open. The best of order prevailed. There was a barbecue at Tourist Park. . . . A speaker from Austin who did not unmask addressed the crowd at the city fountain. The 167 marching klansmen were reported as being from Taylor, Bartlett, Cameron, Granger, Gause, Hearne, Thorndale, Austin, and towns between here and Austin. The Eagle, September 3, 1923

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 

1923 :: Uncle Boyd Taylor

Uncle Boyd Taylor of Milano is 83 years old. He scorns the ease of modern day transportation and rides his gray charger as in the days when he followed Nathan B. Forrest, the peerless cavalry leader of the South. Uncle Boyd rode to Cameron from his home near Milano. He sets his horse as straight and graceful as in the days when he rode to the defense of Dixie. "I can ride a horse ten miles further in a day than any man in the country," said Uncle Boyd when asked if his advanced age did not interfere with his going. He came to Texas from his native state of Alabama. He was born April 6, 1840, and on last Friday was 83 years old. Cameron Herald, April 12, 1923

1929 :: Death of young Preston Perry

Rockdale, March 20. -- Preston Perry, only child of Ed Perry of the Salty community, was accidentally killed last Tuesday by the discharge of a .22 calibre rifle in the hands of his playmate, Alvin Duett, aged 10 years. Duett had gone to the Perry home to spend the night. In the afternoon, the Perry boy handed Duett the rifle, telling him to shoot the rabbit in the thicket nearby, he having gone ahead to direct the way, when the gun was discharged, taking off the back of Perry's head. He was rushed to Taylor sanitarium but died before an operation could be performed. Waco News-Tribune, March 21, 1929 

1893 :: Death of Shadrac Taylor

A Venerable Darkey Dead. 

Rockdale, Tex., March 9. -- Shadrac Taylor, an old freedman born in Kentucky 82 years ago, died here yesterday after a protracted sickness. Shade was brought to Texas sixty-two years ago and had been living in Rockdale from the foundation of the town. He leaves a large family of children and grand children. He was buried from the African Methodist church, of which he was long a member. Dallas Morning News, March 11, 1893

1890 :: Altercation in a Restaurant

Rockdale, Tex., March 5. -- On Saturday night a negro called Fred Taylor entered the restaurant of John C. McGuire and insisted on having a seat with the white folks. This resulted in a controversy which ended by the proprietor peppering the colored citizen with a No. 38. The ball entered the lower part of the abdomen and punctured the bladder. The next morning Dr. A.C. Walker performed a surgical operation. Dallas Morning News, March 6, 1890

1901 :: New Owner of Rockdale Messenger

Taylor Topics. . . . Mr. Howard Willson has removed his family to Rockdale, where he has been since January 1, in charge of his recent purchase, the Rockdale Messenger. Houston Daily Post (Houston, Tex.), Vol. XVIth YEAR, No. 312, Ed. 1, Sunday, February 10, 1901

1905 :: Killing of Will Rasbury

Taken to Rockdale. Remains of William G. Rasbury, Who Was Killed Wednesday Night, Shipped to Rockdale. Dallas, Texas. The remains of William G. Rasbury, who was killed in a saloon on Main street Wednesday night, were shipped yesterday afternoon to Rockdale, Tex., by Undertaker George W. Loudermilk. Charles Rasbury, a brother of the deceased, accompanied the body and it will be interred today. Up to a late hour yesterday afternoon no complaint had been made against Kannmacher, who is held in connection with the shooting. He is still being held and has expressed a desire for an immediate hearing. Dallas Morning News, September 8, 1905


Taylor, Tex., Sept. 8. William G. Rasbury, who was killed in Dallas Wednesday night, and Herman Kannmacher, who is charged with the crime, were both former residents of Taylor. The former moved here from Rockdale and the latter is the son of Prof. J.G. Kannmacher, a cartoonist and writer, who a few years ago edited the Taylor (German) Herald, afterward moving to Dallas. Dallas Morning News, September 9, 1905

1906 :: Death of Howard E Willson

Death of Howard E. Willson. Editor of Many Years' Standing Dies at Rockdale. Special to The News. Taylor, Tex., April 19. -- Editor Howard E. Willson of the Rockdale Messenger, aged 45, a son of H.I. Willson of the Taylor Texan, died at his home in Rockdale last night of acute nasal catarrh, leaving a widow and four children, two sons and two daughters. Deceased was a vigorous writer, a Christian gentleman and was well and favorably known to the press of Texas, having edited the Taylor Texan for fourteen years prior to purchasing the Rockdale Messenger several years ago. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World and Knights of Pythias lodge of that city. The remains were buried with Pythian honors at Rockdale this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Dallas Morning News, April 20, 1906 

1928 :: Death of Boyd Taylor, CSA Veteran

Rockdale, Milam Co., Texas, April 1. -- Boyd Taylor, 88, died at his home near Milano. The funeral was under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity, with District Judge Watson of Cameron officiating. The Rev. Polk C. Webb had charge of the religious service. He had lived in Milano district for forty years. He was a veteran of the Civil War. Dallas Morning News, April 2, 1928

1891 :: Death of Miss Bulah Loper

Dallas Morning News, October 20, 1891. Taylor, Tex., Oct. 19. -- Miss Bulah Loper, a young lady of Rockdale, and cousin of Mrs. B. Garry and Mrs. Minar Brown of this place, died at Sherman university to-day. Remains will be interred at Rockdale to-morrow.

1888 :: Gloom at Taylor

Gloom at Taylor. Taylor, Tex., June 4. -- The news of the burning of the Mundine Hotel this morning at 4 a.m. cast a gloom over this city, as all parties are well-known, three of them being here Sunday and left for Rockdale at 10 p.m. Frank Briscoe, who is in business here, left at 10 p.m. for Rockdale to move his family here. He and wife and two children are among the victims. P. Pierce, a drummer and noted as a composer of music, attended church twice here yesterday. He represented Ziegler & Co. of Philadelphia, and got several large orders for goods. A number of Taylor citizens have gone to Rockdale and several leave to-night to render all assistance possible. Dallas Morning News, June 5, 1888

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 

1877 :: Shipments of Cotton - Criminal Conviction - Sleet

Galveston News. Rockdale, Jan. 16, 1877. 

There have been 10,100 bales of cotton shipped from Rockdale from Sept. 1st up to date. This does not include the Bell county cotton, which, before the extension of the railroad, was shipped from this point; it now goes to Taylor. Rockdale this season has done a larger business than ever before, and her merchants are all in good spirits and satisfied with the situation.


Wm. Plasters, who killed a man in the upper portion of this county last spring, the particulars of which were published in the News, has been tried and found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sent to the penitentiary for five years. He is a very wealthy cattle man, and lives in Bell county.


A heavy sleet set in about daylight this morning; at noon it was two inches thick on the ground. Heads up has been the order of the day, and a few hurriedly constructed sleighs have been out.