Frank B. Brock

BROCK, EYERLY, HOUSH, RAGAN

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/8/2004 at 14:27:05

Those who know Frank B. Brock, and his friends are many, have no hesitancy in predicting that he will make an excellent officer in the position of sheriff, to which he was elected in the fall of 1914, assuming his duties in January, 1915.

Mr. Brock was born in Lincoln township, March 19, 1870, his parents being Jonas F. and Elizabeth M. (Housh) Brock, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. His youthful days were spent upon the home farm in the usual manner of the lad who assists in the work of the fields and acquires his education in the public schools. He was thus occupied until he was about twenty-two years of age. He was then married and rented a farm in Webster township, upon which he lived for two years, removing at the end of that time to Warren county, Iowa, where he cultivated a rented farm for about four years. Subsequently he spent two years in Des Moines, Iowa, working for an ice company, and at the end of that time returned to his native county and rented the old home farm. For about sixteen years he continued its cultivation and then began selling road machinery in Iowa and Minnesota for the J. D. Adams Leaning Wheel Road Machinery Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. He traveled for several years during the summer seasons and continued in their employ even through the summer and fall in which he was a candidate for office, doing very little electioneering. In June, 1912, he was appointed deputy sheriff of Madison county but continued with the Adams Company, demonstrating road machinery through the summer months. In 1914 he was made the nominee of the republican party for the office of county sheriff and won the election, so that he entered upon the duties of the position in January, 1915. During the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, held in St. Louis in 1904, he acted for six months as a member of the admission department.

On the 24th of December, 1891, Mr. Brock was married to Miss Sadie Ragan, a native of this county and a daughter of B. F. Ragan, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. They have four children: Esther R., now the wife of Fred Eyerly, of this county; Grace, at home; Ozro R., living in Indianola, Iowa; and Elmo, at home.

Mr. Brock is a member of Lotus Lodge, No. 48, K. P., of Winterset, and the Iowa State Traveling Men's Association, and he belongs also to the Methodist church. He is a large, well proportioned man, whole-souled, kindly and popular. He is known throughout the county as Frank, a term which indicates his cordiality and approachableness. When occasion demands, however, he can be stern and unrelenting and this combination of qualities will insure his efficiency and fidelity in office.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”