Obit: Prock, Michael #2 (1855 - 1916)

Contact: Ann Stevens
Email: ann@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Prock, Schwellenbach, Wepfer, Zastoupil, Houn, Heintz, Seitz, Lees

----Source: Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/24/1916

Prock, Michael (1855 – 17 Feb 1916)

In the passing of Mike Prock, Neillsville and Clark County lost one of its more able and respected citizens. Born a poor boy, he came to this country at an early age and by strict industry, honesty and sobriety he amassed a competence which was to have sufficed him during the remainder of his days and his untimely death is a matter of deep regret to all who knew him. He lived his life so that it might be said of him that he had not an enemy and that only good could be said of him. He was born in Jefferson County in 1855 and moved to Monroe County with his parents in 1862. In 1878 he came to Clark County, bought eighty acres of wild land in town of Weston, paying $5 down on it, and there he started to hew out a home for himself and the family which was to follow. He built a pioneer cabin and with the aid of a friend cleared about thirty acres, worked up the soil and sowed it into winter wheat. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Schwellenbach of Jefferson County. Three years after buying his first eighty, he bought another adjoining which then made up the fine Prock farm at Globe. Four years ago he and his wife moved to this city and occupied the fine home on South Hewett Street, which he built from timber which he got out on his own farm, which was left in charge of his son, Edward. Here he had hoped to spend many happy and pleasant years in resting up from the labors of his life’s work, but he was taken sick a couple weeks ago from arsenical poisoning, resulting from mounting deer heads, taxidermy being one of his most favorite occupations. He was seemingly getting along nicely, however, when pneumonia set in and he passed away on Feb. 17th.

Michael Prock was beloved and respected by all who knew him for he was an honest and upright man, always ready to help the needy and poor, a devout Catholic, a loving husband and father and a man who was progressive and fair in all his business dealings and enjoyed the full confidence of all his associates.
[some lines missing for transcription] for the improvement and welfare of the community.

Deceased is survived by his wife and the following children: Linus and Edward of Globe, Mrs. Adolph Wepfer of Norwalk and Catherine who resides at home. Also by three grandchildren, four sisters and three brothers: Joseph of this city, George and William of Rice Lake, Mrs. Jos. Zastoupil and Mrs. Wm. Houn of Tomah, Mrs. Jacob Heinz and Mrs. Cecilia Seitz of Cashton. The funeral was held Monday morning, services being conducted by Father Weber at St. Mary’s Church and interment being made in the Catholic cemetery. The Catholic Knights and St. Joseph’s Society and the Deutsche Kreiger Verein attended the funeral in a body and the church was filled to overflowing with sorrowing friends and relatives, which indicated the high esteem in which Mr. Prock was held in the entire community.

Those who were here for the funeral from out of town were: Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Wepfer of Norwalk, Mr. and Mrs. George Prock and William Prock of Rice Lake, Mr. and Mrs. Zastoupil, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Houn of Tomah, Mrs. Jacob Heintz, Mrs. Jos. Seitz, Mr. and Mrs. George Seitz, Henry Seitz, John Cramer, Jos. Schwellenbach and Mrs. Jos. Lees of Cashton.