Milam Co., TX - Newspapers: Rockdale Messenger 1889 **************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lynna Kay Shuffield August 2002 USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm **************************************************** Newspapers have played an important role through the years by not only bringing us local happenings in the community but also news from across the country and around the world. Over the years many records related to our ancestors were lost or destroyed in fires, floods and other natural disasters. Newspapers contain much information that may not be found elsewhere such as births, marriages, deaths, court notices, land sales, tax notices, businesses, etc. They also hold many glimpses of information in their community news and provide us with fascinating details about the lives of our ancestors. We can all learn a great deal from reading about our past and in turn we shall have a greater understanding and appreciation for the hardships and triumphs our ancestors endured while building a new life in a new land. Many newspapers managed to survive the test of time and can now be found at most state libraries on microfilm and most are available through inter-library loan for viewing at your local library. There are well over 100 million pages of newspapers preserved on microfilm in the United States alone. This book is comprised of newspaper abstracts from the Rockdale Messenger newspaper published in Rockdale, Milam County, Texas found on microfilm Reel # 132015374, the Texas Newspaper Collection at the University of Texas-Austin, Austin, Texas. This is NOT an every name index to the newspapers. Only articles related to births, deaths, marriages, lynchings, murders, etc., for Milam County and the State of Texas are found in this newspaper abstract. The items included in the book are not verbatim recitations of the newspaper articles, they are abstracts or condensed versions. Always refer back to the original source, the actual newspaper. = = = = = = = For a copy of the actual article or newspaper referred to in this book of abstracts or to purchase a copy of the microfilm, contact: Center for American History SRH 2.101 University of Texas-Austin Austin, Texas 78712 < http://www.cah.utexas.edu/divisions/Austin/newspapers.html > Microfilm Edition of the Rockdale Messenger (originally published in Rockdale, Milam County, Texas) found at the Barker Texas History Center, the Center for American History, at the University of Texas-Austin - Reel # 132015374 = = = = = = = = = = Glossary G.A.R. = Grand Army of the Republic inst. = instant, the present month I.T. = Indian Territory ultimo = in the preceding month sic = used to indicate that text it is exactly reproduced from an original with errors W.O.W. = Woodsmen of the World = = = = = = [Note: Reel only contains the following editions of the newspapers for 1889 as listed below.] Rockdale Messenger, Thur., 20 Jun 1889 Death - Capt. Marsh Glenn, an old Texan, and popular lawyer of Palestine died at his home in that city on the 13th inst. Attempted Murder - Sammy Norton, age 12, of Brenham, read yellow-backed and dime novels until he became a small desperado and tried to kill his mother with a hatchet. Murder - John Lane, living at Bobbin, Montgomery county, was murdered by a negro who beat him to death with a club. The trouble was about hands. Death - Mrs. Cora Bryan, wife of Major Moses Austin Bryan, a veteran of the battle of San Jacinto, died in Brenham last week, from an overdose of morphine. Suicide - Tom Dudley, a poor farmer of McLennan county, suicided last week while in a fit of despondency .. Blowing his brains out in the present of his wife and family .. Hanging - The dead body of a negro was found swinging to a limb near the Dewees ranch on the Guadalupe river. The negro was suspected of having murdered old man McDonald and his wife, who kept a country store 15 miles from San Antonio, on the 12th of April last. Assault - A negro who had made a criminal assault on a young lady near Gray Rock, Franklin county, was taken from the constable who had him in charge and carried him off out of town. It is supposed the crowed "lost" him, but at last accounts his body has not been found. Suicide - Capt. R. P. Fly, sheriff of LaSalle, [Limestone] county, suicided on the 14th by shooting himself through the head. He was considered a good and brave officer. Celebration - Carger Sims, a negro claiming to be 127 years old, will help to celebrate emancipation day at Clarksville. He was born in North Carolina in March 1762. Trial - Ben B. Hunt was tried at Caldwell last week for the murder of Jack Farr in 1887. Special Judge Rice of Marlin presided. The trial listed four days and the jury brought in a verdict of acquittal. Birthday - Miss Bessie Strelsky gave a party to her little friends last Monday afternoon, it being the anniversary of her 9th birthday. Shooting - Last Sunday morning about 2 o'clock as Sam Jackson was on his way home in company with several other negores in Caldwell he was shot and killed by Archie Gee, a young man who is well known in Rockdale. A special to the Fort Worth Gazette from Caldwell gives the particulars and says Gee was arrested Monday morning. Accident - Last Saturday afternoon Aunt Fanny, an old negro woman, cook for Mr. J. R. Rowland, was shot in the arm with a target rifle while in the stable getting feed for the cow. The shot was fired by a boy on the outside who did not know Aunt Fanny was there. The ball entered just below the elbow joint and has not yet been extracted; the