1927 :: Texas Man Dies After Accident

Dallas Morning News.  Rockdale, Tex., Dec. 27. -- E.I. Wade, postmaster at Rockdale, died about 11 o'clock last night on an operating table in a Cameron hospital following injuries sustained in the street in front of the Rockdale postoffice about 10 o'clock when struck by a hit-and-run automobile. No trace of the automobile which killed Mr. Wade had been obtained at an early hour this morning. Funeral services are being held at Rockdale this afternoon. The Amarillo Globe-Times, December 26, 1927 

1876 :: Postmaster Antony

Milton Antony (1824-1885) was the third Postmaster in Rockdale, beginning on the 6th of June in 1876. His term ended one month after the entire wooden portion of Rockdale burned in March of 1877.

1874 :: Rockdale Postmaster

When the railroad reached Rockdale, McGregor and Muir moved their newspaper plant from Cameron to Rockdale and changed the name to the Rockdale Messenger. Muir was the first postmaster for the newly established Rockdale Post Office, beginning on October 20, 1874.

1901 :: Tragedy at Rockdale

Rockdale, Tex., Aug. 16. -- J.C. Watson, assistant postmaster here, was shot and killed here. The tragedy occurred in the postoffice. Watson received two wounds. The weapon used was a Colt's revolver. Lee Batte of Cameron surrendered to the officers here, had his examining trial before Justice Kennon and was admitted to bail in the sum of $5000, which was made in a few min(utes). Family trouble was the cause of the shooting. Batte and Watson were brothers-in-law. The Eagle, August 17, 1901

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Rockdale, Tex., Aug. 15. -- J.C. Watson, assistant postmaster here, was shot and killed at 10:25 this morning. The tragedy occurred in the postoffice. Watson received two wounds. The weapon used was a 45 Colt's revolver. Lee Batte of Cameron surrendered to the officers here, had his examining trial before Justice Kennon and was admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000, which was made in a few moments. Family trouble was the cause of the shooting. Batte and Watson were brothers-in-law. . . . Cameron, Tex., Aug. 15. -- R.L. Batte was for years City Marshal of this town and now owns a large ranch in Western Texas and is a prominent citizen. Batte and Watson were connected by marriage. Dallas Morning News, August 16, 1901

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About 10:25 a.m., Tuesday, 2-shots were heard in the direction of the post office and a few seconds later, R.L. Batte walked from the building with a smoking six-shooter in his hand and asked for an officer so as to surrender. J.C. Watson, deputy post master, the husband of Mr. Batte's sister-in-law, but the particulars have not yet been made public. Mr. Batte came in on the 9:45 S.A.&A.P. train from Cameron on business and in about 45 minutes, after his arrival, he went to the post office and called at the door and as Mr. Watson opened it, Batte opened fire without a word being spoken by either party. After firing, Batte walked out and went up to Hamilton & Raspberry's hardware store and surrendered to Mr. Hamilton. Watson's body was taken to Branch's undertaking establishment where the inquest is being held and the body will be prepared for burial. Rockdale Messenger, August 15, 1901

1893 :: Colonel W B Woody is Postmaster

Rockdale, Tex., March 29. -- Colonel W.B. Woody's appointment as postmaster here is received with much pleasure by his friends and the general belief is he will give the patrons of the office a very satisfactory service. Dallas Morning News, March 31, 1893

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

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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.

1903 :: Death of J T Thweatt

Cameron, Tex., Oct. 14. -- J.T. Thweatt, an aged and respected citizen of Milam County, died yesterday afternoon at his residence in Maysfield at the age of 70 years. He had resided in that community for the past forty years. He was a Confederate soldier, and a member of the Masonic Lodge, and also a member of the Knights of Honor. The funeral services were conducted this afternoon at Port Sullivan. The deceased was Justice of the Peace of precinct No. 2 of this county for a number of years, and was for several years postmaster at Maysfield. Dallas Morning News, October 16, 1903

1900 :: Travers Deaths in Galveston Hurricane

The person identified in the following 1900 report as "Sister H.C. Travers" . . . aka Sheldon H. "Della" Raby . . . was the wife of Herndon C. Travers, who was postmaster in Rockdale in the 1880s . . . a Baby Boy Travers is buried at the Old City Cemetery in Rockdale . . . he is their son . . . 





