Frederick Rock, born in 1818 in the Province of Waldeck, Prussia, and his wife Louisa Schnore raised eleven children there, and nearly all of them emigrated to America. His son William V. Rock came over in 1866 at fifteen with his brother Fred, worked on farms in Scott and Clinton counties, and in 1873 bought 160 acres of wild land in Pleasant Township, which grew to 400 acres by 1891. Frederick himself visited his children in Iowa in 1882 and went home to Prussia. Christ V. Rock, also born in Waldeck as a son of Frederick Rock, came in 1876 and by 1907 owned 240 acres near Avoca; the books match his father's name, homeland and 1882 visit to William's but never call the two men brothers. William's son Henry H. Rock, born in 1880, was farming his father's land in Pleasant Township in 1907. Every fact below is cited to a public-domain Pottawattamie County history.
Where the family starts
Frederick Rock and Louisa (Schnore) Rockborn 1818Most recent in our records
Henry H. Rockborn 1880Tap a name to jump to that person.
Farmer in the Province of Waldeck, Prussia
Farmer and cattle breeder, Pleasant Township
WILLIAM V. ROCK, a prominent farmer of Pleasant Township, was born March 19, 1851, on a farm in the Province of Waldeck, Prussia, the son of Frederick Rock, who was born in the same province, September 26, 1818. He was married to Louisa Schnore, who was born in 1822, and they had eleven children: Caroline, Louisa, Fred, Carl, William, Christian, Christiana and Henry, three others dying in infancy. The father was a soldier in the Prussian army, but saw no active service. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. In 1882 Mr. Rock came to America to visit his children, nearly all of whom had emigrated here, and spent about eighteen months in Iowa, and then returned to Prussia. He is yet living on his farm, at the age of seventy-two years. One son and one daughter, Carl and Caroline, are still living in Prussia. The father is a leading man in his town, having been Justice of the Peace for many years, also School Director, and an Elder in his church. His children are all prosperous in life, owning good farms, and from such sturdy stock the people of Iowa have been indebted for much of their prosperity and steady progress. The hardy Germans bring with them to this country traits of industry and perseverance which overcome all obstacles, and these are being infused also into the blood of the young Americans who are destined to become our best citizens, and who will form a new generation of Prussian- Americans that will be a liberty-loving, loyal and industrious race.
William V. Rock, the subject of this sketch, received a part of his education in the old country, and when but a lad of fifteen years, in 1866, he came with his brother Fred to this country. They went to Davenport, Iowa, and for four years worked at farm labor in Scott Connty and four more in Clinton County. In 1873 he purchased 160 acres of wild land in this county, and in 1874 broke up eighty acres, on which he built a home. He has been very prosperous in farming, and has added to his first purchase until he now owns 400 acres of fine land. He is also a raiser and breeder of cattle, and is one of the most energetic and prosperous farmers of Pleasant Township. In 1880 he set out 2,000 fruit and shade trees. In his political views he is a stanch Democrat, and has filled the offices of Road Supervisor, Township Trustee, Assessor, School Treasurer for five years and is School Director at the present time. He is a self-made man, and stands deservedly high as one of the best citizens of his county
His children are being well educated, and he takes pride in aiding their desire toward improvetnent and cultivation, and ho may well take an honest pride in what he has accomplished in life, ills honest efforts and purposes have been well rewarded, and it may be truly said that " his word is as good as his bond."
March 8, 1875, Mr. Rock married Louisa Freese, daughter of Ludwig and Wilhelmina Freese, and to them have been born six children, viz.: Minnie, born November 15, 1875; Frederick, September 12,1877; Henry, January 23, 1880; Christina, August 17, 1883; Albert, October 2, 1886; and Louis, April 11, 1890. The father of Mrs. Rock died in Prussia, in the same town where Mr. Rock's father now lives, and his widow came to America with her children, Wilhelmina, Fred and Louis. She was again married in America, and is now living in Clinton County, Iowa. Mrs. Rock was born in Prussia, January 10, 1856, and was but eleven years of age when she came with her mother to this country. Mr. Rock and family are members of the Lutheran Church.
rOHN FLINT is another well-known pioneer of Pottawattamie County. He cast his lot here in 1856, and has since made this place his home.
Mr. F'lint was born in Madison County, Ohio, August 28, 1838, son of Samuel Flint, who was of English e.traction and a native of New Hampshire. Samuel Flint married Miss Nancy Dominy, who was born in New York, a descendant of English ancestors. After their marriage they removed, in 1834, to Madison County, Ohio, where the mother died, leaving nine children, when John, the youngest, was six years old. Six years later the father died. All the children grew to adult age. For two years John was engaged in boating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers with his brother, U. M. He afterward went to LaSalle County, Illinois, where he worked by the month on a farm two years and where he attended the common schools in winter.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer, Pleasant Township, near Avoca.
