1909 :: Death of David Walker Brodnax

David Walker Brodnax, an old and highly esteemed citizen of Rockdale, Tex., died there on the 11th of February, 1909, aged sixty-seven years. He was a Virginian by birth, but had lived in Texas since the fifties. He served through the entire war as a member of Company D, 15th Texas Cavalry, Green's Texas Brigade, and his loyalty to the cause for which he fought never wavered. He was interested in the Confederate Reunions, and at the time of his death was Commander of Sam Davis Camp, U. C. V., of Rockdale. Comrade Brodnax was never married, but leaves several brothers and sisters. Confederate Veteran. June 1909. Created by Margie Daniels. Published Monthly in the Interest of Confederate Veterans and Kindred Topics.

2009 :: Memories of the Old City Cemetery

There was also a trail in the Old City Cemetery used as a short cut for children attending the nearby Aycock school. They didn’t mind using it during the day but would not venture into the cemetery at night. “We see ghosts walking around the cemetery,” the children would say.


At the main entrance to the cemetery a water tower once stood. Its foundation is still there. Children were afraid to venture near this tower because they thought it was leaning and would fall on them. 

The tower was a source of water for the community. Most families had barrels and would haul their water from the tower, as water lines did not yet exist, or kept a barrel at a corner of the house to catch rain water. 

A grist mill once stood in the center of the street near the water tower. People took dried corn ears and would have the corn ground into meal for cornbread. 

Many early black Rockdale settlers are buried in the southern end of the cemetery. . . . by Susie Sansom-Piper in the Rockdale Reporter, February 5, 2009