The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
J. F. ROCK.
Of the farming townships of Clinton countv, which is for quality of soil scarcely excelled by any section of the whole country. Berlin is among the richest. In the present .sketch is briefly mentioned one of Berlin township's representative farmers, a large land owner. \\ho accumulated his property by his own industry and good management, and now is reaping in prosperitv the reward of his labors.
J. F. Rock was born in Germany, on February 23, 1847, t'le son of Fred
and Louisa (Schnare) Rock, both of whom spent their entire lives in the fatherland. J. F. Rock received his education in the German schools, and in his early manhood, concei\ing that greater opportunities were to be found on the Western continent, he emigrated to America in 1866, coming to Scott county, Iowa, which he left in 1868 to come to Berlin township, Clinton county, where he settled on a farm, first renting. In 1876 he bought a farm of eighty acres and as he slowly accumulated money added to his holdings until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of land, on which he has erected substantial buildings. General farming and stock raising has proved very profitable to him. In politics Mr. Rock is a Democrat. With advancing age, he has seen fit to retire from active labor, and his sons Charles and Ed- ward now rent the farm.
In 1876 Mr. Rock was married to Minnie Kranz, a native of Germany, who bore to him four children. Charles. Amelia, Louisa and Edward. The family are members of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Rock, after having been a faithful wife for twenty-one years, died in 1897.
Mr. Rock is an excellent representative of the German-American farmer of Clinton county, whose thrift and frugality have done so much to win for that county its prominent place in the ranks of Iowa counties. Personally, he is a very agreeable gentleman, and is much liked in his neighborhood, where he is considered one of the solid men.
Source: Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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