Father of Elisha Estes Brock.
According to "The Press", a Bristol area newspaper, Joshua and Susanna
came to
Ellis Co in 1840 and settled on the west bank of the Trininty River, near
Bristol. They named the area where they settled Brockville; it was later
renamed Bristol. Joshua and his brother, Lafayette, owned many acres of
land
in Ellis and Navarro County before their deaths. (Article by R.L. Kemp
which
ran on pg 10B on Friday, Oct. 30, 1992.)Elisha and Susanna's son, Elisha, was said to be the first recorded birth
of an
Anglo child in what was to be Ellis Co.In another article from "The Press", from Friday Aug. 16, 1996, "Amond
(sic)
the earliest grants (in Ellis Co -- DJMelton), and by far the largest,
was the
eleven league (or 33 miles) grant to Rafael de la Pena on October 23,
1834."Pena paid less than $200 for a tract of 50,000 acres of which 4,428.4
were in
the league grant. Pena was supposed to colonize and settle the land, but
soon
after approval of his title papers, Pena's agent, acting under his power
of
attorney, assigned the vast domain of land to Nathaniel Townsend for $800."On October 1, 1837, Pena, then a resident of Bexar County, deeded all of
this
vast grant of land to David Snivley of Refugio County for the sum of
$10,000,
Snivley conveyed portions of this tract to Townsend; however, there were
several lawsuits concerning the validity of these transactions."On this eleven-league grant, Joshua W. Brock came from Missouri,
settling on
the west bank of the Trinity River in 1840. Thus began the colonization
of the
of the opposite side of Ellis County with Brockville. Elisha E. Brock,
born
March 18, 1848, was the first baby born in what later became Ellis County.
The elder Brock was appointed post-master on September 22, 1854, and with
the
federal postal permit, Brockville became the official name of the town."Brock later opened a general store and saloon in conjunction with the
post
office. On August 1, 1866, Cassandra Brock was appointed postmistress,
July
19, 1867 Benjamin D. Austin was appointed postmaster. The office was
discontinued September 9, 1869. Brockville, on the then navigable Trinity
River, was a choice spot for newcomers to settle. In 1867 the Andrews,
McKay
and Mullican families moved to the area. Dancing was a popular diversion
during this period, and Brockville had an active social life among the new
residents. Everyone attended the weekly dances and gathered at the
socials
where dancing was always an activity. The residents danced so much that
their heelstrings became taut and sore, causing pain. Brockville suddenly
became jokingly known as Heelstring. Horse racing was also a popular pas-
time. Tales are told to this day of the big race track on the McMillon
farm
and fabulous sums of money that changed hands...."According to a byline of a photo which also appeared in "The Press", the
General Store was made of wood. It burned prior to 1926, and was
re-built of
brick by then. The brick store burned in the (early 1990's?), much to the
sorrow of family members nearby and far away. (It had of course changed
hands
by then -- probably several times.)Another article from "The Press", by Jean Edwards, who is possibly a
cousin,
is dated Aug. 23, 1996. "I went to the old Hefley pioneer Cemetery this
morning to find the gravesite of Joshua W. Brock and sife, Susanna, who
came
from Missouri, settling on the west bank of the Trinity River in 1840,
thus
beginning the colonization of Brockville, now known as Bristol. A few
stones
are still intact, however, some of the stones have crumbled and fallen to
the
ground. The cemetery is a quiet peaceful site located on Slate Rock Road
in
Bristol. The cemetery was restored in 1976 by the Bristol community Club.
Benches and a concrete table was purchased and placed on the serencce
grounds.
The most interesting thing I discovered was that Joshua, who was born
October 7, 1807, and died September 7, 1892, and his wife, Susanna, born
February 19 and died in June of 1886, share one tombstone. His name in on
one side and Susanna's name is on the other side. I don't know if this
was the
custom at that time or if it was due to the economy of that day...."Joshua is also immortalized in the "Brockville and Bristol" section of a
book
entitled HISTORY OF ELLIS COUNTY, p. 183-187 and p. 245 (there may be
even more
references.) He is mentioned also in an article of which a copy was
given me
by Charlotte Cottongame, my mother's 2nd? cousin. This article, which
appears
to be in a column called Vignettes, was written by Elmer Fincher. The
typeface
is different from that of "The Press", so perhaps it is a different paper
within the county -- Ennis, Ferris, or Waxahachie.1850 Ellis Co., Tx. census list Joshua Brock 40 year old farmer from Ky
with
wife Susanna 32 yrs. old from Tenn. with sons Joseph F. 13, Spencer P.
