Transcribed byDenise McLoughlin
TAMPICO AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 787

NICHOLAS VOCK

Among the residents of Whiteside county of foreign birth who, loyal to public interests, are today numbered among the stalward American citizens, is Nicholas VOCK, a native of Germany, born May 26, 1862. The parents were John and Anna VOCK, also natives of Germany. Thjey  had a family of nine children, namely: Nicholas, the subject of this review; Barbara; Phillip; Lizzie; Margaret, deceased; Lawrence; George, who has also passed away; George, the second of the name; and one who died ininfancy.

Nicholas VOCK remained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, and then came to America. This country, with its miles upon miles of broad prairie, its rich mining districts and great forest tracts, has been the land of opportunity for thousands of opeople who have come from the old world, and, moreover, it is the land ofopportunity for character development as well, where theindividual is not hampered by caste of class, but makes his way by reason of realpersonal merit. After landing on eastern shores Mr. VOCK continued hisjourneyinto theinterior of the country until he reached Whiteside county. Here he began working by the month, and that he was faithful, reliable and capable is indicated by the fact that he was employed by one man for eight years. He then married and bean farming on hisown account, cultivating a tract of rented land for six years, during which time he saved from the proceeds of his sales of crops a sufficient sum to enable him topurchase a farm in Whiteside county. He then lived upon his original place for seven years, when he sold that property and bought two hundred acres of land on sections 1 and 2, Montmorency township, whereon he took up his abode in 1902. The fields have been brough under a high state of cultivation and good farm machinery is used in carrying on the work. He also raises and feeds stock, and this adds materially to his annual income.

In 1889 Mr. VOCK was united in marriage to  Miss Sabine BILLINGER, who was born in Sterling in 1864. a daughter of John and Johanna (REICHET) BILLINGER, both of whom wre natives of Germany. They came to America in 1858, the father working here as a laborer. He died in the year 1895, and the mother, who still survives, now makes her home with a daughter in South Dakota. Mrs. VOCK was one of a familyof five children, and byher marriage has become the mother of ten children: Edward, Clara, Frances, Eva, Marie, Helen, Anna, Joseph and Albert.

In his political views Mr. VOCK is a republican, his study of the questions and issues of the day having led him to give stalward allegiance to the grand old party. He has been a school director for nineteen years, has been road commissioner for seven years and drainage commissioner for seven years. In these positions he has discharged his duties with a promptness and fidelity that none question, and which have led to his long retention in office. He and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church, and he is a member of the Knights of Clumbus. When he arrived in Whiteside county his capital could almost literally have been contained in a nutshell, for he possessed but one dollar. Today he is one of the substantial and prosperous agriculturiests of the community, and what he has accumulated has been won through hard work day after day. None question his thrift nor his honesty, andhis example may well serve as a source of inspiration to others, showing that success is not a matter of genius, but is the outcome of clear judgement, experience and indefatigable labor.
Photo: 1912 Plat map showing 160 acres owned by Nicholas Vock in Montmorency, section 1