Denver County, History of Colorado, BIOS: BOCK, Otto (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 September 4, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 135-136 OTTO BOCK. Holding to high professional standards and with thorough preliminary training, Otto Bock has made an excellent record as assistant United States attorney, which office he is now filling, Denver numbering him among her progressive and enterprising young men. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. February 21, 1881, a son of J. C. F. W. Bock, who was a native of Germany and came to America in 1868. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his way at once into the interior of the country, settling at Bloomington. Illinois, where he engaged in educational work, becoming a teacher in Lutheran parochial schools. Throughout his entire life he gave his attention to educational activities and he-was a graduate of the Lake Forest Normal School of the class of 1874. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he was a warm personal friend of Governor John P. Altgeld. He resided at different periods in Caledonia, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee and in Chicago and spent the latter part of his life in Chicago, where he lived for twenty-two years, passing away in 1904 at the age of fifty-eight. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Minnie Koehler. was born in Wisconsin and was a daughter of August and Augusta (Wendt) Koehler, representatives of an old Wisconsin family of German lineage. Mrs. Bock passed away in 1909 at the age of fifty-two years. By her marriage she had become the mother of seven children, five sons and two daughters. Otto Bock of this review was the fourth in order of birth and was educated in the Lutheran schools of the middle west, acquiring his education under the direction of his father. He determined upon the practice of law as a life work and in preparation therefor entered the John Marshall Law School of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1908 with the LL. B. degree. After leaving the public schools he was employed in a produce commission house of that city and it was from his earnings that he saved a sufficient sum to enable him to pursue a law course and continue his private studies. Because of ill health he came to Colorado in 1908, and in January, 1909, he passed the required examination for the bar and entered upon the practice of law, in which he continued until 1912, when he was elected justice of the peace on the reform movement ticket. He continued to serve in the justice court for a year and then reentered upon the private practice of law, in which he is still active. In the early part of 1914 he formed a partnership with Clifford W. Mills under the firm style of Mills & Bock and this association has since been maintained, their offices being in the Kittredge building. In November, 1914, Mr. Bock became assistant United States attorney for Colorado, being selected for the position by Harry C. Tedrow, United States attorney. He has since served in the office and his record is most creditable. He is a strong and able lawyer who ever prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care and in argument he is logical, while his deductions are sound and his reasoning clear. He is a member of the Colorado State Bar Association, also of the Denver Bar Association and of the Law Club. On the 24th of August, 1911, Mr. Bock was united in marriage to Miss Hilda Schabarum, a native of Milwaukee and a daughter of William and Anna (Woltf) Schabarum. They have become parents of three children but one has passed away. The others are: William, born July 10, 1912; and Richard, born November 24, 1913. The youngest son, born June 18, 1915, died in 1916. All were born in Denver. Mr. Bock is a member of the Emmaus Lutheran church, in which he is serving as an elder, and is president of the Lutheran Sanitarium at Wheat Ridge. He is a member of the Jefferson Club. He came to Colorado to regain his health, being threatened with tubercular trouble, and not only has he gained health, but also position and happiness in this state, of which he is a most loyal adherent, assisting at all times in everything that has to do with its progress, upbuilding and advancement.