My Genealogy Hound

William D. Shock has been a resident of Hazen, Prairie County, Ark., for only one year, yet he is well known throughout the community as a successful business man, being engaged in the real estate and lumber business. He owns about 100 lots in the town, and has about 1,200 acres of land. He was born in Missouri in 1843, being the eighth child in a family of sixteen born to Henry Shock, who was born in Kentucky in 1802. The latter was one of twelve children born to John and Mary Shock, who were of German descent and natives of Pennsylvania. The latter couple removed to Missouri at an early day and settled in Boone County, where the father followed farming and blacksmithing. He died in 1855, and his wife about 1862. Henry Shock spent his early life and school days in Missouri, and, like his father, was a successful tiller of the soil, being also a prosperous stockman. He was married, first, in 1827, to Miss Mary Jackson, a daughter of Thomas Jackson, a Virginian. Five children blessed, this union: John J., Thomas P., Permelia A., Joseph S. and Mary J. (the wife of S. Alverson). The mother of these children died about 1835, and three years later Mr. Shock wedded Miss Hannah L. Cox, a member of the Cox family of Kentucky, she being one of a family of seven children. To them were born eleven children: James H., Lucinda F. (widow of D. Smart, of Missouri), William D., Daniel P., Sarah and Lydia (twins, the former the wife of J. Turner, of Missouri, and the latter, Mrs. Green Gautt, also of that State), Alonzo, Theodore R., Robert A. and Milton P. Mr. Shock died in the State of his adoption in 1885, but his widow still survives him and resides on the old homestead, she being a member of the Christian Church, as was her husband. William D. Shock, the immediate subject of this biography, spent his youth in Missouri, and in 1862 left home to take part in the struggle between the North and South. After being in the service a short time he was crippled by a horse falling on him, and was compelled to go home, but upon recovering he again entered the service and in 1864 joined Company H, Marmaduke’s brigade, but was afterward exchanged to the advance guard of the same brigade. After his return home he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, in Audrain County, being very successful in both occupations, but since coming to Arkansas has devoted his time to the real estate and lumber business, and now has under his control about 40,000 acres of land together with a number of town lots. He was married, in 1867, to Miss Nancy I. Gay, a daughter of John D. and Rebecca E. Gay, of Missouri, but natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Shock was born in Missouri, and her union with Mr. Shock has resulted in the birth of three children: Charles E., Olivia (who died in Missouri in 1886) and William R. The family attends the Christian Church.