Source: THE OWEN ENTERPRISE 07/15/1926

Brock, Fred (1856 - 1926)

Again the grim reaper has entered our midst and claimed one of our old settlers and pioneers. Fred Brock was born in Germany, Dec. 5, 1856. In 1866, when ten years of age, he came to America with his parents and sister. Upon landing in New York, his father was sun struck and died there. This left the ten years old boy alone with his mother and sister to face the future in the new country. They came Calumet County, Wis., and settled near Hayton, where he went to work in the lime kilns. In 1880 he was married to Tina Oesau of New Holstein. They first made their home near Hayton, Calumet County. In 1883 they came to Clark County and settled on a piece of land in the town of Worden, which was then all virgin forest, to face the hardships and privations of a pioneer life. Here, together with his faithful wife, they lived and through hard work and perseverance made for themselves a beautiful farm and home, and together with the other pioneers developed a prosperous community, were honored and respected by a wide circle of friends, in fact everybody they came in contact with. Eight children were born to them, four sons and four daughters. One son, Bert, preceded him in death in 1910, at the age of 19 years.

Fred Brock served the public as a member of the town board, member of the school board, and was ever willing and ready to support anything that added to the progress and prosperity of the country. In 1919 they sold their farm in the town of Worden and came to retire and make their home in the village of Thorp, to enjoy the reward of many years of hard work. About six weeks ago he was stricken with paralysis. At first he died not realize the intention of the unwelcome visitor, always having enjoyed good health before this, but he kept getting weaker and weaker, until Sunday morning, July 11th, at 2 o'clock he quietly passed away. There now survive him to mourn his death his wife, four daughters, Mrs. Geo. Yoder of Gilman, Wis., Mrs. Henry Coatse, Mrs. Richard Coates of the town of Reseburg, Mrs. Louis Cumn of Seattle, Wash. Three sons, Herbert, Arthur, and Edward are at home at Thorp, and a host of friends. May he rest in peace.