1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

William Mock, engaged in the hay, coal, transfer and delivery business at Cherokee, is one of the early settlers of Crawford county, having come here in 1866, shortly after the war, in which he had given a due meed of faithful service and shown his patriotism to the fullest extent. He is well known and esteemed in the business circles of the town, and has accomplished a great deal in the years of his active career.

Born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1838, he spent the first nineteen years of his life in that state, where he received his educational advantages and was taught to work and to prize industry and faithful diligence. In 1857 he moved west to the state of Illinois, and at Aledo, Mercer county, of that state, on August 6, 1862, he enlisted in the Ninth Illinois Infantry, in Captain Alexander G. Hawe's company. They were in camp at Cairo, Illinois, and then crossed to Paducah, Kentucky. They took part in the siege and capture of Fort Donelson, were at Shiloh under General Richard Oglesby, and at that battle Mr. Mock was wounded in both thighs, after which he was confined to the hospital for three months; was at the battle of Corinth, and some time later became a part of Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign, participating at Chickamauga, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Big Shanty, Burnt Hickory, and other engagements. For a time he acted as guard at the headquarters of General Dodge. On receiving his honorable discharge he returned home to Illinois.

Mr. Mock was a son of Samuel and Mary Ann (Brower) Mock, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of German stock. They moved out to Illinois in 1859, and in 1866 came to Crawford county, where the father, who was a Democrat in politics, died at the age of eighty-four, and the mother died at Fort Scott, aged sixty-four. They were adherents of the Presbyterian church. Samuel Mock had eight children, and three other of the sons were soldiers in the Civil war, namely: Abe, of the Ninth Illinois; Jesse, also of the Ninth, who died of wounds received at Shiloh; and John, of the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry.

Mr. Mock, as has been mentioned, came to Crawford county in 1866, and has since taken a prominent part in the various affairs of the county. His business at Cherokee is a prosperous one, and it continues to increase under his efficient and capable management. Mr. Mock is a Socialist in the political trend of his thought. He affiliates with Shiloh Post of the Grand Army.

He was married at Girard, in 1874, to Miss Mary E. Blurton, and they have spent a most happy married life of thirty years. She was a daughter of William and Lucy (Pool) Blurton, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former of whom, a farmer and Democrat, died in Missouri at the age of eighty-four, and the latter is living in Cherokee at the age of eighty. Mr. and Mrs. Mock have the following children: Jesse, William, Ed, Mattie, Minnie, Florence, and Samuel, who met death by accident when seven years old.