William V. Rock

As printed in 1891

ILLIAM 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, wiio 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 wiiom 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.

In 185G Mr. Flint came to Pottawattamie County. In 1857 or '58, he entered a quarter section of land in Wright Township, which is now owned by Samuel Passmore. Ill 1860, in company with his brother Hannibal and others, he went to Pike's Peak on the hunt for gold, and prospected the most of the summer, failing to make it pay. In 1861 he bought his present farm, 178 acres on section 11, Waveland Township. A part of this farm is timber land. During the years of his residence here Mr. Flint has made great improvements in his place. He has a good frame house, 26 x 32 feet, situated on a natural building site and surrounded by shade and ornamental trees. Other improvements are a barn, sheds, yards, feed-lots and an orchard and grove. The school-house of District No. 1 is located only a few rods from his house, and it is a pleasant drive of three miles from his home to Griswold. Like many other farmers of this county, Mr. Flint's attention is divided between stock-raising and cultivating the soil.

During the late war he served eight months and a half in the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, Company P.

Mr. Flint was united in marriage, January 18, 1863, to Miss Mary E. Pierson, a native of Sheliiy County, Indiana. She was ten years old when her parents, Joseph and Sarah Pierson, came to Pottawattamie County, where she was educated and grew to womanhood. Her father died in Griswold, where her motiier still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Flint

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have seven children: Delia A., wife of John W. McCaskey, of Waveland Township; Alvin also of Waveland Township; Warren, Rhoda, Ada E., Ida M. and Edna. Mr. Flint is a Democrat. He has served officially in the township at different times, but never aspired to political distinction. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Nashnabotna Lodge, No. 409, of Griswold. Mrs. Flint is a worthy member of the Christian Church, as is also one of her daughters. Two other daughters are member* of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Flint is frank and cordial in his manner, broad and progressive in his views, and is well known throughout the county.

As printed in Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies ... history of Iowa, with ... biographies of the gove (1891). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.