Advent Review and Sabbath Herald
Battle Creek, Mich.
November 13, 1900

"When Galveston is mentioned, the minds of the Review readers will instantly revert to the awful destruction brought upon our Texas coast by the great hurricane of September 8. . . . The storm was terrific here at Houston . . . The storm was much harder east and south of here, seeming to center about Galveston. It is impossible to describe the destruction brought upon that city by the wind and waves.

The results of the storm are horrifying in the extreme. Nine of our people perished in Galveston. Their names are as follows: Sister H.C. Travers and little boy . . . We deeply mourn the loss of these dear sisters and these little lambs, but we hope to meet them again when the sea gives up her dead. . . .

Being very anxious about our people in Galveston, I went there as soon as the strict martial law would admit me into the city. On my journey I found that the prairie for twenty miles inland was covered with all kinds of valuable property and debris, interspersed with carcasses. The human bodies along the public route had been previously buried, though there were still hundreds on the prairie. Some were picked up even a month later. . . .

It is impossible to imagine the force of the waves. Think of railroads being swept from their beds, the rails being snapped and twisted as if they were cords! It would be useless for me to enter into details." Felix Conway.

1913 :: New Postmaster Takes Charge at Rockdale

Rockdale, Tex., June 19. -- John A. Shapard received his commission as postmaster here Tuesday and is now in charge. Mr. Shapard has been a citizen of this town for thirty years and for the greater part of that time he has occupied positions with the local newspapers. He is a lifelong Democrat. T.D. Wootton is the new assistant postmaster, while Herman Talley and Miss Esther Stevens retain their clerkships. Dallas Morning News, June 20, 1913

1930 :: J.J. Hairston Dies

Rockdale, Texas, June 11. -- J.J. Hairston, 82, died at his home in this city Monday. Mr. Hairston was a pioneer citizen of Milam County and Rockdale. He was engaged in the cattle business for many years but retired several years ago on account of declining health. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. J.J. Hairston, and the following children: Commissioner R.A. Hairston of this precinct, Miss Martha Hairston, Mrs. R.L. Orr of Rockdale, Mrs. George A. Marsch and Miss Alma Hairston of Shreveport, La. A granddaughter, Mrs. James Lanning of Rockdale and a grandson, Kenton K. Hairston of Denver, Colo., who were reared by the grandparents, and Postmaster H.H. Turner and other grandchildren of Rockdale and over the State survive him also. Funeral services were held Tuesday. Dallas Morning News, June 12, 1930

1882 :: Travers becomes Postmaster

At the election for postmaster held at Rockdale Saturday H.C. Travers, the president incumbent, received 356 votes without opposition. Dallas Morning News, March 30, 1886

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Herndon C. Travers becomes Postmaster as of the 14th of April. He was a special speaker, whose services were sought on all public occasions. He was president of the leading clubs while serving as Postmaster, and was one of the principals in a notable double wedding to Miss Shelby Raby of Gatesville; the two other principals were J. Sid Hudson and Miss Emma York.

1913 :: John Shapard for Postmaster

Special to The News. Rockdale, Tex., March 8. -- John A. Shapard of this city has received official notice from Congressman Rufus Hardy that he (Hardy) had recommended Mr. Shapard for the position of postmaster at Rockdale under Wilson's Administration. Mr. Shapard is a printer, having been employed in various capacities by the newspapers of this city, past and present, for the past thirty years. At present he is foreman of the mechanical department of the Rockdale Reporter. He is a stanch Democrat, a good newspaper man and a highly respected and invaluable citizen. Dallas Morning News, March 9, 1913

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

1918 :: Death of John A. Shapard, Postmaster

Special to The News. Shapard. -- Rockdale, Texas, Jan. 24. -- The funeral of John A. Shapard, Rockdale's postmaster for the last four and a half years, was held Tuesday at the Presbyterian Church by the Rev. W.E. Copeland. Mr. Shapard was 67 years of age and died last Friday, the body being held for the arrival of a son in the United States Navy. Another son is with Pershing in France. He was a printer by trade, and worked on the local newspaper almost continuously for thirty-two years. Dallas Morning News, January 25, 1918 

See also . . . Postmaster's Sudden Death Last Week Came as Shock . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. [45], No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 24, 1918 Page: 1 of 8 . . .