Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

He was an architect. He built many schools, courthouses, banks, churches, and other buildings across the state. In June 1888 the Dallas Morning News reported that Farmer & Stuckey was awarded the contract for building the county courthouse in Limestone County, Texas. (A newspaper article indicated that the original building was built around 1878 or so, but it was remodeled in 1888 around the time there was a battle between Mexia and Groesbeck over the location of the county seat. At that time, the courthouse was almost completely rebuilt.) It would be brick with a slate roof, and two and a half stories tall. The contract was for $13,500, and would use all suitable old material as well as necessary new material. Then, on 1 February 1891 the courthouse burned, leaving only bare walls. At that time, the fire was believed to be caused by arson. In April 1891 the Dallas Morning News reported that the new contract for a courthouse in Limestone County had been awarded to R. H. Stuckey, whose bid was for $58,700. (He was the builder but not architect for this building.) It would be three stories tall. Some people had wanted a less expensive courthouse, but the commissioners had decided that it was more important to build a good one. The new courthouse was designed to be fireproof after the previous courthouse burned (Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, 1893, p. 348). This courthouse was later abandoned due to foundation problems. He built Kent County State Bank, circa 1912, which is in Jayton, Texas. It has a dome skylight that was typical of a design element that R. H. Stuckey liked to include in buildings. This building is included in the Texas Historic Register (Texas Co-op Power, Johnson County EC Edition, Oct. 1997, Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., © 1997, cover and page 3). He built the First Presbyterian Church in Quanah, TX. (historical marker) It is a white stucco building, with stained glass, and it has a dome with stained glass around it. After a 1906 bond election in Hardeman county, Texas, he was one of the architects chosen to design the new courthouse. He designed it with a domed cupola, stone lintels, and ionic columns creating a neoclassical design for the courthouse (historical marker outside the courthouse). He also designed and built the First Methodist Church of Quanah, Texas (1916), which also uses the dome which is typical of his style (Welcome to Historic Hardeman County). In 1930 he was awarded the contract to remodel the high school building in Vernon. It was expected to cost about $10,000, and it would have nine classrooms and an auditorium. The building was not in use at that time.

In 1905 he filed for bankruptcy, and it was granted. That did not stop him from future architectural pursuits.

In May of 1912, the First State Bank of Bloomberg, Texas was converted into the first National Bank of Bloomberg. Among the incorporators was listed R. H. Stuckey.

His children's delayed birth records in Limestone County give an age for him that would indicate his birth date to be 1855.

Death Certificate:
He was Rockwell H. Stuckey residing at precinct 3 Chillicothe, Hardeman County, Texas. He was male, white, married. His wife was Mrs. Emma Stuckey. He was born 31 Oct 1855, died 4 Apr 1936 at the age 80 years, 5 months, and 4 days. He was an architect, and the last date that he had worked at that job was March 1. His father was C. A. Stuckey, birthplace unknown. His mother was Miss White, birthplace unknown. The informant was W. A. Lewis. He was buried in Chillicothe Cemetery on 6 Apr 1936. He died 3:45 PM of chronic myocarditis. Senility was contributory

Obituary:
DEATH CLAIMS R. H. STUCKEY
FORMER VERNON RESIDENT DIES AT HOME IN CHILLICOTHE

Funeral Services for R. H. Stuckey, 80, will be held this afternoon at 3 o'clock in the family home at Chillicothe. Mr. Stuckey, a former resident of Vernon and father of J. K. Stuckey of this city, died Saturday afternoon at his home in Chillicothe. He had been in failing health more than a year and underwent a serious operation at Quanah recently.

Surviving are the widow; five sons, R. F., R. H., Jr., and Taylor Stuckey of Chillicothe; J. K. Stuckey of Vernon, and Fred Stuckey of Fayetteville, Ark.; and three daughters, Miss Mary De Stuckey and Mrs. W. A. Lewis of Chillicothe, and Mrs. W. C. Barnett of Tyler. Ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive.

