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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Philip BROCK 

Pages 865-866, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin
(Note: Portraits of Mr. & Mrs. Brock are included in the 1890 book, pages 861-864) 

[Surnames: BROCK, BUCK, FRIDLEY, GABAL, GRAY, SINNETT] 

    
PHILIP BROCK, the proprietor of a fine farm on section 28, Cass Township, is one of the most prosperous men in this locality. He in an extensive landowner, having real estate not only in this county, but in McLean and McDonough Counties. His parents, Philip and Elizabeth (Gabal) Brock, were pioneers of this county, and he may be so regarded also, as he has contributed his quota toward the development of its agricultural interests. 
    
Our subject is of German origin, his family originating in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, where he was born in 1820. They came from there to this country in 1838, and landing at Baltimore, Md., made their way to Wheeling, W. Va., whence they embarked on a boat and floated down the Ohio to Cincinnati. After remaining in that city a week they resumed the voyage to St. Louis, whence they proceeded to the mouth of the Spoon River, and from there came by wagon to Harris Township, which is now a part of Cass Township. The father of our subject bought a claim to a quarter-section of timber and hilly land, of which a small part was improved. There the family took up their abode and remained several years. On September 13, 1839, they were bereaved by the death of the father, who was a kind husband and father, and an honest, sober-minded, good-hearted man. The mother survived him until 1863, when she too passed away. They were the parents of five children who grew to maturity; our subject; Conrad and Henry now deceased; Elizabeth and John. 
    
He of whom these lines are written received good schooling in the Fatherland. He was eighteen years old when the family came to America, and here he has spent the greater part of his life. Before coming to America he had herded sheep for his father and here he greatly assisted him in his labors, and after the father died superintended the affairs of the farm, remaining upon it until the year 1847. Having taken unto himself a wife he then moved from the old homestead to the farm which he now occupies. This comprises two hundred and eighty acres of finely tilled land, supplied with good improvements of a neat and substantial order. He has besides this estate twenty acres of land in Bernadotte Township, eighty acres in McDonough County, and eighty acres in McLean County, comprising a fine property of four hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Brock has practically retired from farming, and rents his farm, though he still deals in stock, cattle, horses, hogs and sheep. When he and his wife came here they were poor, and all that they have has been procured by their joint labor, for Mrs. Brock is as hard a worker as Mr. Brock, and both have been wisely frugal and economical while accumulating the competence which will enable them to enjoy their declining years more at leisure. They may well be proud of what they have accomplished. 
    
Mr. and Mrs. Brock were married in June, 1865. Her maiden name was Maria Fridley, and she is a daughter of John and Hester (Buck) Fridley, natives of Pennsylvania. They were there married, and in 1834 came to Illinois, and were among the early settlers of Cass Township, locating on the place now occupied by Ogden Gray. The surrounding country was then very sparsely settled, and their house was in a lonely situation, being the only one between Cuba (now a thriving town, then but a small hamlet) and Ellisville. Mr. Fridley, who was by occupation a wagonmaker and farmer, served as a patriotic soldier in the War of 1812, and died in 1845. His widow married again and survived until 1890. They were the parents of six children who grew to maturity, named Elizabeth, Mrs. Sinnett, now deceased; Henry, Jesse; Maria, Mrs. Brock; Louisa, Mrs. Gray; and James. Mrs. Brock is a native of Cass Township, and was born September 10, 1838. She attended the typical pioneer school taught in a log cabin, and has witnessed almost the entire development of this region. 
    
In connection with this sketch, we present to the reader portraits of Mr. Brock and his wife. They are people of true, honest and kindly hearts, always trying to do what they can to help others in distress or want, and are greatly respected in this community where they are well known. He has been a prominent Granger, and was at one time Treasurer of the Grange, and has served his township as Postmaster. Politically, he was a Democrat until fifteen years ago, when he identified himself with the Greenback party for a time, and has since been independent.