Rockdale High School - Lair Yearbook (Rockdale, TX)

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1v :5? Ei$$iai$ilaiggag 535.36.3'283'5F J a 5 s-Wf. .. luv, Rockdaie Among the earliest settlers in this section was Dr. T. E. Riddle. who settled ' in the vicinity of what is now Cattail in 1867. Dr. Riddle passed away only a few years ago, having reached a ripe old age. In 1852 Captain B. M. Hutchin- son settled about two miles northwest of the present site of Rockdale, where he built a log cabin and lived with his family until his death in 1894. This cabin is still standing in part, a gentle reminder of days of long ago. Remains of cabin built by Captain B. M. Hutchinson in 1852. , In the latter part of 1872, news spread over the state that International '8 Great Northern Railroad was being extended from Hearne to Austini Prospectors became intensely interested and soon entered the territory between these points, believing a good town would be settled somewhere along this line. Bryan, Hearne, Waco, and Austin were the nearest points of communi- cation with this section of the county. In the beginning of 1873, some sturdy pioneers with surveying outfits left Cameron in a southwestern direction to survey large tracts of land lying near Rock Prairie, about eighteen miles away. Later it developed that George Green, B. F. Ackerman and Frank Smith had sold to the International 8 Great Northern company four hundred acres of land on! which to lay olir a town. On September third 3 sale was had of lots, which had been laid out, with number, location, and boundary of each. Prospectors came from near and ' far on horseback or with ox team, carrying with them such supplies as were necessary for existence until some arrangement for local trade could be made. E. S. Loper of Davilla and Evans and Brickhouse of Lexington were among the first to locate; Evans and Brickhouse were the nrst to open for business, where the Rockdale State Bank now stands. Those who had settled here before the first train pulled in, were naturally curious to witness the arrival of that real live monster, as it would come roaring in. From near and far they came, and gathered at the quaint little station to greet the spectacle with frantic cheers and applause. The track was completed on February 4, 1874. The first train from Hearne was loaded down with people, who brought their tents and provisions with them, for as yet no accommodations could be bad. They came from city, town, and village, a varied assortment of humanityahonest, brave, and rugged men, coming to seek their fortunes in a new environment. The first superintendent of the railroad was John R. Hoxie, with Henry Dickson as first ticket agent, and Homer Eads telegraph operator. W. Hill Marshall of this city was one of the passengers on this lirst official train. He and his good wife have witnessed the growth and development of Rockdale, and recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. The then nameless town was as yet only a small opening among the post oaksea frontier town with Stumps in the few streets which had been laid out While it remained the terminus of the railroad, everything about the place was in that unsettled condition characteristic of new western towns. The naming of a town was usually conceded to the railroad ofiicials. but this honor came to Mrs. Ackerman of Cameron. whose husband, B. F. Ackere man, donated some part of the land on which the town was located, and for Whom one of the main streets was named. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman coming across country to the new town, passed an immense rock on a prairie about two or three miles north of townaa rock about ten or twelve feet high, which must have been twenty-five or thirty feet in circumference. Mrs. Ackerman noticed this lone rock, and after arriving here and seeing the place was low with hills around, radiating as from some center, and remembering the lone rock, hit upon the idea of ROCKDALB, which she announced to the railroad ofiicials; and that name they promptly accepted. So Rockdale, a name dear to the hearts of many, saw its beginning, and, with the swiftly passing years, was to witness phenomenal commercial and civic growth. Among the hrst settlers were Thomas Fletcher, W. W. Harvey, and Frank Allen, who located on what is now the T. M. Williams' place. Mr. Fletcher irgproved the old J. M. Ousley homestead, where he established and operated the first mill and gin plants. This land is now owned by his daughter, Mrs. D. H. Sanford. Miss Ellen Fletcher, now Mrs. W. W. Harvey of Comanche, was quite a horsewoman and would ride at will over the prairie where Rockdale now stands with little thought of what the future held for that playground of hers. At first tents had been put up to shelter the people who were here to build a town, but these were rapidly replaced by crude wooden or board structures. A row of business houses was built on Railroad Street. which was then the important street in the town. The carpenters and contractors were kept busy, and by the following summer one could count the number of painted. houses on the fingers of one hand. One of these houses which still stands today was the home of Mr. Jack Stewart, afterwards the home of Mrs. Sue Hale. Mr Stewart was a good carpenter, also a good singing school teacher. Late Mrs. Sue Hale home built by Jack Stewart in late eighties. Business prospered, and during the two years that Rockdale was the railroad terminus it became the commercial center of Milam County, with a trade terri- tory