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.

1915 :: Death of Mrs. E.H. Wynne

After a long period of suffering Mrs. E.H. Wynne passed away Tuesday afternoon and the funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock at the First Methodist church, the pastor officiating. Burial was in the City cemetery. Mrs. Wynne before her marriage was Miss Rasberry and was for many years a teacher in the public schools of her home town, Rockdale. She was prominent in church and social work and her demise is mourned by a wide circle of friends. 

Mrs. Wynne was confined to her bed from the first of February, the physicians preparing her for a serious surgical operation which was never undertaken on account of her weakened condition which gradually diminished until the end came. . . . Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, June 10, 1915

1878 :: Death of Percy Horton Wynne

Died: Wynne -- At Lampasas Springs, on Sunday, 8th Inst., Percy Horton, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Wynne, of Rockdale, Texas, aged seven months. Galveston Daily News, September 11, 1878 

 

1902 :: Death of Little Nellie Gray

Nellie Gray, the 12-year-old daughter of Dr. Gray, was fatally burned at Rogers by the explosion of a lamp. She lingered six hours. Shiner Gazette, August 27, 1902

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Hosts of people in Caldwell will deeply sympathize with Dr. E.H. Gray, of Rogers, in the tragic loss by fire of his little daughter, Nellie, on Tuesday of last week. The particulars are given as follows by the Rogers News:


On Tuesday afternoon at about 8 o'clock, little Nellie Gray, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. E.H. Gray, was fatally burned by the explosion of a lamp. Nellie and her mother were preparing to go to the country to visit the family of Mr. A.W. Howard. Being through with the curling irons, Mrs. Gray attempted to blow out the light, when the lamp exploded with a loud report.


Little Nellie seeing her mother's clothing on fire, came to the rescue but, in an instant, she herself was wrapped in flames and fled from the house out through the front yard into the street. Mrs. Gray caught her daughter as she fled, and tried to extinguish the flames, but could not restrain her. 

Mr. M.P. Wynne arrived on the scene as Nellie reached the street and came to the rescue. He threw the child down and tried with all his power to save her, but to no avail, while he himself sustained severe burns on the hand and arm. 

In a few minutes the fire had consumed all but a handful of the poor child's garments and she was carried back to the house blackened and burned all over except the upper part of her face, and her feet which were protected by her shoes. 

No more horrible tragedy could be conceived of. Mrs. Gray had in the mean time suffered serious injury, but owing to her woolen clothing and the prompt assistance of Miss Nettie Ratliff, she escaped death.


Strange to say, after the terrible torture, Little Nellie seemed to lose all sense of pain and passed quietly and peacefully away at about midnight.


The funeral services conducted by Elder Lincoln were held at the Christian church on Wednesday afternoon. On Sunday -- just three days previously -- Bro. Lincoln had baptised Little Nellie on a profession of faith in Christ. Now, he comes to conduct the last sad rites over the remains of her who but a few hours before had been such a sweet little maiden, the idol of her father's and mother's heart, loved and admired by all.


Several very pathetic incidents occurred in connection with this remarkable tragic death. Just a few moments before the explosion occurred, little Nellie expressed a desire to play and sing, "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus," but her mother told her they wouldn't have time, as she thought she heard Mr. Howard's folks coming to take them to the country.


When Nellie discovered her mother on fire, she rushed to her assistance, exclaiming, "O mamma, honey, you're burning up!"


A large number of people, including friends and relatives from Milano, Rockdale, Caldwell and other points, made up the procession that following the remains to their last resting place. Many floral tributes came from friends and relatives of other towns, and the grave was literally buried in the most beautiful flowers.


No sadder event ever occurred in the history of Rogers, and a gloom has hung like a pall over our little city. The hearts of our entire people are touched with sympathy for the broken-hearted parents and relatives. We wish it were in our power to speak words that would console and comfort these stricken friends. 

But, alas! No human words can take away such depths of sorrow, and, in our sense of weakness, we would commend the bereaved to God whom they serve, and who has in all ages been the refuge and comforter of his people. Caldwell News-Chronicle, August 22, 1902

1914 :: Death of Mrs. M.C. Rasbury

Dallas Morning News. August 10, 1914. Deaths. Rasbury. -- Rockdale, Milam Co., Tex., Aug. 9. -- Mrs. M.C. Rasbury died at the family home here at 7:30 o'clock Friday, aged 72 years. She had resided in Rockdale for thirty-three years and reared a large family. The surviving children are Judge Charles A. Rasbury of Dallas, E.L. Rasbury of Thorndale, Mrs. E.H. Wynne of Temple, Mrs. C.M. Sessions and L.L. Rasbury of Rockdale.