1889 :: A Mother Badly Burned.

Rockwall [sic], Tex., May 16. -- Information was received here this morning of a terrible calamity in the German settlement five miles west of town, which happened a little after dark last night. While the wife of Louis Palmer was cooking supper she dropped a lighted lamp, which broke and ignited the oil and enveloped the poor woman in flames. Mrs. Palmer ran from the kitchen through the bed room in which her two little boys aged three and four years lay asleep into the yard where her husband was, who at once set to work to extinguish the flames. In this attempt he was unsuccessful until his wife was so badly burned that she cannot recover. Suddenly looking back he saw the house was in flames and burning within it the two little boys whom it was impossible to rescue. Mr. Gustor, a neighbor who arrived on the ground too late to render much assistance found Mrs. Palmer in a terribly burned condition, and her husband's hands also badly burned in trying to save her. A remarkable instance of the fire transpired in the escape without an injury of Mrs. Palmer's infant found in the yard, but how gotten there is unknown. Drs. Wallis & Wallis, accompanied by Messrs. Breeding and H. Lockwood, visited the scene last night and rendered such aid as was possible, but the occurrence was not generally known here until the issue of a supplement to the Rockdale Messenger this morning. The Sun (Weatherford, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 30, 1889

1916 :: S.G. Hodge Died Suddenly

Rockdale Reporter - S.G. Hodge, prominent Rockdale business man, died suddenly at 4 p.m. Thursday at Randle Lake, ten miles north of town, where he had gone for a few hours fishing, and in the best spirits and seeming good health.

Mr. Hodge was accompanied by Dr. T.D. Rountree and Dr. R.W. Wallis. They left won about 11 a.m. in Mr. Hodge's car, and had enjoyed several hours fishing with good results, and had cooked the fish and had sat down to eat. Mr. Hodge was in the best of spirits at the time, and had assisted in the cooking of the fish. He had just taken a bite or two, when he suddenly groaned and fell over on his back. Both the doctors were right at his side, and say that his death was as near instantaneous as it could possibly be, and that he gave not the slightest sign of recognition or understanding after he was stricken. They administered powerful restoratives hypodermically and ued artificial respiration, exhausting every means at their disposal, to no affect.

The remains were brought to town and placed in the care of Undertaker E.B. Phillips. After embalment they were removed to the residence of Mrs. J.R. Rowland, where the deceased had for so many years made his home, and in which family he was a big brother and a kind father, and than whom in all this wide world there are none who will mourn his loss so deeply. Cameron Herald, March 2, 1916

1975 :: Death of C.W. Matson

C.W. Matson, 88, of Rockdale died Thursday in a Rockdale hospital after a long illness. Funeral was at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Murray Street Church of Christ with Minister George Hall and Minister Milton Pogue officiating. Burial was in Laurelland Cemetery in Dallas. Mr. Matson had lived in Rockdale since 1921 and was owner of the Matson Theaters in Rockdale and other Central Texas cities until his retirement several years ago. Surviving are a granddaughter, Dorothy Ann Wallis of Rockdale; his sister-in-law, Miss Lilly Hardeson of Rockdale; two brothers-in-law, Joe Hardeson of San Francisco, Calif. and W.F. Hardeson of Dallas. Cameron Herald, January 6, 1975

1902 :: Death of George Wallis

Death - Geo. W. Wallis of Rockdale was taken with a severe hemorrhage last Friday evening and died in a very short while. He had been in ill health for a year or two. Burial was at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. The Thorndale Thorn, May 23, 1902

