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         FRANIS STOCK, a representative farmer of Louisa County, residing on section 4, Grand View Township, was born in Germany in 1822, and is a son of Adam and Catherine (Rider) Stock, both of whom were also natives of Germany, and who emigrated to America in 1853. The father’s death occurred in Grand View, Iowa, in 1862, and the mother was called to her final rest in 1874. They were both members of the German Reform Church. The father, who was a stonemason by trade, served as a soldier for several years under Napoleon Bonaparte, and participated in the battles of Jeni and Ourstet.

Mr. and Mrs. Stock were the parents of six children: Carl W., a stonemason living in Germany; Carl Godlip, a resident farmer of Webster County, Neb.; our subject; Amelia, the wife of Frederick Gost, of Grand View, Iowa; Henrietta, wife of Albert Kuehn, a resident farmer of Webster County, Neb., Turrissa, wife of Adam Bloomer, who is residing in Hancock County, Ill.

Our subject learned the mason’s trade previous to his emigration to this country. Thinking that the New World would furnish a better field for his future labors, in 1851 he sailed for America, landing at New York, where he remained for six weeks, and then went to St. Louis, Mo., residing there for about six months, engaged at his trade. At the expiration of that time he became a resident of Iowa, settling in Dubuque, where he lived for about two months, and then in Muscatine, where he remained for the succeeding two months, after which he came to Grand View. In this village he worked at his trade until 1866, and then purchased eighty acres of land on section 4, Grand View Township, where he yet resides, and now owns a finely cultivated farm.

On the 10th of April, 1857, Mr. Stock was united in marriage with Elizabeth Winkleman, a native of Switzerland, and daughter of Gabriel Winkleman, who was then a resident of Louisa County. By this marriage six children were born: Frankie; Otto, a farmer of Webster County, Neb.; Emma, wife of Wesley Hahn, also a resident of Webster County; William, Laura, and Lydia.

Mr. and Mrs. Stock are both members of the Evangelical Church. Politically, he is a Republican. Mr. Stock came to this country a poor boy, but by his own honest enterprise and labor has gained a comfortable competency, and is now one of the highly esteemed citizens of the community.