CROSS CO, AR - SOL. BLOCK - Bio

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Submitted by: Jason Presley <daclyde@usa.net>
        Date: 1 Jan 2004
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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     Sol. Block, senior member of the firm of Block & Ralph, merchants
and planters, at Bay Ridge, Ark., is a native of Baden, Germany, where
his birth occurred in 1827.  He was educated in the common schools and
under a private tutor, until about twenty-one years of age, when he came
to the United Stated (1849).  Here he engaged in business for himself in
the State of Illinois, remained there until about 1860, when he moved to
St. Louis and there engaged in the insurance business (life, fire and
accident).  After residing in that city for about ten years he removed to
Memphis, where he followed the same business for about the same length of
time.  In 1878 he came to Forrest City, Ark., was engaged as book-keeper
for two years, and then, after making a trip to Europe, returned to 
Chicago, where he made his home for several years and was engaged in the
insurance business.  Later he returned to St. Louis, where he embarked in
the cigar and tobacco business, continuing until 1886, when he came to
Cross County, Ark., and in company with J. Ralph, erected a fine store-
house on the farm, which had recently been purchased by Mr. Raphaelski,
and which Block & Ralph manage.  This farm embraces a tract of 1,400 acres
of land and at one time was valuable property, but had been allowed to run
down and needed everything in the way of improvement.  They at once began
to make extensive improvements, soon had 500 acres under cultivation, some
of which they cleared from the timber.  They rebuilt the dwelling, erected
a large brick stable and a first-class cotton-gin, saw and grist mill.
This gin and mill is the best in the county, costing about $8,000.  They
have an engine of sixty-five horse power and can gin twenty-five bales of
cotton, and saw 20,000 feet of lumber per day.  The lumber is shipped to
St. Louis.  In the store, they keep a full line of general merchandise,
but and ship cotton and all country produce.  They carry a stock of goods
valued at $6,000 and have a rapidly increasing trade.  Mr. Block was 
married, in 1863, to Miss Amelia Raphaelski, of English and German
parentage.  She was born in Liverpool, England, and came to the United 
Stated with her parents in childhood.  Mr. Jacob Ralph, Mr. Block's
partner, was born in Memphis, is still a young man, and was in business
in Chicago for a short time.  he was married, in 1886, to Miss May
Bronson, and the fruits of this union have been one child, a daughter
named Mabel.  This large farm is one of the prettiest as well as the
most valuable to be found in this part of the country, and by it may be
seen what can be accomplished when the right steps are taken and a proper
amount of energy is brought to bear.