Ernest Cleveland Brock, Son of Frank

 In my descendancy research on the family of Francis Marion "Frank" Brock, I am learning more about him, as well as his children. His son, Ernest Cleveland Brock, my great-granduncle, born 12 August 1895 in McMinn County, Tennessee, was a tragic story that had to impact his father, Frank. Ernest served in the army in World War I, and as far as I can tell, never married. 

I've been trying to find as many obituaries as I can while I have a sub to Newspapers.com. The following articles were found there, and I'm adding further source material to each separate article.  Transcribed articles are in italics.

The first one is: 

Nashville Banner

Nashville, Tennessee

Wednesday, 8 July 1931

Page 16

Train Kills Ernest Brock

Benton, Tenn., July 8 - (AP) - A section crew of the L. & N. Railroad Wednesday found the mangled body of Ernest Brock, 20, on the tracks south of Ocoee. He was identified by his picture and receipts in a pocketbook. He was the son of Frank Brock, formerly of Benton.

It seems it was quite a story, as others also reported it.

Kingsport Times

Kingsport, Tennessee

Thursday, 9 July 1931

Page 1

FIND BODY ON TRACKS

BENTON, Tenn., July 8 (AP) - A section crew of the L. and N. Railroad today found the mangled body of Ernest Brock, 20, on the tracks south of Ocoee. He was identified by his picture and receipts in a pocketbook. He was the son of Frank Brock, formerly of Benton.

And this:

The Knoxville Journal

Knoxville, Tennessee

Thursday, 9 July 1931

Page 2

SHOE OFF

Removing Cinders When Killed By L & N Train.

(Knoxville Journal Special)

BENTON, July 8 - Struck by a train presumably when he had sat down on the tracks of the L & N to remove cinders from his shoes. Ernest Brock, 37, of Polk county, was killed about 8 a.m. today at the junction with the Parksville railroad two miles below Ocoee. The severed body was found beside the tracks an hour later, with one shoe off. It is supposed he was sitting on the tracks when the train rounded a sharp curve. Surviving are his father, eight brothers and three sisters. Funeral services were held today.

And then there was this:

Chattanooga Daily Times

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Thursday, 9 July 1931

Page 14

TRAIN KILLS VAGABOND AT PARKSVILLE JUNCTION

Chattanooga Times Special.

BENTON, Tenn., July 8 - Ernest Brock, 35, a vagabond, was killed early this morning by a Louisville & Nashville train at Parksville Junction, south of Ocoee. His body was badly mangled. 

The body was found this morning, but it was several hours before identification was completed. He was identified by receipts and photographs found in his pockets. He was the son of Frank Brock, formerly of Benton, who now resides near Cleveland.  For several years, it was said, Brock had been restless and traveled from one town to another, never staying long at one place.

Funeral services were held this afternoon at 3 o'clock at Cookston Creek cemetery, with the Rev. R. A. Presswood officiating.

Oops! The injustice is dealt with swiftly!

Chattanooga Daily Times

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Sunday, 12 July 1931

Page 17

INJUSTICE DEALT MEMORY OF BROCK

Benton Man Was Respected Citizen-Legion Decries Term "Vagabond."

Chattanooga Times Special.

BENTON, Tenn., July 11 - Expression of regret over the use of the term vagabond as applied to Ernest Brock, former Benton resident, in an obituary in The Times July 9 was contained in a resolution passed by the American Legion post here last night.

Brock was killed by a train at Parksville on July 8.

The resolution stated that Brock was a member of the Polk County post of the American Legion in good standing and that he was an honorably discharged soldier of the World War, having served in Company E. Forty-sixth infantry, with other members of the local post. He was given a good character and reputation by the local legionnaires.

Reference to Brock as a "vagabond" was declared to have been a "gross misrepresentation."

"He spent his entire life in this community and was always self-supporting and generally had a regular job" the resolution stated. It is known that he was a hard worker. He was carried to the cemetery at the grave the flag was presented to his nearest kin in remembrance of his military service.

"Post No. 169 of the American Legion desires The Times to publish this letter and make corrections of this news item so that justice may be done in the memory of this deceased legionnaire and his family."

The resolution was signed by Winston H. Prince, chairman of the committee appointed to make the correction.

                                                                 -------------------

The Times regrets the inappropriate and erroneous use of the term "vagabond" in the story of the death of Mr. Brock. The expression was in correctly used in a revision of the notice submitted by the paper's correspondent at Benton due in a misinterpretation of the information. Apology is hereby offered to the family of Mr. Brock and to his friends of the American Legion.

The death certificate states that Ernest was 34 years, 10 months and 26 days old. His younger brother, Dewey, is listed as the informant, but his father was unable to read or write, so I believe that played a large role in Dewey, George Dewey Brock, handling things that might require reading and signing things. 

This had to be a horrible time for the family. Not just losing a son or brother, but how they lost him. Then the newspaper tries to sensationalize the tragedy. Somethings never change. I only wish I could have found more about his life.

