1912 :: Death of Mary M. Witcher

Mrs. M.M. Witcher, aged about eighty years, died at her home in Cameron Monday night, and was buried in the Old City Cemetery in Rockdale Tuesday morning, the funeral taking place at 10:45 o'clock from the home of Mr. and Mrs. H.D. Kone. Rev. A.S. Whitehurst was the officiating minister. Deceased was an old-time resident of Rockdale, and the mother of Mrs. John Joynes, and numbered her friends here by the score, especially among the older settlers. She had lived a long and useful christian life and has passed to her reward. Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, July 04, 1912

1877 :: A Prosperous City

Rockdale - A Statesman Attache Takes a Glimpse at the Place and Some of its Business Men.

Weekly Democratic Statesman, 
Austin, Texas
Thursday, June 21, 1877

Rockdale, Texas, for a long time the terminus of the International and Great Northern Railroad, is a prosperous city of nearly two thousand inhabitants and is the shipping point for most of the cotton and other produce raised in Cameron and the adjoining counties.

A representative of this paper spent a very pleasant as well as a profitable day, last week, in this pretty little city, and was astonished at the amount of business done, as well as the large stocks carried by the merchants.

Everybody looked happy, and the prospects for trade were never better.

We will only mention a few of the principal merchants and business men and do up the rest at some future time.

Rockdale has only one bank, under the firm name of J.S. Perry & Co. The business is managed by Mr. E.E. Wynne. This firm does a general banking and exchange business and is reliable.

H.P. Hale & Co. carry a full stock of general merchandise under the management of Mr. E.M. Scarbrough.

Mr. H. Goldsticker, the wholesale and retail dealer in liquors, cigars and tobacco, can be found on the corner of Main and Cameron streets, and he is always pleased to serve his friends with the best of whisky, wine and lager beer.

Mr. John Redding is the largest saddle and harness dealer.

The firm of Giles & Wolf keeps a large stock of hardware, stoves and tinware; they sell as low as the lowest.

Mr. J.O. Sitman carries a stock of groceries that will please those wanting good and fresh goods at living prices.

The Grangers run a grocery and feed store on the corner of Main and Milam streets, opposite the depot. Mr. J.A. Hargrove is in charge and assisted by the "Louisiana tiger." This house is very popular.

Mr. Solon Joynes, the commission merchant, deals very largely in all kinds of farm and mill machinery. He also buys produce, paying the best prices.

Isaacs & Coffield are wholesale and retail druggists, and have a well selected stock of goods.

The Osborne Brothers run the lumber yard near the depot.

W. Max & Co. are now the owners and proprietors of the Max House and restaurant. Mr. George B. Randle, late of Austin, is in charge, and knows how to keep a hotel. The table will compare with the best in Texas. "Slim Jim" is the chief cook, if not bottle washer, and does things up in brown style.

J.J. Mosely keeps a first-class livery and feed stable, and fits people out either for the city or country.

Messrs Witcher & Co., retail liquor dealers, carry a full stock and do a live business.

Mr. A. Kaiser does the leading business in clothing, dry goods, boots, shoes, etc.

Dr. W.A. Brooks is the proprietor of the "Brooks House." His rooms are good and the table first-class.

M.L. Kritser's livery and feed stable and wagon yard are convenient to the Max House. He carries on an open and shut game; that is, he opens to many customers, treats them well, and shuts down on much filthy lucre.

Mrs. E.S. Lapper [sic, i.e., Loper] presides over Rockdale's most fashionable millinery and dressmaking establishment, and puts to shame many city emporiums.

Only one paper -- a wonder to be told -- is published in Rockdale. Mr. Enoch Breeding is publisher of the Messenger, and he makes it a live, newsy paper.

The leading physician of the city is Dr. A.C. Walker, who is besides a pleasant gentleman.