from the Brazos River to Georgetown and from Giddings on the south to above Belton and east toward Waco on the north. The board shacks were rapidly supplanted by brick buildings as business justified the change. Quite a number of exciting events happened during those stirring days. chief among which was the arrival of the first circus in town. People came in wagon loads from great distances to witness the first circus of their lives, and by their awestruck and bewildered behavior proved more of a show themselves. But these rough and rugged people were Hdiamonds in the rough and soon proved themselves the iine men and women of later days after contact with the outside world. Picturesque cowboys managed to ride to town often and added color and gaiety to the streets of Rockdaler Frank and Jesse James. the outlaws. visited here now and then, but always seemed in pleasant spirits and proved agreeable company. Negro revivals were popular in those early days, and quite a bit of complaint was noticed when such a revival ran for several months, beginning about twelve o'clock at midnight and closing in time for breakfast. The meet- ing continued, however, and developed a boy named Tolivcr. quite a genius for stirring the darkies up, who later landed in XVashington City in charge of a large congregation. Another negro. Jim Jackson. a porter in a saloon and' gambling emporium, was collecting contributions to build a church. He was active in this dual position for years. with many a successful gambler slipping Jim liberal contributions for LUCK, which enabled him to purchase the farm now occupied by the XVorlcy Mines. upon which he raised the hnest peaches in the country.

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Ten miles south of Nashville, Tcnochtitlan was established on the crossmg of the Old Spanish Trail. and became an important settlement. while north of . . . . . . s Nashvxlle. Sterling lnear Calvertl became another distribution pomt. One of the first permanent settlements in Robertson's colony was Jones Prairie. settled in 1833 by Joseph P. Jones, who came from Illinois and obtained a league of land in the vicinity. A later point of importance was port Sullivan. near the mouth of Little River. Davilla, one of the oldest settlements. had its beginning when the Spanish government sold to Miguel Davila a grant of land on October 18, 1833. Robertson's original grant included roughly the section embraced as follows: The west bank of the Navasota River south to the Old San Antonio Road tor Spanish TraiD. along the road west to the divide between the Brazos and the Colorado, along the ridge north to the Old Comanche trail, thence east to the Navasota. His grants included parts of the present Brazos. Burleson. and Hill Counties, and all of XVilliamson, Milam. McLennan. Bell. Limestone. and Navarro counties. The territory was given the name of the Municipality of Viesca. and delegates from the district were always designated as being from Viesca. Other counties included in this municipality were Burnet, Lampasas, Bosque. Coryell. Hamilton, Erath. Hood, Comanche. Brown, and Eastland. Robertson proved himself a wise and farsighted empresario. and, before the revolution. he had introduced more than six hundred families to his colony. He never spared himself expense and labor for their interests, and was a gentle- man of culture. intellectual, unselfish, enterprising, patriotic, and a good leader and a statesman. He lived on his farm in what is now Robertson County until his death on March 4. 1842, at the age of fifty-seven years. Milam County played her part in the Texas Revolution. and in the period of the Republic had a hand in all affairs. Again Sterling C. Robertson was leader in his colony. He was a delegate from Viesca tofficial name of Robert- son's colony, also known as the Nashville colony1 to the convention of March 1. 1836. which was called by the general council to meet at Washington-on- the Brazos. and. on March 2. he signed his name with fifty-seven others to the Declaration of Independence, which was penned by George C. Childress. Childress had assisted Alexander Thompson in the establishment of Old Nash- ville. A few days later, Robertson took part in the drawing of a Constitution for the Republic of Texas. and again was one of the signers of the document. When the convention received news of the fall of the Alamo, it disbanded at once tMarch 171. and Robertson returned hastily to Viesca to organize a force to help fight the Mexicans. Forming a company, he marched to the aid of Houston. He and his men participated in the Battle of San Jacinto, and, for his heroic services. Robertson was given six hundred and forty acres of land. Duringgthe Runaway Scrape. Robertson's colonists deserted their homes, and, after this, some of the villages practically disappeared. The first man to move back to Viesca was John Marlin, and later Captain Joseph Daniels. famous Indian fighter, built Fort Milam on the site of old Viesca. In the latter part of the year 1836, the Indians became very troublesome, and Robert- son organized a ranger company to protect his colonists from attacks. Many accounts of Indian raids and Indian fights are preserved from this period of Milam County history, but it is hard to sift the truth from the legendary accounts of these events. One story that is typical of the Indian situation is the history of the Mercer brothers, Peter and Jesse, and a man named Orr who settled on the Gabriel, west of Cameron, and who were attacked by the Indians. A bluff known to this day as Merceris Bluff is said to have been the spot where Peter Mercer, Orr, and a negro servant leaped to their death in an effort to escape the marauders. It is said also that the town of Cameron is located on the spot where an Indian fight once took place. On December 26. 