Mr. Stuckey lived in Vernon five years, returning to his former home in Chillicothe about four years ago. He was the architect for the city Hall of Vernon. He also drew the plans for the addition to the county jail that was completed here several months ago. Mr. Stuckey was born in Petersburg, Ind., October 31, 1855. He came to Texas as a young man, and was married to Miss Anna Thomas Harris in Mexia. The family moved from Mexia to Chillicothe in 1898.

Masonic rites for Mr. Stuckey will be conducted at the Chillicothe cemetery.

Census:
1880, Mexia, Limestone, TX, Series: T9 Roll: 1317 Page:442
133/137, Stuckey, Robert H., w, m, 24, married, married during preceding year, carpenter, IN, IN, IN
----, Emma T., w, f, 18, wife, married, married during the preceding year, keeping house, LA, LA, AL

1900, 3 J-PCT, HARDEMAN, TEXAS, Series: T623 Roll: 1641 Page: 194
18/18, Stucky, Reckwell, head, w, m Oct. 1855, 44, m, 20, IN, KT, IN, contractor and builder, read, write, speak Eng., own home, mortgaged, house
----, Emma, w, w, f, May 1862, 38, m, 20, 7 children, 5 living, LA, SC, AL, read, write, and speak Eng.
----, Roy F., son, w, m, Apr. 1881, 19, s, TX, IN, LA, carpenter, read, write, speak Eng.
----, Mary D., dau., w, f, Jul 1889, 10, s, TX, IN, LA, at school, 8 mos., read, write, speak Eng.
----, Kerley, son, w, m, Jan 1892, 8, s, TX, IN, LA, attended school 0 months
----, Minnie, dau., w, f, Jan., 1896, 4, s, TX, IN, LA
----, Leah, dau., w, f, Aug 1898, 1, s, TX, IN, LA

1910, 1-WD CHILLICOTHE, HARDEMAN, TEXAS, Series: T624 Roll: 1559 Page: 102B
Katherine St.
46/46, Stuckey, R. H., head m, w, 54, m1, 30, Indiana, US, US, Eng. architect, own acct, no, 0, read, write, owned home, free, house
----, E. T., wife, f, w, 47, m1, 30, 10 children, 8 living, LA, LA, AL, Eng, none, read, write
----, Mary D., daughter, f, w, 20, s, TX, IN, LA, ENG, none, read, write
----, J. K., son, m, w, 18, s, TX, IN, LA, TX, IN, Eng., Carpenter, house, wages, read, write
----, Minnie, daughter, f, w, 14, s, TX, IN, LA, Eng., none, read, write
----, Leah, daughter, f, w, 10, s, TX, IN, LA, none, read, write
----, R. H. Jr., son, m, w, 9, s, TX, IN, LA, none, can't read or write
----, Fred, son, m, w, 5, s, TX, IN, LA, none
----, Taylor, son, m, w, 1 8/12, s, TX, IN, LA, none

1920, 1-WD Chillicothe, Hardeman, TX, Series: T625 Roll: 1810 Page: 252 Sheet: 1A-1B
14/19, Stuckey, Rockwell H., head, O, F, m, w, 64, m, Indiana, U. S., U. S., architect, draftsman, own account
----, Emma T., wife, f, w, 57, m, LA, LA, AL, none
----, Mary D., daughter, f, w, 24, s, TX, IN, LA, none
----, John K., son, m, w, 27, s, TX, IN, LA, carpenter, house, wage
----, Leah, daughter, f, w, 21, s, TX, IN, LA, clerk, Post office, wages
----, R. H., son, m, w, 18, s, TX, IN, LA, none
----, Fred, son, m, w, 14, s, TX, IN, LA, none
----, Taylor, son, m, w, 11, s, TX, IN, LA, none

1930, CHILLICOTHE TOWN, HARDEMAN, TEXAS, Series: T626 Roll: 2340 Page: 91B
145/155, Stuckey, Rockwell H., head, own home, 6000, radio, home, m, w, 74, m, ?, IN, US, US, none
----, Emma T., wife, f, w, 67, m, ?, LA, LA, AL, none
----, Mary D., dau., f, w, 40, s, TX, IN, LA, none
----, R. H. Jr., son, m, w, 29, s, TX, IN, LA, artist, commercial