This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Mills, Davenport Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8545 Message Board Post: Cameron Herald, Thur., 31 Mar 2005 Royce L. Mills, 81, of Spring Branch and formerly Milam County, died at his home March 26. Funeral arrangements were handled by Meadowlawn Park and Crematory of San Antonio. Mills was born Nov. 15, 1923 in Milam County, the oldest of five children. He married Gladys Davenport in January 1946. He was a retired major in the U.S. Air Force, serving in WWII, Korea and several tours in Vietnam. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, claiming his Blue Lodge 609 in Milano. He was also a Shriner. He retired from the military in the late 60s. He and his wife later moved to San Marcos where he attended Southwest Texas State University. They owned and operated the Mills Hill Tavern. Survivors include his wife, Gladys Irene (Davenport) Mills; children, Royce Mills of New Braunfels, Douglas Mills of Chaparral, NM, R. L. Mills of Canyon Lake, James (Venus) Mills of Aransas Pass and Jacque (Billy) Dickinson of Canyon Lake; grandchildren, Ryan, Rebecca, Daniel, Lacy, Stacy, Taylor, Joshua, James and Jacob; and his sister, Sue Tidwell of Cameron.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Henson, Friemel Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8544 Message Board Post: Connie Lynn Henson, 49, of Cameron died March 25 in a Rockdale hospital. Funeral services were held March 28 at Green-Patterson Funeral Home in Cameron with the Rev. John Self officiating. Burial followed at Salem Cemetery near Cameron. Henson was born Nov. 19, 1955 in Rockdale to Jimmie and Ruth (Friemel) Henson. She was employed at Ben Milam Elementary School and part-time at Brookshire Brothers in Cameron. She had previously worked at the Cameron Country Club and Bob's Steak House. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her father, Jimmie Henson. Survivors include her mother, Ruth Henson of Cameron; sisters, Linda Layne Grothe and husband, Carl, of Cameron and Jane Knott and husband, David, of Rockdale. Memorials may be made to Ben Milam Elementary PTO, Ben Milam Sunshine Club, both at 1100 E. 21st St., Cameron, Texas 76520, or the charity of choice.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Matthews, Edmondson Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8543 Message Board Post: Cameron Herald, Thur., 31 Mar 2005 Dorothy Edmondson, 71, of Cameron died March 25 at her home. Funeral services were held March 29 at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with the Rev. Robert Glenn officiating. Burial followed in Oak Hill Cemetery. Edmondson was born Dec. 14, 1933 in Buckholts to Robert Lee and Matilda Frances (Janes) Matthews. She worked in various capacities of grocery and retail sales. She married Charles "Red" Edmondson Jan. 31, 1983. Brothers, W. D. Matthews and Robert Leo Matthews Jr. preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, Charles "Red" Edmondson of Cameron; son, James Hardie Malone Jr. of Crosby; daughters, Karen Jill Ayers of Cameron and Pamela Gayle Campbell of Crosby; brothers, Billy Eugene Matthews of Cedar Park and Curtis Ray Matthews of Cameron; sisters, Ruth Mae Gaskins of Temple, Gladys LaVerne Kenna of Baytown, Johnnie Faye Dokupil of Temple, and Matilda Frances Martini of St. Petersburg, FL; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Capers, Knight Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8542 Message Board Post: Cameron Herald, Thur., 31 Mar 2005 Carolyn Jean Capers, 62, of Cameron died March 18 at her home. Funeral services were held March 26 at the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Ernest Taylor officiating. Capers, a homemaker, was born Nov. 13, 1942 in Cameron to Miriam Knight and Clifton Knight Sr. Survivors include her mother, Miriam Knight of Cameron; father, Clifton Knight Sr. of Bellmead; daughters, Maria and Tracey of Cameron; sons, Freddie and Mark of South Caroline; brothers, Clifton Knight Jr., Isaiah Knight, Charles Knight, all of Los Angeles, CA, and Jesse Knight of Cameron; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Tracy Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8541 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 24 Nov 1904, p. 3 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Mortuary Tracy – Cameron, Tex., 23 Nov – News was received here last night from Rockdale of the death there at 9:30 of Col. N. H. Tracy, who has resided in that city for several years and who has been a member of the Milam county bar a long time. He was a member of the Legislature from this county and Mayor of Rockdale for some time. A number of Cameron people left this morning for Rockdale to pay their last respects to the deceased. He was also a soldier in the Confederate Army.