My Genealogy Hound

William M. Block, the present efficient and esteemed deputy treasurer of Cross County, and real-estate dealer at Vanndale, was born on the place known as the Bond Farm, in Poinsett (now Cross) County, about eight miles northeast of Vanndale, March 9, 1853, being the third son in a family of eight children born to Maurice and Anna (Woubilman) Block. He was educated in the common schools of this county, and in 1871-72 attended the Tipton County high school, at Covington, Tenn., subsequently taking a course in 1872-73 at the University of Mississippi at Oxford. Upon his return home in September, 1873, Mr. Block was appointed deputy county clerk, under Thomas O. Fitzpatrick, which office he creditably held until the following March, when he became engaged in the livery business at Wittsburg, and the following November was again appointed deputy clerk, under James N. Dobson. In this position he served until the death of Mr. Dobson in December, 1875, at which time he was appointed deputy collector of taxes, under James M. Levesque, remaining so occupied until the following June. Mr. Block engaged in his present business as real-estate agent and abstractor of titles, in June, 1876, and has made and owns the only set of abstract books in Cross County. On May 19, 1880, he was appointed clerk of Cross County, to fill an unexpired term, and also has held office as justice of the peace for six years, having been a notary public the same length of time. The abstracts of Mr. Block’s are a model of neatness, by which the transfers of title, and all liens affecting the title of any property in the county can be readily found. He owns considerable property in this and adjoining counties, and also a fine residence in Vanndale, and has no superior as a thoroughly posted man on the real-estate of this county. Mr. Block was married on December 18, 1878, to Miss Alice Austell. They are the parents of three children.