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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pike County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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George W. Brock, planter in Missouri Township, Pike County, Ark., was born in Grainger County, Tenn., April 27, 1837, and was reared and educated in his native State. He was a son of Moses Brock and Mahalah Brock, both natives of Tennessee, the former born in 1803, and the latter in 1801. They were married in 1833, and had a family of six children—four boys and two girls, namely: Booker D., Nancy A., George W., Sarah E., Moses K. and John W. Mr. Brock, Sr., was a farmer by occupation. In 1850 he emigrated to Arkansas, settling in Pike County, where he engaged in tilling the soil until his death, which occurred November 27, 1888. The father was married three times; first, to Zipparah Dennis, May 12, 1822. To this union were born five children: William, James, Elizabeth, Amy and Charity. July 27, 1833, his wife departed this life, and on October 1, 1833, he was married to Mahalah Dyer, with whom he lived for more than forty-three years. This wife died April 22, 1876, and Mr. Brock then married Elizabeth Gentry, a native of Georgia, who survives him. The subject of this sketch emigrated with his parents to Pike County, Ark., and lived with his parents until 1860. Then he went to Texas and traveled extensively in that State, and joined the Texas Rangers in 1860, with whom he went in the Indian Territory for six months, undergoing hardships incident only to a ranger’s life. After this he returned to Arkansas and joined the Confederate army, July 13, 1861, and witnessed the scenes of many hard-fought battles. At the close of the late war he came home, taking up his occupation as a farmer. He was married to Miss Rebecca M. Weir, October 28, 1862, a native of Arkansas, who was born February 10, 1844. She is a daughter of Abram and Amanda Weir. This union was blessed with twelve children, viz.: Amanda C, Mahalah O. (deceased), Moses A., Thomas J., Nancy C, Talitha L., Lescar E., Rebecca M., George P., Lula M. and Lydia O. Mr. Brock is one of the successful planters of this county, owning a farm of excellent land, with eighty acres under cultivation. He is a Mason, belonging to Pike Lodge No. 91, in which he has served the lodge in her official capacities. Mr. Brock is popular, having been elected as justice of the peace for several terms. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for twenty-five years, and has been an efficient leading elder for fifteen years, and faithfully discharged his duties as such. He and his amiable wife are liberal contributors to charitable enterprises, especially to the church.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pike County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Pike County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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