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Crutchfield Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8540 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 15 Nov 1904, p. 6 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Switchman Kills Himself Special To The News Eagle Pass, Tex., 14 Nov – James Crutchfield, switch foreman at Castana, Mexico, killed himself Saturday at that place. He stabbed himself three times and shot himself three times. A brother of Crutchfield lives in Rockdale.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bonner, Coffield Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8539 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 21 May 1904, p. 7 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Death of Mrs. P.A. Bonner Special To The News Rockdale, Tex., 20 May – Mrs. P. A. Bonner, mother of Mrs. C. H. Coffield of Rockdale and J. S. Bonner of the Harpoon died at the residence of her son-in-law, C. H. Coffield, this morning at an advanced age. Her remains were taken to Holland, Bell County, for burial.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Lightfoot Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8538 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 1904 Feb 03, p. 12 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Mortuary Lightfoot – Pittsburg, Tex., 01 Feb – News was received here yesterday of the death of Mrs. A. H. Lightfoot at Rockdale. She was a former resident of this place.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Hartman Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8537 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 22 Dec 1900, p. 7 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Mortuary Hartman – Cameron, Tex., 18 Dec – Otto Hartman died at the Milam Hospital this morning. The deceased was a Confederate soldier and a member of Wall’s legion. He leaves no immediate relatives in this county.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Jatel Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8536 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 06 Dec 1900, p. 7 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Crimean War Veteran Dead Found Dead in His Room – Won Metal for Gallantry Special To The News Rockdale, Tex., 5 Dec – Franz Jatel, 80 years old, who lived in the northwestern portion of Rockdale, was found dead in his room last Sunday morning. It is not know how long he had been dead. Mr. Jatel was a native of Moravia, Austria and at the time of his death was the possessor of a fine gold metal that was presented to him by Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austria for gallantry in the Crimean War, he having been a soldier in the Austrian army at that time.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Baker, Lucas Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8535 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 04 Dec 1900, p. 11 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Old Tragedy Recalled First Burning of a Negro in Texas – A Bell and Milam County Episode Temple Tribune Mrs. Lucas, who has a number of relatives in this community, left last Friday for home in a western county, after a brief visit here. She was a Mrs. John Baker before marrying her present husband and the death of her former husband and the sequel thereto is one of the most notorious in the criminal annals of Texas. About the year 1876, Mr. Baker left his home in Bell county on Little River, to haul a load of freight from Rockdale, then the northern terminus of the International and Great Northern railroad. While returning and near Cameron a negro crept into the wagon behind him and crushed his skull. The country was inflamed at the murder and the negro was caught. It was decided to burn him at the stake, and invitations were sent by runners to the country around and a number of citizens of Bell county who are living today, attended the burning. The victim’s feet were tied to a stump, his arms lashed to a bent-over sapling and a small fire was kindled. For over an hour the poor wretch was thus tortured and literally burned in two. After the agonies had been thus prolonged a portion of the crowd wanted to end his suffering by shooting. This was bitterly opposed by another element and there come nearly being a free-for-all fight. Finally it was agreed that a bigger fire be built and the victim be quickly burned. Even this failed and it seemed that fire would not destroy life. Then the more humane element came to front and fired the shots that ended the misery. The country was greatly wrought up and detectives were sent to secure evidence for prosecutions, but strangers were not tolerated and the detectives quit the chase to save their own lives. This event is still fresh in the memory of many Bell county citizens and it was the forerunner of other similar executions that have given Texas an unsavory reputation.