wound is quite painful but the patient is getting along very well. Rockdale Messenger, Thur., 27 Jun 1889 Killing - Jeff Daggett shot and killed Dick Vann at Fort Worth on the 18th inst. Both were negro gamblers and hard cases. Jeff was arrested. Murder - Last week, John Banks, a bad negro, murdered his wife in Marlin by shooting her and cutting her throat with a razor. He also severely cut Lizzie Smotherman, at whose cabin Bank's wife was stopping. Murder - Monroe Nale, Bill Nale and Bob Williams are in jail at Athens charged with murdering and making away with William Allen. Suicide - Jessie Stephens, a pretty young woman, age 20, suicided at Dallas last week by taking morphine. Her remains were buried in the potter's field. Shooting - The Messenger was in error last week in stating that Arch Gee of Caldwell had shot and killed a negro. The Caldwell Chronicle says that Sam Jackson, a negro was shot through the neck, inflicting it is feared a fatal wound. Arch Gee, charged with doing the shooting was arrested and on Wednesday had a preliminary trial before Squire Mecom who put him under $800 bond. Death - J. W. Bethany, one of the oldest citizens of Austin county, died at Nelsonville, a few days ago. Suicide - George Reese, an ex-convict with many aliases, suicided in Austin last week by taking morphine. He was discharged from Huntsville penitentiary May 23, last. Death - Arthur Sherrill died in Columbus on the 20th instant, aged 81 years. He had been a resident of the town for 34 years. Suicide - Maw Shing, a Chinese, laundry man of Taylor suicided last week on account of despondency, a steam laundry having been started. The Chinamen in town refused to have anything to do with his body. Shooting - Last Friday afternoon Kyle Terry shot and killed Ed Gibson in the town of Wharton. Terry and Gibson lived in Richmond and a bitter feud in regard to politics had existed between them for some time. Suicide - Robertson County, Bremond, June 20 - Sometime in May a Hebrew suicided by taking morphine. Marriage - Hookerville, June 17th - J. W. Key to Miss Sallie Mason were married at the home of the bride's parents, Rev. J. I. Haiden officiating. Marriage - Hookerville, June 17th - J. W. Rogers and Mrs. Sallie Persy yesterday evening at 4:30 o'clock. Arrest - A young lawyer named B. S. Dinkins, was arrested and jailed at Cameron last Thursday on a requisition from South Carolina. He is wanted for forgery at Manning, SC. Dinkins came to Texas in January last and has relatives in this county. Birth - Mrs. Will Lohse last week presented her husband with a baby boy. "Killing at Cameron" -- "William Rogers Shoots and Instantly Kills Joel Walker" - About 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon last Cameron was thrown into a state of unusual excitement by the report of a pistol followed by the announcement that Will Rogers had killed Joel Walker. Rogers and Walker had been neighbors living 6-miles southwest of Cameron. Bad feelings has existed for a long time because of differences arising out of the alleged depredation of their stock, one upon the other. Walker is represented as of a very quarrelsome disposition, having killed two men and, it is believed by some, three, near Cameron. Rogers is well known as a peaceable and law-abiding citizen. Rogers was informed that Walker had made threats upon his life, and was waylaying him upon the road. Satisfying himself that he would have to either kill Walker or be killed by him, on Saturday last finding him in Cameron, he shot him dead. Walker was sitting at the back door of McIver's store when Rogers, passing through from the front, shot him in the head with a six-shooter, firing two shots immediately thereafter into his body. Walker was sitting with his legs crossed, and was killed so completely and suddenly that he remained in his chair in this posture until removed. He sat dead for 20-minutes until removed. After the shooting, Rogers passed out through the front part of the store and meeting Deputy Sheriff Bickett, handed him his pistol saying that he had killed Walker. Rockdale Messenger, Thur., 4 July 1889 Death - A young man named Dalman living near Garrett, Lamar County, ate some May apples while out hunting. Soon afterwards he was taken sick and died in about two hours. Suicide - J. W. Rowley, storekeeper of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railway at Denson, suicided last week by cutting his throat with a penknife. He was married a few weeks ago to an accomplished young lady of Denison. He had been in poor health and his mind was somewhat affected. Death - Mrs. Hannah Baker died in Houston a few days ago, aged 95 years. She was the mother of ex-Mayor W. R. Baker and moved to Houston in 1854. Suicide - The father-in-law of Mr. Olsen, living near Meridian set fire to the house and then committed suicide by shooting himself. Fatal Accident - Freight Train Wrecked and Fireman Killed - Last Tuesday morning a week about 3 o'clock a freight train bound south on the International railroad was wrecked about 2-miles this side of Milano, near the site of Old Milano, on the dump. The train was under full headway, running at its usual speed when the engine struck the break and as a matter of course, went down headfirst, it was followed by the tender and 12 freight cars all of which were badly smashed up. Fireman Ed Wingate was buried under the debris and was not dug out till afternoon; he was still alive but died shortly after being rescued; he had lain in mud and water all the time. Seymour Mayfield, engineer, had has jaws broken and was severely