CHRIST V. ROCK.
An excellent farm property of two hundred and forty acres, situated in Pleasant township, three miles west and two miles south of Avoca, pays tribute to the care and supervision of its owner, Christ V. Rock. Standing in the midst of well cultivated fields is a beautiful residence, while near by is a mammoth barn, with all other buildings necessary for the sheltering of grain and stock. The farm is in fact one of the best improved properties of the locality, lacking in none of the accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. Today Mr. Rock is classed with the prosperous residents of his community but when he arrived in Iowa he was possessed of a capital of only twenty dollars. All that he now owns has come as the direct result of his labor and perseverance. In connection with general farming he follows stock-raising, making a specialty of registered polled Durham cattle.
Mr. Rock was born in the province of Waldeck, Germany, January 5, 1858, a son of Frederick Rock. His parents' home was his shelter during the days of his boyhood and youth, while the common schools of Germany afforded him his educational privileges. The reports which reached him concerning America proved so attractive to him that in 1876, when eighteen years of age, he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the United States. Journeying into the interior, his destination being Iowa, he spent two months in Clinton county and afterward came to Pottawattamie county, where he began work as a farm hand, continuing in the employ of others for nine years. During this period he carefully saved his earnings with the intention of some day becoming the owner of a farm.
In the fall of 1881 Mr. Rock returned to Germany and in the following spring brought his father to the United States. He then located in Scott county, Iowa, and for three years longer was employed at farm labor, when he began farming on his own account on rented land in Scott county. In 1889 he once more arrived in Pottawattamie county and here his earnings took tangible form in a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he purchased on section 23, Pleasant township, where he now lives. The land being now his own, he resumed agricultural pursuits in earnest and has carefully conducted his business affairs up to the present time. In 1898 he erected a barn of very extensive proportions, the following year purchased an adjoining eighty acres, whereby the boundaries of his farm were extended until it now comprises two hundred and forty acres. Further evidence of his prosperity was given in 1903, when he erected a handsome residence, while at different times he has built substantial fences, sheds, cribs and added all of the conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century. What a contrast to his financial condition when he first came to Iowa! He had twenty dollars and was a stranger in a strange land, unfamiliar with the customs and habits and the speech of the people. He has since become possessed of a comfortable competence through the wise use he has made of his opportunities and his careful investment. The secret of his success lies entirely in his perseverance and his diligence, and his record should serve to encourage others to follow a similar course and reach the same desirable results.
In 1885 Mr. Rock was married to Miss Caroline Rock, a native of Scott county, Iowa. Her father also bore the name of Christ Rock and came to this state from Germany, being among the early settlers of Scott county, where he located in 1856. Our subject and his wife became the parents of six children but Caroline, the third, is now deceased. The others, Bertha, Ida, Alfred, Arthur and Rosa, are all at home.
Mr. Rock is a democrat with somewhat liberal views and while supporting the party on national questions he often cases an independent local ballot. He is a member of the board of trustees, having served for six years in the office, while for ten or eleven years he has been a member of the school board, putting forth effective effort in behalf of the cause of education through the employment of competent teachers and the adoption of new and liberal ideas concerning education. He belongto Avoca lodge, No. '220. I. 0. 0. F., and to Avoca Gesang verein. His church relationship is with the Lutherans and he is classed with the prominent and leading German farmers of Pottawattamie county. Never neglectful of any business interest, he has never allowed the accumulation of wealth to make him sordid but on the contrary is a man of generous spirit and progressive views, desirous that others shall accomplish a success similar to that which he has won in his business life here.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer and shorthorn cattle raiser, Pleasant Township; son of William V.
HENRY II. ROCK.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Mr. Puck made preparations for having a home of his own by his marriage on the 28th of August, 1901, in Miss Reoa Russmann, of this township, and in the following spring the young couple located on a farm which has since been their place of residence. It is owned by Mr. Pock's father and is a well developed property. Mr. Rock is a successful agriculturist, and in addition to tilling the soil, in the production of crops best adapted to the climate, gives considerable attention to the raising of shorthorn cattle, and this branch of his business adds materially to his income.
Unto Mr. and Mr-. Rock have been born three children, Pearl, Esther and Lawrence. The parents are well known socially and have the warm regard of many friends, who esteem them for their excellent traits of character. Mr. Rock belongs to Avoca lodge, No. 120, I. 0. 0. F., and to Avoca camp of the Modern Woodmen. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs. He is regarded as one of the representative young farmers of Pleasant township, and, possessing strong traits of character, it is not difficult to predict for him a successful future. He belong. to one of the old and prominent families of this section of the state and his own record is one which reflects credit upon an untarnished family name.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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