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Storke, Lohse, Wells, Taylor Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8534 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 13 Nov 1900, p.3 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Tragedy At A Dance Host, Who Was Shot Saturday Near Rockdale, Is Dead Special To The News Rockdale, Tex., 12 Nov – Amiel Storke, who was shot on Saturday night at a dance given at his home, four miles west of Rockdale, died of his wounds yesterday afternoon at 6 o’clock. Enoch Lohse is under arrest and held on a warrant issued by Justice Wells, charged with murder. Nath Taylor, who was shot from ambush Friday night last, also died of his wounds. No clew to his assassin.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Thach Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8533 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 07 Sep 1900, p. 5 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Death Of A Veteran George W. Thach, Former Sheriff of Milam County Passes Away Cameron, Tex., 5 Sep – George W. Thach, who had resided in this county, who had resided in this county since 1856, died at his home yesterday after a brief illness. He was born in Marion county, Tennessee in 1825, and belonged to a pioneer family who in the latter part of the eighteenth century pushed westward from Tennessee and formed the new State of Franklin, the short-lived precursor of State of Tennessee. His father was a soldier both of the Revolutionary War and that of 1812, having been with John Sevler at Kings Mountain and with Jackson at New Orleans. George W. Thach was a veteran of the Mexican War, having served in a Tennessee regiment under Gen. Taylor and participated in the battle of Buena Vista and the capture of Monterey. The regiment being mustered out a New Orleans, Mr. Thach re-enlisted in a Louisiana regiment, was present at the siege of Vera Cruz and went with Gen. Scott to the City of Mexico. Mr. Thach upon the discovery of gold in California went to that country, where he remained for several years.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Mason, Lane Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8532 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 27 Aug 1900, p. 7 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Killed in a Fight Special To The News Rockdale, Tex., 26 Aug – In a difficulty between Charley Lane and Will Mason at Tracy, ten miles north of Rockdale, about noon today, Mason was killed. Full particulars of the tragedy cannot be learned. Lane surrendered to Sheriff Todd and was taken to Cameron.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Graham Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8531 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 21 Aug 1900, p. 10 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Mortuary Graham – Cameron, Tex., 19 Aug – E. W. Graham died at his home near Davilla, Milam county late yesterday, age 82. He was born in Harvey District, South Carolina on Aug. 27, 1819 and came to Texas in 1853. He worked on the old statehouse at Austin and remained in Austin about three years. He then returned to South Carolina, but came to Texas and located on Elm Creek, north of Rogers. In 1861, he removed to the spot where he died and where he has continually resided.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Edwards, Howard, Shelton Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8530 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 11 Aug 1900, p. 1 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Killed By An Officer Mistaken Identity Causes the Loss of a Life Near Rockdale Special To The News Rockdale, Tex., 10 Aug – The report of an unfortunate tragedy, which occurred on Tuesday evening, has just reached this place. Deputy Sheriff Frank Howard had a warrant for the arrest of a man who was reported to be a bad man. He came upon Gilbert Edwards and mistook him for the man wanted and ordered him to throw up his hands. Howard says that instead of throwing up his hands, Edwards drew a gun, when Howard fired with a double-barreled shotgun, hitting him in the breast, killing him almost instantly. The friends of Edwards tell a different story. Howard gave himself up to the sheriff. The dead man was a negro. = = = = Dallas Morning News, 13 Aug 1900, p. 1 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Gilbert Edwards Killing Members of the Posse Released on Light Bail Special To The News Rockdale, Tex., 12 Aug – The examining trial of Fred Howard et al, for the killing of Gilbert Edwards, an account of which was published in Saturday’s News, which had been on in Justice Well’s Court in Rockdale since Friday morning, was terminated yesterday afternoon. Fred Howard was admitted to bail in the sum of $1,500 and Lewis Howard and Ernest Shelton, who were also members of the posse, were held in bail of $1,00 each. Fred Howard was not a Deputy Sheriff, as stated in the report of the killing, but was one of the posse organized to arrest another negro, who was an escaped convict and for whom a reward was offered.