---

On the 16th of this month Geo. W. Wallis died at his home in Rockdale after months of declining health, the spark of life gradually becoming extinct. Deceased was 41 years of age and was born at Mountain Home, Arkansas. He came from that state to Texas and settled at Rockdale in 1884. For a number of years he held a position as salesman with the large mercantile house of Scarbrough & Hicks, and in this capacity he formed an extended acquaintance and was held in the highest esteem by all. Fourteen years ago he married Miss Mattie Hale, who survives him. He severed his connection with Scarbrough & Hicks to engage in business for himself, embarking in the drug business. He was the senior member of the firm of Wallis & Giesecke and afterwards of the firm of Wallis & Hale. For a time he was sole proprietor of the business, but ill health forced him to abandon it entirely. He then engaged in the fire insurance business with his brother-in-law, G.M. Ryan, and was thus associated at the time of his death. He was for years a consistent member of the Baptist church, being zealous and active. He carried a number of life insurance policies and left his little family well provided for. We knew George Wallis almost during the entire life of his residence in this county, and admired his true nobility of character. He was always genial and happy and it was ever a pleasure to grasp his hand in friendship's greeting. We join a host of friends in extending condolence to his bereaved family. Cameron Herald, May 29, 1902

1914 :: Graduation at the Opera House

Rockdale, Tex., May 15. -- The Rockdale public schools will close May 29, the graduating exercises being held on that night at the opera house. There are fourteen graduates, as follows: Misses Catherine Sanford, Ester Jenness, Florence Dunnington, Louise Brodnax, Lucille Poole, Lorena Harris, Minnie Hamilton, Mollie Stein, Pearl Woody and Olive Branch; Messrs. Jamie Wallis, Will Norris Hale, Homer Turner and Edgar Lingert. The annual class address will be delivered on that occasion by Dr. Frank Seay of Southwestern University. The baccalaureate sermon will be preached at the Presbyterian Church on Sunday, May 24, at 11 a.m. by Rev. E.G. Cook. . . .

The Rockdale School Board has selected seven members of the next year's faculty of the Rockdale public schools, as follows: C.G. Green, superintendent; R.L. Grogan, principal; Miss Lena Rogan, High School history; Miss Florence Hubert, primary; Miss Helen Kone, second grade; Miss Irma Porter, third grade; Miss Minnie Foster, intermediate, arithmetic. All are re-elected, having served one or more years each. Five other teachers are yet to be elected. Dallas Morning News, May 16, 1914 

1895 :: Bone of a Mastadon

Rockdale, Milam Co., Tex., April 14. -- Andrew Strelsky, living six miles north of town on Little river, came in town yesterday with the bone of an animal supposed to be from a mastadon. What part of the animal it represents has not yet been determined, but it is believed to be the lower jaw. It would represent from its dimensions, an animal about twenty or twenty-two feet high. It is in a very good state of preservation. About three years ago the foreleg of such an animal was found on the banks of the Brazos above Velasco, which probably came from the same source, floated there by a rise in the river. This section, from the number of specimens, was at one time the feeding grounds for these large animals. An investigation will be made. The bone is now at the drug store of Wallis & Glesecke. Galveston Daily News, April 15, 1895

1903 :: Old Dr. Wallis is Dead

Rockdale, Tex., Jan. 9. -- Dr. R.S. Wallis, a prominent physician, is dead here. He served as a surgeon in the confederate army, and while acting as such was summoned to attend a duel in which Gen. Marmaduke, of Missouri, killed his antagonist. The Burlingame Enterprise, (Burlingame, Kansas), January 15, 1903

1914 :: Rockdale Public Schools

Rockdale, Tex., May 15. -- The Rockdale public schools will close May 29, the graduating exercises being held on that night at the opera house. There are fourteen graduates, as follows: Misses Catherine Sanford, Ester Jenness, Florence Dunnington, Louise Brodnax, Lucile Poole, Lorene Harris, Minnie Hamilton, Mollie Stein, Pearl Woody and Olive Branch; Messrs. Jamie Wallis, Will Norris Hale, Homer Turner and Edgar Lingert. The annual class address will be delivered on that occasion by Dr. Frank Steay of Southwestern University. The baccalaureate sermon will be preached at the Presbyterian Church on Sunday, May 24, at 11 a.m. by Rev. E.G. Cook. Dallas Morning News, May 16, 1914