1835, nineteen days after Ben Milam fell at San Antonio. the provisional government of Texas had changed the name of the municipality of Viesca to Milam Land District. We therefore have the honor of being the first district named for a hero of the revolution. When the first Senate of the Republic was called in session, Robertson was elected from the District of Milam and served two terms. Milam was the first county organized after the revolution, and Nashville was the county seat. Early in 1836, Massillon Farley was named County Judge, and William Thompson, County Clerk. Nudge Calvert's granddaughter, Mrs. J. W. Doremus of Dallas, still owns the plantation at the original site of the village. Her title is in the form of a Spanish land grant dated 1825. 1n 1837, the first county court was held at old Nashville. The name of the sheriff was John Beal. In the early lifties the district was divided into many smaller counties. In January, 1842, an act of the Congress of the Republic named commis- sioners to select a permanent county seat of Milam County to be called San Andres. But about this time Captain Ewen Cameron. a Texas ranger and a member of the Mier Expedition. met his death by special order of Santa Anna. and it was decided to name the new town for him. In 1846, Milam County was organized as now constituted. and Canieron became the county seat. The town was built on a tract of sixty acres donated by Captain Daniel Monroe. and he and a group of pioneers founded the county seat. The first courthouse was erected in 1846 and W. W. Oxsheer was District Clerk, Isaac Standifer, Chief Justice, Francis Duffau, County Clerk. and John McLennan. Sheriff. tThis building was moved and another erected later. In 1874, the second building burned, and the records were destroyed; in 1875 a new building was constructed, only to be condemned in 1889. The fourth and present court- house was built in 1892 at a cost of $75.000J In 1846. Texas was annexed to the United States. For the next fifteen years Milam County heroes were mostly those who gave their attention to handling the Indian problem, and particularly do we remember with pride and praise the Texas Rangers of the period who gave their courage and skill to help shape the destiny of Texas. Among the famous Texas rangers and Indian fighters of Milam County who gave us one of our most illustrious heroes of the Civil War period in his son, was Shapley P. Ross, father of Lawrence Sullivan Ross. Ross was one of the earliest settlers in Milam County, and his cabin home was on the site of Cameron. The son was born in Iowa 118381 but came to Texas with his family at the early age of one year. In the notes of W. W. Oxsheer on life in Milam County in early days is the fol- lowing interesting mention of Ross: 111 remember seeing one there tOId Nashville1 at a horse race which I attended on the Fourth of July, 1840. He was then a boy and a rider in one of the races, which I think he won, this being the subsequently famous Indian fighter and distinguished Governor Sul Ross. Sul Ross attended school at Baylor, Waco, where his family finally made their permanent home, and, later, at Florence Wesleyan University in Alabama. In 1858, he organized a company of Indian warriors and' went to the support of Major Earl Van Dorn, who was leading the United States troops against the Comanches. He took part in the battle of Wichita against the Indians, and in this battle rescued an eight-year-old white girl who was adopted by his mother and named Lizzie Ross. In 1859, Ross was placed at the head of a company of sixty Texas rangers. In 1860, in a battle with the Comanches on Pease River, Peta Nocona, the chief. was killed. and Ross discovered the chief's wife to be a white woman. She was identified as Cynthia Ann Parker, made captive by the Indians in childhood 08363. In 1866, Ross entered the Confederate army, and it is here, perhaps, that he deserved the name of hero most sincerely, for he entered as private soldier, and. on account of his deeds of daring, was soon promoted to theyrank of Brigadier- General. He served throughout the war, took part in one hundred and thirty- five battles, and had five horses shot from under him. He was closely associated with Generals Johnston and Hood. After his return to Texas, he continued to interest himself in the affairs of state, serving as Senator 0881-18833, as Governor in 1886, and, finally, as president of A. and M. College until his death in 1898. Milam County furnished her share of Confederate soldiers other than Ross. and in the roster of names of those who saw service were the following: Captain P. M. Kolb, Solon Joynes, Rev. W. E. Copeland, Captain Tracy. J. S. Perry, A. P. Perry, C. H. Coffteld, Fred A. Graves, Captain J. B. Kemp, Dr. L. J. Turner, Captain L. L. Lee, and others whose records are not to be found at this late date. From the time of the Civil War forward the story of Milam County has been one of consistent progress. Today Matchless Milam is one of the most outstanding counties of central Texas. Its improved highways, charming towns and villages, stately courthouse, efficient school system, colorful historic spots, and congenial populace a11 summed up together form what could be considered the perfect county of God's great Universe.