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Gee, Tidwell Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8529 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 20 Jul 1900, p. 2 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Two Boys Drowned While Fishing Special To The News Gause, Tex., 19 Jul – Yesterday evening about 5 o’clock Tom Gee, 17 years old and Jimmie Tidwell, 14 years old were drowned while fishing in Little River four miles north of Gause. Members of the family arrived in time to see them both sink for the last time.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Gillespie Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8528 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 29 Jun 1900, p. 6 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Special To The News Mortuary Gillespie - Galveston, Tex., 26, Jun – Mr. James Gillespie, a prominent businessman of Cameron, Tex., died at St. Mary’s Infirmary at 4:15 o’clock this morning after an operation. His wife returned to Cameron this evening with the body.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Fletcher, Roddy Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8527 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 16 Jun 1900, p. 3 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas An Old Texas Publication A Citizen of Lee County Finds Fragments of Washington County Paper Special To The News Lexington, Tex., 12 Jun – Recently, when County Treasurer Baylis J. Fletcher of this place was packing to move to the county seat, he discovered among some old books that belonged to his grandfather some newspapers fifty-five years old. Major E. Roddy, the grand sire to whom the books belonged, was a native of Spartanburg, S.C. and came to Texas with his family in 1831. He practiced law at San Felipe and at Washington, but afterward settled at Gay Hill, where he resided in Washington county, when these papers were published. One is the National Register, published at Washington, Texas, October 9, 1845. It was cut in pieces and used with paste in rebinding two volumes of “The French Revolution,” by M. Thiers. Mr. Fletcher soaked the cardboard thus made by his grandmother and peeled off the strips of newspaper, making his discovery. The old Texas paper contains the constitution adopted at annexation signed by the delegates, but torn in fragments. ! It also contains a proclamation by President Anson Jones declaring the result of the election on annexation. It nominates on its own hook Sam Houston and Thos. J. Rusk for United States senators, J. Pinckney Henderson for governor and A.C. Horton for lieutenant governor. Of the delegates to the constitutional convention of 1845 the following names are legible: Thos. J. Rusk, Jno. D. Anderson, James Armstrong, Cavite Armstrong, R.E.B. Baylor, James M. Borroughs, B.C. Bagby, John Caldwell, Edward Clark, A.S. Cunningham, Phil McCuney, N.H. Darrell, James Davis, Lemuel D. Evans, G.A. Everts, R.M. Forbes, D. Gage, John Hemphill, J.P. Henderson, A.O.W. Hicks, S. Holland, Wm. L. Hunter, Van R. Irion, Henry J. Jewett, Oliver Jones, H.L. Kenedy, --- M. Lewis, James Love, --- O. Lumpkin, Sam Lusk, A.S. Lipscomb, James S. Mayfield, Alexander McGowan, A. McNeill, J.B. Miller, Francis Moore, Jr., J. Antonio Navarro, W.B. Ochiltree, Isaac Parker, James Power, Emory Rains, H.G. Reynolds, James Scott, --- M. White, George W. Wright, Wm. Cocke Young. The editor’s name does not appear, but the National Register was published at Washington, Tex., every Thursday at $2.50 per annum. The other paper was the “Spartan” of Spartanburg, S.C. and is in fragments, dated October 8, 1845. It contains little that will interest Texans.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Hines, Dickinson Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8526 Message Board Post: Dallas Morning News, 01 Jun 1900, p. 3 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Crushed Beneath The Engine Aransas Pass Train Ditched, Killing Engineer and Fireman Special to the News Rockdale, Tex., 31 May – The northbound San Antonio and Aransas Pass passenger train, due here at 2 a.m. was ditched at Brush Creek, between here and Lexington, this morning, both the Engineer John R. Hines and Fireman Dickinson being killed. Their remains were brought here and prepared for burial and shipped south of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass train.