1900 :: Travers in the Galveston Hurricane

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

Note to readers . . . Sister H.C. Travers . . . aka Sheldon H. "Della" Raby . . . was the wife of Herndon C. Travers, who was postmaster in Rockdale in the 1880s . . . their Baby Boy is buried at the Old City Cemetery in Rockdale . . .

1899 :: Dedication of Cawthon Monument

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Rockdale, Texas, November 6. -- A very beautiful ceremony took place in the local cemetery Sunday afternoon, the occasion of the unveiling and dedication of a monument to the memory of Dr. S.C. Cawthon by Pin Oak camp No. 222, Woodmen of the World. A large crowd was in attendance. Houston Daily Post, Tuesday Morning, November 7, 1899

Click to view CAWTHON Photo Album

1899 :: Death of Dr. Stephen Colquitt Cawthon

The Rockdale Messenger, Thur., May 18, 1899. Death - After a long and lingering affliction, Dr. Stephen Colquitt Cawthon died Monday evening at 3 p.m., at the home of his father-in-law, J.R. Rowland on Burleson St. The doctor's oldest sister, Miss Mary had been with him for several months and his youngest sister, Miss Missouri of DeFuniak Springs, FL arrived that morning and was with her brother just 5-hours before his death. Mrs. Alice Lee of Waxahachie came in on the morning of the 16th to attend the funeral. He leaves a wife and sisters. The funeral was Tuesday evening at 4:30 p.m., after which the Woodsmen of the World took charge and interred the remains in the city cemetery.

Click to view CAWTHON Photo Album

1898 :: Death of Elder Beezley

Rockdale, Tex., Oct. 14. -- Elder W.T.H. Begely [sic, i.e., Beezley] died in this city on Wednesday, Oct. 13, in his 76th year. He had been a minister of the Baptist denomination for forty-two years, and for all that time had preached the gospel in Milam, Burleson and adjoining counties. He was one of the pioneer preachers of this county, having settled here in 1848, when the buffalo were plentiful here as jack rabbits are now. He was widely known throughout central Texas for his sterling qualities and his uncompromising religious faith.

There never was a time in his ministry that he would not have gone to the stake rather than compromise one tenet of his faith. He was an ex-confederate soldier, having served through that war in Greene's brigade. After the war ended he with a colony of others went to Brazil to escape the reconstruction regime of the federal government. He was not pleased with that country and returned to his old home in Milam county at the end of four years. He leaves a widow and one son and an adopted daughter. His son lives in Temple, Tex., and his adopted daughter, Mrs. J.M. Alexander, lives in Rockdale. Dallas Morning News, October 15, 1898

1894 :: Death of W.M. Curry

Rockdale, Milam Co., Tex., Oct. 11. -- The funeral of Mr. W.M. Curry occurred yesterday afternoon at the city cemetery. Mr. Curry was a young man and at the time of his death was a convict guard, and on Tuesday was killed by the accidental discharge of a shotgun loaded with buckshot near Burlington. Dallas Morning News, October 14, 1894

1894 :: Death of Judge J.S. Perry

Rockdale, Tex., Feb. 26. -- Milton Perry, father of Judge J.S. Perry, John, Buck and Pete Perry, died here at his home last night aged 83 years. The deceased came to Texas forty years ago. Most of the time he has lived in Milam county. His wife and four sons survive him. Galveston Daily News, (Galveston, Texas) February 27, 1894

1892 :: Death of Judge Walker

The Galveston Daily News. Tuesday, May 31, 1892. MORTUARY. Judge Walker's Funeral. Rockdale, Tex., May 30. -- The remains of Judge Richard S. Walker arrived here Saturday from Cincinnati, O., on the 12 m. express in charge of his son, Dr. A.C. Walker, and were buried at 4 p.m. in Rockdale city cemetery by the side of his wife's grave. The body was followed to the grave by a large concourse of citizens in carriages. The funeral exercises were performed by Rev. W.E. Copeland, assisted by Rev. B.B. Baxter, Sr. His son, John C. Walker, of Galveston is here. [Click HERE to visit his findagrave memorial page.]

1891 :: Death of Miss Bulah Loper

Dallas Morning News, October 20, 1891. Taylor, Tex., Oct. 19. -- Miss Bulah Loper, a young lady of Rockdale, and cousin of Mrs. B. Garry and Mrs. Minar Brown of this place, died at Sherman university to-day. Remains will be interred at Rockdale to-morrow.

1891 :: Death of G.W. Williams

Dallas Morning News, October 13, 1891. Mineola, Tex., Oct. 12. -- G.W. Williams of Rockdale suicided here last night by taking twenty grains of morphine. He came here from Rockdale on Friday with a cotton-planter, which he placed on exhibition at the fair. He was found on the steps of his boarding house at about 6 o'clock Sunday evening. The doctor worked with him until 3 o'clock this morning, when he died. The Knights of Pythias, of which order he was a member, took charge of the remains and wired the Knights of Pythias lodge at Rockdale of his death. They received a message to forward the body there, which was done at 4:40 on the International and Great Northern train. He told some parties that he was going to kill himself, but they thought nothing of his threats, and consequently he was not watched.

1889 :: Death of Miss Emma Perry

Rockdale, Tex., Feb. 15. -- The pure and gentle spirit of Miss Emma Perry, only daughter of A.P. Perry, departed from its earthly abode this afternoon. Deceased was a most beautiful and lovable young girl just budding into womanhood and her death from pneumonia contracted not more than a week ago, has saddened the hearts of her many friends and stricken her doting parents with grief almost beyond human endurance. Dallas Morning News, February 16, 1889