CROSS CO, AR - ISAAC BLOCK - Bio *********************************************************** Submitted by: Jason Presley <daclyde@usa.net> Date: 3 Jan 2004 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Block, one of the prominent business men and planters, of Cross County, Ark., was originally from St. Louis County, Mo., where his birth occurred in March, 1851, and is the son of Maurice and Anna (Woubilman) Block. [See sketch of Maurice Block.] I. Block attended school at Harrisburg, in Poinsett County, until the outbreak of the war, and during those troublesome times he assisted his father in many expeditions, smuggling cotton into Memphis, and goods and provisions to the people back home on his return. During those trips they met with adventures, and endured much hardship, but with cotton at $500 per bale, and all goods that could be brought home yielding an enormous profit, they continued this business until the end of the war. In 1866 I. Block attended school for one year at Wittsburg, and during the next three years he assisted his father on the farm. During 1808 he spent another year in school at Covington, Tenn., and then his father gave him a farm, after which for five years he was engaged in cultivating the soul, "baching it" on the farm. He was quite successful, raising a great deal of cotton, corn and live-stock. In 1875 he went to Wittsburg, and engaged as clerk with his brother, L. N. Block & Co., continuing with this firm for about eight months. At that time his father dying, he entered the firm of D. Block & Co., representing his mother's interest in that business, and continued with the same for about three years, or until 1879, when the firm dissolved partnership. After this he became a member of the firm of L. N. Block & Co., and the title was changed to Block Bros. & Co. This firm immediately began to do a large trade, the first year handling $85,000 worth of cotton, dealing extensively in live-stock and machinery. This firm continued in business until the decline of Wittsburg as a trading point, when they dissolved. For about two years they ran a branch store at Wynne, under the title of Block & Co., and these two stores were connected by a Bell telephone, the only one ever used in Cross County. These stores were closed out together. In 1882 Mr. Block bought 160 acres on the Helena branch of the Iron Mountain Railroad, at Wynne, and continued to add to this tract of land until now he is the owner of 766 acres. In 1884 he built a sawmill and ginnery at Wynne, and the sawmill soon became valuable property, as the railroad creates a large market for lumber, and during this time Mr. Block acquired the reputation of being the shrewdest sawmill man in Cross County. They sold this mill in 1888. After clearing out the commercial interests at both Wittsburg and Wynne, Mr. Block applied himself diligently to clearing his large farm adjoining the town of Wynne. In four years time he had cleared up, and reduced to a state of perfect cultivation, 400 acres, and made improve- ments on the same, which have at once placed this plantation among the highest improved places in the State. This fine piece of land adjoins the town of Wynne, and extends two miles along the railroad, being enclosed for over two miles by solid plank fence. Along the front every twenty acres has a neatly constructed tenant house each 40 acres has a double four-roomed cottage, and each house is surrounded by a plank fence. This row of cottages, extended for two miles along the road, each one painted white with red trimmings, present the appearance of a street in a town. There is no plantation in Eastern Arkansas that is better improved, or shows better taste, or business judgment in improving or erecting buildings than this. In addition to this place, Mr. Block owns 1,000 acres in all parts of Cross County, and on those tracts there are about 150 acres under cultivation. Mr. Block now spends most of his time in looking after his extensive farms, and occupies as a residence an attractive home in the city of Wynne. This residence was constructed in 1884 and 1885, and is furnished with taste and care. He was married in 1878, to Mrs. Fannie Puryear, a widow and daughter of J. M. Levesque [see sketch], and his wife, with her many social graces, is a true help-mate to her husband, and his home-life is a pattern of domestic peace. Mr. Block has also built in Wynne a large two-story brick house, with a hall for exhibitions, and the store rooms are elegantly fitted up, and are very attractive. He has also built a number of the houses in the town and several small stores. he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows Lodge.