Hall County NEGenWeb
Biographies
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RUDOLPH W. BOCK, whose grocery interests in Grand Island are important and whose high standing as a citizen is universally recognized, is serving in his fourth consecutive term as a member of the city council. Mr. Bock was born in Schlewig-Holstein, Germany, April 13, 1870. His parents were H. H. and Magdelena Margerita (Bock) Bock.

In 1879 H. H. Bock with his son Adolph, came tot eh United States and to Nebraska and located in Grand Island. He was a man of education and sought employment in the schools and for many years taught what was known as the Stolley school in District No. 1, Hall County. Later in life he went farther west and beame the owner of a fine fruit farm in Oregon. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He had four sons, one of whom died in Germany. Adolph accompanied him to America and was a clerk in Grand Island and died here. In 1880 the mother of Rudolph W. Bock brought him and his older brother, Alvinus, to America to join the father at Grand Island. Alvinus was a clerk for the old firm of Veit & Roeser and for five years was in the grocery business with his brother Rudolph W. He is now head clerk for Frank Olson, in Grand Island.

Rudolph W. Bock had been in school for four years before coming to the United States, after reahing Nebraska he continued his studies in Hall County. His first employer was Oscar Roeser who gave the boy work and he continued as a clerk in Mr. Roeser's grocery store for ten years, leaving this position to become a traveling salesman for the McCord-Brady Company but after four years went back to Mr. Roeser as his manager. Later he embarked in the grocery business in Grand Island in partnership with his brother Alvinus, under the style of Bock Brothers. On April 13, 1910, he purchased his brother's interest; since which time he has been the owner.

Mr. Bock married, in 1890, Miss Sadie Merchant, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of William W. Merchant, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father had moved to Wisconsin after serving three years in the Civil War. He took up a homestead and died there, but the mother of Mrs. Bock died in Kansas. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Bock was educated in Ithaca and Ironton, Sauk County, Wisconsin. She taught school for one year in her native state and one year in Nebraska. She is a woman of culture and refinement. Mr. and Mrs. Bock have no children of their own but they reared little Mary from the age of two years to beautiful womanhood and she in now the wife of Allen Nevius, who is associate editor of the New York Evening Post.

Mr. Bock has long been an important factor in Republican politics in Grand Island and in his fourth campaign as alderman was elected without any opposition, a pretty fair demonstration of the general esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. He has served on the police board and at present is on the board of health and has given generously of his time and means in the recent epidemic of influenza, that has been pervalent (sic) at Grand Island as in many other cities. He is a Royal Arch Mason and both he and Mrs. Bock belong to the Eastern Star. He is identified also with the Elks, the United Commercial Travelers Association, the A. O. U. W., the Eagles, the Plattsdeutch-Verein, the Liederkranz and the Royal Highlanders; in the U. C. T. being a member to the Supreme Council.

Transcribed by Kaylynn

History of Hall County
by Buechler, Barr, & Stough (Published 1920)
Transcribed by Larry Coates