Sources: 

Newspapers.com (more with article)

FamilySearch.: Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966

"Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966,"
database with images,
FamilySearch
(https://familysearch.org/ark:/619
03/1:1:N9LY-33N : 1 March 2021),
Earnest Broch, 18 Jul 1931; Death,
Polk, Tennessee, United States,
Tennessee State Library and
Archives, Nashville.

The Start of A New Project - Frank Brock

 

I chose my first descendancy project, and naturally run into a big question. My choice is Francis "Frank" Marion Brock. First thing I wanted to do was make sure I had all sources for Frank entered and copies of his docs linked in.  You know, everything nice and neat. Then along comes probems!

Frank was widowed when his first wife, Irene Matilda  Brock, died in February of 1918. They had married in 1883. He remarried Manerva Jane Newton Clayton on March 2, 1919 in Polk County, Tennessee. In the 1920 Polk County census he is listed with wife Mary, which must be a census taker mistake. Also a Bessie and Noah Clayton, listed as Step-children, and Alexander Brock, which is his 11 year old son, Elliot Alexander. His 16 year old son, Lawrence Brock, is next door, I need to say, 'as the crow flies' as these are farms, listed as a lodger. His occupation is farm labor. He is lodging with a James V. Copeland. Frank is 57 according to this census, which puts his birth year as about 1862 or 1863. 

Found in the News:

Polk County News; Benton, Tennessee; Thursday, 13 March 1919; Page 1: Newspapers.com

MARRIED

"Uncle" Frank Brock has been sprucing up and hieing himself away to Archville every week or so, but his friends could not find out the cause, until County Court Clerk received a pair of marriage license endorsed thereon in substance. "Joined Frank Brock and Manerva Clayton in the Holy Bonds of wedlock" This Feb. 7, 1919, Signed R. L. Jenkins D. D.

In the 1930 census, it lists Frank and Manerva Brock renting with a street address in Benton, Polk, Tennessee, and listed as a laborer odd jobs. He is 65 which puts his birth year about 1865. Just for my record, neither can read or write. So 10 years later they are still together.

The big problem comes with the death cert. The informant is G. D. Brock. G. D. is his son George Dewey, mostly know as Dewey. It is listed as Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee. Polk is right next door, so that is ok. It lists him as having been born on December 25, 1859. His gravestone says, December 25, 1862. The census is all over the place on age. I have found no birth cert. and most unlikely to do so considering it is Tennessee and they did not start registering them until 1908, some counties started by 1874, but I haven't found his listed. Without a birth cert. which do you take?

Next his father is listed as John  Brock born in N.C. His father was actually Andrew Jackson Brock, also known as Andy, born in Tennessee. Dewey, the informant, did have a grandfather named John Raborn. He was the father of Matilda Raborn. It said D K (Don't Know) in Franks mothers name. She was actually Emeline Jack Brock. As for the North Carolina, I haven't a clue.

Problem number 2: Frank is listed as Widowed. This is simply not true. On the death cert of Manerva, listed Monerva, she is listed as wife of Frank Brock, widowed. Her death was July 1, 1945 in Ducktown, Tennessee. The 1930 census has them together. WTH, Dewey? If you think I haven't seen a second wife written out of a man's life by his kids, think again. This is the second one I have come by, the first one was in my lifetime. I've tried to find Manerva in the 1940 census, but I've had no luck. She was probably living with one of her children from her first marriage. Her daughter Mariah Cain was the informant on her death cert, maybe that is where she is, but haven't found her yet. 

The third thing about this death cert is the cause of death. It said:

Died Suddenly

No Doctor

heart failure

I've never seen anything like that before. In box 24. where the doctor is supposed to sign, it was signed by G. D. Brock and the M. D. is marked out. Under contributory causes it has written in 199. That is sudden death. That's all. 

Yes, my mind went there. What really killed Frank? 

I thought it would be simple. HA. It never is.

New Roads

 So, this is the year for something a little different. I think this year I need to focus on something I have not done so far. Descendancy research and my brick walls. I know I am slow getting started, but we've just passed Chinese New Year so I may not be so far off in starting. Hope the Year of the Tiger is kind to taking new avenues for research.

The thing about staying with a genealogy software for so long is 1) liking the program and 2) not having a large learning curve to fight in the middle of research. I am using RootsMagic 7 still. I like it and I know it. I don't have to stop my entering and try to find something, nor do I have to click so many times to get to the place I need. RootsMagic 8 has gotten no easier to maneuver and it takes so many clicks to get anywhere. I cannot find anything without spending so long looking that I just want to stop working altogether. To many times I have had to realize that what I am looking for is not there. Even how it presents seems awkward. The word "clunky" comes to mind every time I open it. I'm so sorry I bought it, and I will not continue with RM after version 7. I trusted RM, and got disappointed. I will continue to use RM7 until it starts not being cooperative, as it is not supported any longer. Meanwhile I will check out other programs. 

Today we are waiting for snow.  It’s been missing us all year and I am not believing them yet. Yes, I do love snow so it will make me happy if it hits us.