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B. LOWENSTEIN AND BROTHER opened their first stock of goods here December 2-1. 1873. Beginning with a few handfuls of goods. valued around two or three hundred dollars. which they brought here with an ox team before the railroad came. they increased their stock of merchandise and groceries as the trade demanded. By hard work, honest dealing. and a vision of what the future held. they continued to prosper and grow. erecting several busmess houses and residences. and became leaders in the town. Joseph moved to Houston. and the business continued under the firm name of B. Lowenstein and Sons. B. Lowenstein was a member of the hrst public school board, was instrumental in having erected the German-English Academy. was vice-presi- dent of the 01d First National Bank. which he helped to organize. and later became postmaster of Rockdale under two administrations. He was succeeded by his son. Ben. Jr.. who conducted the business left by his father. until his untimely death two years ago. Mrs. Ben Lowenstein, Jr., now heads this old- established hrm. E. M. Scarbrough. representing H. P. Hale and Company of Hearne. came from that town on horseback to Rockdale the latter part of 1873. He bought a lot on Main Street for one hundred and hfty dollars and erected a two story XVhen the new train arrived in February, 1874, H. P. Hale and Company opened for business in the town. The directors of the firm consisted of H. P. Hale with E. M. Scarbrough as silent partner, Jobe Hale, The partnership lasted wooden house. Green VJilson, and J. J. Dunnington as bookkeeper. until the death of General Hale in 1882. when his estate having been wound up. the firm of SCARBROUGH 8 HICKS COMPANY was formed. Mr. R. H Hicks. who had been with Hale and Company as bookkeeper, became partner in interest. Mr. Scarbrough remained in Rockdale until 1889, when he moved to Austin and opened a branch house in 1893. The houses at Rockdale and Austin Were two of the strongest mercantile establishments in Central Texas. and stood, each in its respective place, at the head of the business interests of those cities. They continue to hold that enviable position today. Following the death of R. H. Hicks, his son John. R. L. Hale, Sr., and Omrad Palm were active managers of the business until January 1, 1913, when John Hicks and associates acquired the Scarbrough interests and sold out their interests in Austin. Following the moving of Messrs. Hicks and Palm to El Paso and the death of R. L. Hale, Sr. in 1919, the Scarbrough 8 Hicks Company was reorganized. In January. 1927, at a meeting of stockholders and directors. Ira Perry, J. W. Scarbrough, J. 0. Newton, E. P. Henke, and J. W. Garner were named as board of directors. The entire mercantile establishment had been remodeled with an up-to-date plate glass front facing two streets sometime before 1919, and about a year ago considerable improvements were made on the interior. Then the disastrous hre in September, 1935, completely wiped Scarbrough 8 Hicks Company after the fire in 1935. out all that was once the pride and glory of the business district. does not stand still, and in January, 1936, the new business of Scarbrough E5 Hicks Company, under the ownership of J. 0. Newton and Sons, opened up for business in the J. F. Coffteld building on Cameron and Main Streets, and thus again this old firm continues to live in the hearts of the people. The ROCKDALE BANK was organized in 1874 by Isaac Jalenick, represent- ing Stowe and Wilmerding of Galveston. Streets was bought for three hundred dollars, the highest price paid for a lot A corner lot on Milam and' Main But time x in those days. A bank building. eighteen by thirty feet was erected, which was replaced a year later by a two-story stone and brick building, the building later known as the Wolf Hotel. operated by Mr. and Mrs. A. Wolf. The bank failed within a year or two and was bought by Wayland and Wheatley with C. E. Wynn as manager. Two years later these men sold to Judge J. S. Perry. Wynn was assisted by J. E. Longmoor, who had held the position of bookkeeper in the private banking house of Tracy Brothers until it went out of existence. These institutions