Old City Cemetery

Old City Cemetery. . Originally known as Rockdale Cemetery, Old City Cemetery was established the same year that Rockdale was founded in 1874. Many of Rockdale's early residents and businessmen who helped shape the city are buried in the Old City Cemetery. The cemetery's first four burials were for J.E. Featherstone, D. Murphy, Tennie Simms, and Marie Vogel. Initially segregated, the first recorded burial in the African American section was Katie Fulcher's in 1886. The last known interment in the African American section was of Georgia A. Smith (1872-1948)., Some well-known Rockdale citizens are buried here. Anton Wolf (1846-1924) built Wolf Hotel and was instrumental in forming St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Charles Hunter (C.H.) Coffield (1847-1918) was a Civil War veteran who organized the First National Bank, was Rockdale's mayor and a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Honor. Another mayor of Rockdale buried in this cemetery is Reverend W.E. Copeland (1839-1924), who was also a Civil War veteran, railroad agent, and proponent of education, having encouraged and assisted in building the public school. Another notable burial is General Hazard Perry Hale (1814-1882), who was Milam County commissioner in 1854, elected to the 6th Texas Legislature as a representative from Milam County, and a Civil War Brigadier General of the Texas State Troops 27th Brigade., Along with the Wolf, Coffield, Copeland and Hale families, many other prominent names in Rockdale's history are represented, including but not limited to the Perrys, Baxters, Longmoors, and Witchers. There are more than 40 known veterans buried in the Old City Cemetery. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2016.