Source: History of Whiteside County, Illinoiss, By William W. Davis, Vol. II, Page 787

Transcribed by Denise McLoughlin, Tampico Area Historical Society, www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

NICHOLAS VOCK

Among the residents of Whiteside county of foreign birth who, loyal to public interests, are today numbered among the stalward American citizens, is Nicholas VOCK, a native of Germany. They had a family of nine children, namely: Nicholas, the subject of this review; Barbara; Phillip: Lizzie; Margaret, deceased; Lawrence; George, who has also passed away; George, the second of the name; and one who died in infancy.

Nicholas VOCK remained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, and then came to America. This country, with its miles upon miles of broad prairie, its rich mining  distracts and great forest tracts, has been the land of opportunity for thousands of people who have come from the old world, and, moreover, it is the land of opportunity for character development as well, where the individual is not hampered by caste or class, but makes his way by reason of real personal merit. After landing on eastern shores Mr. VOCK continued his journey into the interior of the country until he reached Whiteside county. Here he began working by the month , and that he was faithful, reliable and capable is indicated by the fact that he was employed by one man for eight years. He then married and began farming on his own account, cultivating a tract of rented land for six years, during which time he saved from the proceeds of his sales of crops a sufficient sum to enable him to purchase a farm in Whiteside county. He then lived upon his original place for seven years, when he sold that property and bought two hundred acres of land on sections 1 and 2, Montmorency township, whereon he took up his abode in 1902. The fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation and good farm machinery is used in carrying on the work. He also raises and feeds stock, and this adds materially to his annual income.

In 1889 Mr. VOCK was united in marriage to Miss Sabine BILLINGER, who was bornin Sterling in 1864, a daughter of John and Johanna  (REICHET) BILLINGER, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in 1858, father working here as a laborer. He died in the year 1895, and the mother, who still survives, now makes her home with a daughter in South Dakota. Mrs. VOCK was one of a family of five children, and by her marring; has become the mother of ten children:  Edward, Clara, Carl, Frances, Eva, Marie, Helen, Anna, Joseph and Albert.

In his political views Mr. VOCK is a republican, his study of the questions and issues of the day having led him to give stalwart allegiance to the grand old party. He has beena school director for nineteen years, has been road commissioner for seven years, and drainage commissioner for seven years. In these positions he has dischagred his duties with a promptness and fidelity that none question, and which have led to his long retention in office. He and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. When he arrived in Whiteside county his capital could almost literally have been contained in a nutshell, for he possessed but one dollar. Today he is one of the substantial and prosperous agriculturists of the community, and what he has accumulated  has been won through example may well serve a a source of insperation to others, showing that success is not a matter of genius, but is the outcome of clear judgment, experience and indefatigable labor.