----Source: Clark County Republican & Press (Neillsville, Wis.) 02/24/1916

Prock, Michael (1855 - 17 Feb 1916)

Michael Prock died at his home on Hewett St. (Neillsville, Clark County) Feb. 17, 1916, after having received all the consolations of the Holy Catholic Religion. His sickness was chronic arsenical poison from handling a solution of arsenic mounting deer heads. It took effect on him because he died this work in the cellar the past two years. The last three days pneumonia set in, which caused his death. Mr. Prock was born in Jefferson Co. in 1855. He moved with his parents to Monroe Co. in 1862. In 1878 he came to Clark County and purchased eighty acres of wild land in the town of Weston, paying $5.00 down. He built a pioneer home that year, cleared with help of a friends 30 acres, cut down timber, worked up the soil and sowed with winter wheat. In 1879 he was married to Miss Mary Schwellenbach of Jefferson; 3 years later he purchased another eighty, which now altogether is his attractive farm in Globe. Four years ago he moved to town, having his farm rented to his son, Edward. A year last Sept. he moved into his new residence, which he built on Hewett St., hoping and expecting to enjoy the fruits of his hard labor and toil for a good many years. He was president of the Clark Co. butter Co., for 15 years and salesman for 20 years. Mr. Prock was beloved and respected by everyone that knew him, he was an honest upright man, always ready to help the needy and the poor, a good Catholic loving husband and father, an obliging careful officer who enjoyed the confidence of all his fellow men. He leaves to mourn his untimely death, his sorrowing wife and 4 children, Linus and Edward of Globe, Mrs. Adolph Wepfer of Norwalk and Catherine at home; one daughter, Otilia, died in infancy. He also leaves 3 grandchildren, 4 sisters and 3 brothers, Joseph of Neillsville, George and William of Rice Lake, Mrs. Joe Zastonpil and Mrs. Wm. Houn of Tomah, Mrs. Jake Heinz, Mrs. Cecilia Seitz of Cashton.

The funeral took place from St. Mary’s Church, Rev. Father Weber conducting the service Monday Feb. 21st. The Catholic Knights, St. Joseph Society, of which he is a member, attended in a body, also the Deutsche Kruger Verein. The church was filled with sorrowing friends from far and near, which showed the high esteem Mr. Prock was held in the whole community.

Out of town relatives were: Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Wepfer of Norwalk; Mr. and Mrs. George Prock and Wm. Prock of Rice Lake; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Zastonpil, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Houn of Tomah; Mrs. Jack Heinz, Mrs. Cecilia Seitz, Joe Seitz, Mr. and Mrs. George Seitz, Henry Seitz, John Cramer, Joe Schwellenbach and Mrs. Joe Lees, all of Cashton.