11, and
John R. 8 all born in Mo. and son Elisha 2 born in Texas. Census was
taken on
Oct. 21, 1850 of Navarro Dist. Dwelling 1 and Family 1.1880 Ellis Co., Tx. census list J. W. Brock 73 yr. old farmer from Ky.,
parents both from Virginia, with wife S. 63 yrs. old of Illinois with both
parents from Va. and son J. W., Jr. born in Texas. Taken June 29, 1880
Prec.
3, E. D. 48 stamped # 449.However, the 1880 Census also appears to list E.E. Brock (Elisha Estes)
as
being a 32-year-old farmer whose father (Joshua) was born in Virginia
(according to Charlotte Cottongame's notes).Joshua W. Brock is listed among land grand recipients in Ellis Co,
Abstract #130.A letter sent to DeJean Melton by Kathy Near, a Dameron researcher, from
Fred Brock of Tyler:
7 March, 1991
Dear Leonard:
Joshua Warron Brock, Jr., married Susanna Dameron in southwest
Missouri. They moved to Texas after 1842 and prior to 1848. He was my
grandfather's older half-brother. No doubt this is the Brock line you
mentioned in your letter.
Joshua was born 7 Oct. 1807 (in Franklin Co., VA, I think). He died
in Ellis Co., TX, 7 Sept., 1892. Susanna was born 19 Feb., 1817 and died
21 June, 1886. They were both buried in the Jefley Cemetery in Ellis
County, near Bristol, TX (formerly Brockville, TX). Joshua was the 1st
post master of Brockville, 22 Sept., 1854. His daughter-in-law,
Cassandra M. Rushing Brock followed him as post mistress. (over)
You may have this little story from "History of Newton, Lawrence,
Barry & McDonald Cos., MO, Goodspeed Pub. Co., 1888, Page 224:
"Squire Vivon was the only justice in the whole section before
organization of Barry Co. His office was at Sarcoxie. The first
marriage groom was Joshua Brock, an employee or friend of Jacob Wilkins,
a pioneer settler above Grand Falls in Newton County and the bride was a
daughter of Pioneer Dameron who lived near Sarcoxie on Center Creek. At
Dameron's house they were united by (Judge) Vivian and Brock too his
bride to his new cabin, which he had already built and furnisehed near
Jacob Wilkins, leaving a merry party to celebrate at his father-in-law's."
You seem to have a great deal Ferguson history. I believe the best
way to get word out on this is to run a query in one of our
quarterilies. We make no charge for publishing quesries. Perhaps in
statin some question to which you seek an answer you could mention the
abundance Ferguson information you are prepared to share.
Sincerely,
Fred Brock
Corresponding Secretary
(This letter was written on the stationery of the East Texas Genealogical
Society, P. O. Box 6967, Tyler, TX 75711)
-----
Joshua Warren Brock may be the Bro. Brock written of by the itinerant
Methodist preacher, Walter Smith South, who preached around Ellis and
Navarro Co around 1858-6?
Walter Smith South, a Methodist minister, came from Kentucky to Texas
about 1858, and
lived in several counties in the north central area of the state. These
extracts concern his
time spent in the Ellis- Navarro County area and depict some of the
hardships and
setbacks this young man endured - especially with regard to
transportation. His mention of
many of the county's residents and their places of residence, makes
interesting reading.Oct. 20, 1860 - Traveled 15 miles to Bro. Hawkin's, head of Waxahachie
Creek. Took
dinner and then traveled some 15 miles to Bro. Brack's where found
comfortable lodgings
although he was not at home.http://www.rootsweb.com/~txellis/frontier.htm (Other mentions below there)
Mother of Elisha Estes Brock.
Brother to Elisha Estes Brock.
This is likely the Joshua Warren Brock who took a patent on land in Irion
Co, 3062, 896, according to the USGenWeb records.
Brother to Elisha Estes Brock.
It is probably this Tarlton F Brock whose household is listed on the 1850
Navarro Co Census -- Navarro being created out of Ellis, and the census
enumerator being much confused and rather lost at times.
Probably related to the Martha Huggins who was the 2nd wife of John
Thomas Mullican. One of their daughters was Susan Harriett Mullican (who
married J.M. Andrews). Also, this Harriett named her oldest daughter
Martha.
Was he the John T. Brock of Ennis, TX who lost a son as follows:
PVT. THOMAS MARION BROCK, son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Brock, of Ennis,
Texas.
Entered the service August 5, 1917, and was attached to Co. L, 144th
Regiment, 36th Division.
Trained at Camp Bowie. Contracted pneumonia at Camp Bowie, and died
December 9, 1917. (from Ancestry.com Ellis Co Veterans of WWI )