injured. The dead body of the fireman and Mr. Mayfield were sent to Palestine, where both lived. Birth - Girl to Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Hawkins Rockdale Messenger, Thur., 18 July 1889 Death - F. A. Engelke, an old, prominent and highly respected citizen of Brenham, died on Sunday, the 7th inst. He was president of the First National bank of Brenham. Death - Monroe Mills, a good negro living 15-miles southwest of Paris, was struck by lightning and killed while sitting against a wall of a little store, on Monday, the 8th instant. Death - On July 4th an accident at Round Top, from the LaGrange Journal, while firing a salute the cannon bursted and seriously wounded J. G. Kaiser. The following day his leg was amputated and Mr. Kaiser died. Death - One prisoner stabbed another in the jail at Caldwell. The wounded man, Bud Wright, died Thursday. Tom Elliott, who did the stabbing was arrested and released on $800 bail by Justice Mecom. Shooting - Last Thursday at Ledbetter, Dr. T. J. Jordan was shot and killed by Lon Hill. They met at the hotel and walked out, after which a quarrel ensued and resulted in the death of Jordan Ledbetter is in Fayette county and Hill was take to LaGrange for burial. Hanging - Henry Davis, a mean negro who entered the bedroom of a young married lady living in the town of Robinson, 6-miles below Waco on the river, is missing. His body has not been found but is supposed to be hanging to a hackberry tree in the bottom and his hide perforated with many balls from Winchester rifles. Accident - Last week, Mrs. Albert Kunz, who lives 16-miles from San Antonio, arose and tried to kindle the fire by using coal oil from a 3-gallon can. It exploded. She was fatally burned and her husband seriously injured in trying to save her. Tribute of Respect - Whereas, It has seemed proper to the Almighty disposer of all events to remove from our mists our late worthy and esteemed sister, M. J. Cransbay, by A. H. Lanford, President, H. D. Dear, Secretary. Marriage - Henry Spill to Miss Wilhelmena Schneider by Justice J. H. Cross at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning. Too Much Laudanum - Last Friday, Mat Halliday, a young man, who had been imbibing rather freely early in the morning went to a drug store and got a half an ounce of laudanum and drank all of it. Being very tired he laid down in the alley near the city bastile, where he was found about 10 o'clock in a comatose condition. He was pronounced dead and the report soon spread that Mat Halliday had killed himself. Two doctors went to work on him and succeeded in waking him up. Friends took charge of him and made use of liberal potations of black coffee and the free use of a paddle kept him awake. Mat stated he did not take the poison with any idea of committing suicide. Married -Henderson D. Brodnax and Miss Fannie Orr, in Cameron on the 16th inst., by Rev. Mr. Wright. Rockdale Messenger, Thur., 25 July 1889 Death - John Schackey, of Brenham, died last week. Death - The remains of John Dashiell arrived at Brenham from El Paso last week and were buried in the city cemetery. Trial - Dick Richardson was convicted at Greenville last week of the murder of John Ladd and given 16-years in the Penitentiary. Killing - Bud Ellison, a white man, was killed last week by a negro near Moffatt, Bell County. Ellison and a crowd of men went to the house of Charley Sweeney or Swinney and called to him to give them water. He complied and they set upon him to beat him. He ran back into the house and was shot in the heel. He brought out his gun and fired. He was shot again, this time in the thigh. Ellison was not married, but lived with his mother. Death - From Beaukiss, July 10th - The wife of L. D. Gardner died a few days since. From Henry Clay. Marriage - Henry Denison Brodnax and Miss Fannie Orr were married last week, and not Henderson D. Brodnax. Death - Charles Brackenbusch, an old and worthy citizen of Milam county, residing in the German settlement about 4-miles northwest of town. He died at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, the 22nd inst., after an illness of about 5-hours, caused by working in the sun and becoming overheated. He was a native of Texas having been born May 20, 1849 on board of a German vessel in Galveston harbor. He moved to Milam county in 1869. He lives a wife and five children, to boys and three girls. [torn] remains [torn] Odd Fellows cemetery. Rockdale Messenger, Thur., 1 Aug 1889 Death - J. R. Turner, who lived on China Creek in San Saba County was last week shot and killed by some unknown person while plowing in his field. Lynching - Geo. Lewis, a negro living in Cass County, was taken from the officer having him in charge and hanged by a mob. Lewis had poisoned the well of his employer, Wm. Shaw, with strychnine. Death - On Sunday, Antonio Hernandez, the Mexican tamala man, lost his little son, age about 2-years. Death - I. A. Scott at his residence on Briar Branch, age about 40 years, on Sunday morning, July 21st, after a prolonged illness. He was born and raised in this county. He was buried in the Hickory Grove graveyard on Monday of last week. Death - J. B. Barmore, age 21, of Milano died on Thursday, the 25th ult. of consumption. He had been station agent at Trinity, Texas where he contracted the disease. He leaves a young wife and other relatives. Death - Mrs. Newman, wife of the late Tome Newman died last week near Milano. Death - J. M. Bullock of Milano lost a child last week. It was buried last Friday. [Note: This all of the newspapers for the year 1889]