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.
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