Logan County Illinois Biographies for John Adam Bock Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by: William L. Stephenson, Jr Biography of John Adam Bock Biographical Sketches of Logan County Illinois 1901 Transcription by William L. Stephenson, Jr., - Historian, Bock Family Association Many of the most enterprising and prosperous citizens of Logan county have come from the land beyond the sea, and here they have made for themselves and family a comfortable home. Prominent among these is numbered the subject of this sketch. He was born in Germany on the 5th of January, 1851, and there grew to manhood, being nineteen years of age when he came to the United States with his father, John A. Bock a native of the fatherland. His paternal grandparents, Henry and Annie (Yeagell) Bock, spent their entire lives in Germany, the former dying in 1853, and the latter in 1873. By occupation he was a farmer. John A. Bock, the father of our subject, was born February 14, 1814, and received a good education in the schools of his native land. During his boyhood and youth he worked with his father upon the home farm and then engaged in farming for himself. On the 1st of June, 1870, he and his family sailed for the new world and landed in Baltimore, whence they proceeded to Ohio, where they made their home for a year and a half. On the expiration of that time he came to Logan county, Illinois, and first located in Elkhart, but in 1877 removed to Lawndale, where he resided with our subject, until called to his final rest August 12, 1881. His wife died in the old country in 1868. Her maiden name was Reagel and her people were farmers. The early education of our subject was acquired in the schools of Germany. After the family came to Illinois, he aided his father in the operation of a farm near Elkhart until 1877, when he rented a tract of land at Lawndale and commenced farming on his own account, working in that way for thirteen years. Being industrious and economical, he met with good success and in 1891 was able to purchase a farm, being now the possessor of a valuable and well improved farm of three hundred and sixty acres on sections 10 and 11, Oran township. He is an energetic and reliable business man who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. On the 22nd of March, 1877, Mr. Bock was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta L. Willmert, a daughter of Frederick Willmert, of Germany, and a sister of J. H. Willmert, who married our subjects sister. Mrs. Bock, who was a most estimable woman, beloved by all who knew her, died December 18, 1899, leaving four children, namely: J. Henry, born February 27, 1878; Maria C., born May 11, 1880; Catherine Louisa Marie, born October 1, 1881; and John Adam, born January 19, 1884. All these children live at home. John Adam was named for his grandfather. The family are members of St. John's Evangelical church of Lincoln and are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them. In his political views Mr. bock is a strong democrat, but he has never sought official honors, desiring rather to give his undivided attention to his business interests. He is one of Oran township's wealthiest and most prominent farmers, as well as one of its most public- spirited and enterprising citizens. -----