Rockdale has passed through the period that distinguishes new railroad towns, and is now as quiet and law-abiding a place as any in Texas. This fact is to be attributed both to the character of its citizens and the excellent administration of Hon. F.A. Hill, its mayor.

Once in a while some one of the Statesman will take Rockdale in, and its resources and progress will be more extendedly noticed.

1874 :: Wounding of Mayor Burck

Little Misunderstanding. Rockdale, August 10, 1874. We had a little excitement in our city this evening. It appears the Marshal had arrested a stock man by the name of Olive, and some little misunderstanding having occurred between the Marshal and prisoner, so the Marshal, with all the dignity of his official capacity, struck the prisoner over the head with a loaded six-shooter, which went off, the ball striking the City Mayor, A.A. Burck in the neck, inflicting a slight flesh wound. With the exception of this, our city has been quite and very dry. Galveston Daily News, August 11, 1874

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

1900 :: Death of Will Moses

Rockdale, Tex., April 16. -- Will Moses, who was caging at the Witcher coal mine, two miles east of Rockdale, was instantly killed this morning about 9 o'clock. He either gave a wrong order or his order was misunderstood and the wrong cage was hoisted, which caught him between the cage and shaft. His neck was broken and his breast and collarbone crushed. Dallas Morning News, April 17, 1900

1875 :: Election of Municipal Officers

At the election of municipal officers at Rockdale, the following were the successful candidates: A.A. Burck, Mayor; H.L. Witcher, Marshal; F.A. Hill, Joe King, W.B. Ayers, C.B. Hall, Alderman. Galveston Daily News, April 13, 1875 

1889 :: Witcher is made Postmaster

Washington, March 23. -- The president sent the following nominations to the senate to-day: . . . Also, a number of fourth-class postmasters; among them John C. Witcher, at Rockdale, Texas. . . . Austin Weekly Statesman, March 28, 1889

---

John C. Witcher was made Postmaster as of the 26th of March. The Witcher family was prominent in the early days of the city. John C. Witcher located here in 1883 [sic?], as a contractor and builder. When the town was incorporated in June 1874, he was elected city marshal and served four years during which there were some turbulent times.

1902 :: Fire in Rockdale

Rockdale, Tex., Aug. 31. -- The one-story brick building on Main street owned by Hugh Witcher and occupied by O.A. Bowen as a grocery store was destroyed by fire this morning. Nieman's saloon and the building he occupied, belonging to J.F. Coffield, were damaged; total damage $5,500. Dallas Morning News, September 1, 1902

1906 :: Death of H.L. Witcher

Rockdale, Tex., May 19. -- H.L. Witcher died at his home in this city on yesterday afternoon in his 67th year. He was a member of the G.A.R. He served in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry. Mr. Witcher moved to Rockdale in 1873 and was elected City Marshall in 1874 and served two terms in that capacity. In 1884 Mr. Witcher was married to Miss Ruth Stribling, a daughter of Dr. J.H. Stribling, an eminent Baptist preacher. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge. His funeral services will be conducted by that fraternity this afternoon at 5 o'clock. Mr. Witcher served two terms as postmaster of Rockdale. First under Benjamin Harrison's administration and afterwards under McKinley's administration. He leaves a widow. Dallas Morning News, May 24, 1906

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.

1903 :: Douthit files Deed of Trust

Business Matters. Files Deed of Trust. 

Special to The News. Cameron, Tex., Dec. 2. -- B.F. Douthit of Rockdale filed a deed of trust late yesterday afternoon, naming H.L. Witcher of that place as trustee. Douthit was in the jewelry business. His liabilities show about $2,315.63. The assets are not stated, but consist of the stock and fixtures.


The following are among the largest creditors: Mrs. Flora Douthit, Palestine, $850; Dr. R.W. Wallace, Rockdale, $310; Morgan & Hawley, Dallas, $380; L. Boumen Jewelry Company, St. Louis, $212.


Dallas Morning News, December 3, 1903