paved the way for the organization in 1890 of the First National Bank. with a paid-in capital of $75,000. C. H. Cofheld was elected President, B. Lowenstein, Vice-President, J. E. Longmoor. Cashier, Edgar Rowlett. Assistant Cashier, with R. H. Hicks, L. Isaacs, B. B. Baxter, and H. Li VVitcher rounding out the board of directors. On January 1, 1907. the ROCKDALE STATE BANK was organized with a capital stock of $50,000, with B. Lowenstein as President, H. C. Meyer, Vice- President, W. L. Baird, Cashier, Fred H. Graves. Assistant Cashier, and S. G. Hodge. Dr. R. W. Wallis. Dr. A. C. Walker, and Harry Landa the other directors. The Citizens State Bank was organized in 1912 with a capital stock of $30,000. H. C. Meyer became President: J. S. Jacobs, Vice-President; E. A. Perry, Cashier; and E. B. Phillips, Ira Perry, G. M. Ryan directors. A few years ago the Citizens State Bank. and still later the First National Bank. were taken in by the Rockdale State Bank. and this bank is now located in the old First National building. The present oHicers are H. H. Camp. President; T. B. Ryan, Active Vice-President: John T. Hale, Cashier; Harold Luckey, Assistant Cashier; and Poitevant Franklin, Dr. T. S. Barkley, E. A. Camp. W. E. Gaither, and T. B. Ryan are directors. In the year 1873, Major W. M. McGregor and James A. Muir founded the MILAM COUNTY MESSENGER at Cameron, a weekly which soon won popular favor. When the then nameless town of Rockdale was being looked upon as a favorable place to invest, they built a home and transferred the plant and business to this place. During this time the paper was at its height, being published semi- and tri-weekly at times. Enock Breeding, together with his sister, Miss Nannie Breeding, purchased the MESSENGER about 1876, adding improved machinery; and then in March, 1877, the entire plant was destroyed by lire. However, it was re-established by May 25. 1877, only to burn again in April, 1891, when it was again promptly restored. For twenty-five years the people of Milam County had the benefits of a splendid newspaper, known for its strong editorials. In 1893 XV. M. Ferguson bought the MESSENGER, changing its policies which heretofore had been Democratic to that of the People's Party. In 1900 the plant was sold to Howard Wilson and restored to the Democratic fold. After Mr. Wilson's death the paper was controlled by Mrs. Wilson and her sons, who finally sold it to R. W. H. Kennon of the ROCKDALE REPORTER, and it was launched under the merger, ROCKDALE REPORTER AND MESSENGER. THE REPORTER had' been founded by J. H. G. Buck in 1893, ceased publi- cation for a while and was re-established by Homer D. Wade, then a youthful editor at Lexington. Wade sold the REPORTER to his associate, R. W. H. Kennon. Judge Kennon continued to direct the columns of the merged paper until June, 1911, when he sold out to John Esten Cooke. Mr. Cooke is known as one of the best country newspaper men in the State, and has had many honors come to his paper. He has extended the paper's circulation and each week edits a ROCKDALE REPORTER full of human, local interest and boosting Regal, Rustling Rockd'ale and Matchless Milam. In the year 1880 John Mundine of Lexington, wishing to invest his money here, erected the three-story brick structure on the corner of Main and Railroad streets, known as the MUNDINE HOTEL. In 1881 it was for- mally opened to the public under the management of Dr. and Mrs. W. A. Brooks, pioneers in the business, known and loved by all with whom they came in contact. The Mundine Hotel was destroyed by fire on June 8. 1888. and Mrs. Brooks and her four children, Willie, Brooksie, Harry, and Marion. lost their lives in the same building that had sheltered them for so many years. Only one man escaped, Mr. Oldhum of Austin, who could tell of the horror of that tragic fire. Dr. Brooks braved the flames in a vain effort to save his loved ones, but could not. Mr. D. H. Sanford was the hero of this great tragedy, grasping Dr. Brooks by sheer force, carrying him out of the building just in time to see the structure collapse. Other victims of the fire were Isaacs Crown, Pemberton Pierce, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Brisco and their