Jonas Figley Brock

BROCK, HIATT, HOUSH, HUNTER, SMITH

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/12/2004 at 21:19:10

Sixty years have come and gone since Jonas F. Brock arrived in Madison county, casting in his lot with its pioneer settlers, and sixteen years have passed since he was called to his final rest, yet he is well remembered not only by the older settlers, but also by those of the later generation, who have known him as a trustworthy business man and a reliable, energetic citizen. At all times he held to high standards and those who were associated with him learned to respect and honor him because of his sterling worth and integrity of character. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 22, 1822, a son of Thomas Brock, who was probably a native of Maryland and became a pioneer of the Buckeye state. His wife died when their son Jonas F. was born.

In his boyhood days Jonas F. Brock learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until about 1847, when he went to Maysville, Kentucky, where he was engaged in the manufacture and sale of tombstones for about nine years. In 1855 he came to Iowa, traveling on the river to Savannah, Missouri, and thence by team to this county. He took up his abode in Winterset and there followed the shoemaker's trade until 1859. In 1862 he joined the Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was honorably discharged after the cessation of hostilities in 1865. He was taken prisoner at Allatoona, Georgia, and was confined in various southern prisons. Twice he effected his escape. The first time he was recaptured and on the second occasion he succeeded in making his way northward, although serious difficulties confronted him in this undertaking. After getting out of prison the second time he became ill with typhoid fever and he lay concealed in the woods while thus suffering, receiving only the care and attention that could be given him by some loyal negroes. As soon as he was able to travel he made his way home to Winterset. About that time the sheriff of Madison county died and Mr. Brock was appointed to fill out the unexpired term. He was afterward elected to the office and was reelected, serving altogether for about two and a half terms. In 1868, which was the last year of his service as sheriff, he purchased eighty acres of land in Lincoln township and upon his retirement from office he took up his abode upon that farm and continued to make it his home until his death. He added to his land from time to time as his financial resources permitted until he was the owner of two hundred and thirty-seven acres, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, adding to the place all of the equipments and accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century. His methods were at all times practical and progressive and the success he achieved was the merited reward of his persistent, earnest labor.

It was on the 30th of May, 1855, that Mr. Brock was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Housh, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, February 17, 1836, a daughter of William and Eleanor (Hiatt) Housh, natives of Virginia and Maryland respectively. Her paternal grandparents were both natives of Germany. Her parents spent their entire lives in Ohio, where they located in pioneer times, and Mr. Housh followed the occupation of farming. Mrs. Brock's girlhood was spent in the Buckeye state, where she lived up to the time of her marriage, and then she became one of the pioneer women of Madison county, where she has since made her home, witnessing many changes here as the work of development and progress has been carried steadily forward. To Mr. and Mrs. Brock were born five children: Harriett A., now the wife of William Hunter, of Earlham, Iowa; Eleanor, who became the wife of Le Roy Smith and died at the age of thirty-one years; William E., who passed away at the age of twenty-two years; Charlie, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Des Moines; and Frank B. who is sheriff of this county and is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Brock held membership in the Methodist church, to which Mrs. Brock still belongs, and during the later part of his life he was one of its local preachers. He took a most active and helpful part in church work, doing everything in his power to advance the work of the church and extend its influence. He also held membership in Pitzer Post, No. 55, G. A. R., of Winterset, which he joined on its organization. His political indorsement was always given to the republican party from the time of its organization. He passed away February 20, 1899. He was feeble during the later years of his life and his wife looked after their business affairs. When almost seventy-seven years of age he passed away, respected and honored by all who knew him, for his life had been upright and his worth of character endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. Mrs. Brock is now seventy-nine years of age, but is as active as most women at fifty. She is one of the prominent residents of Madison county, where she located sixty years ago, coming as a young wife to this section of the country. Great indeed have been the changes which time and man have wrought in the intervening period. Wild lands have been converted into productive farms, pioneer cabins have been replaced by substantial and attractive residences and every indication of pioneer life has long since passed away. Mrs. Brock has ever been an interested witness of the work of improvement and development and, like her husband, she has made her life count for good in this work of general improvement.

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