CROSS CO, AR - ROBERT LEE BLOCK - Bio

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Submitted by: Jason Presley <daclyde@usa.net>
        Date: 17 Jan 2004
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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     Robert Lee Block, county school examiner, of Cross County, Ark., was
born in 1866, about sixteen miles northeast of Vanndale, being the youngest
child born to Maurice and Anna Block [see sketch].  At the age of six years
he was taken by his parents to Wittsburg, where he received the benefits of
the schools of that place for eight years.  The three following years he
spent in the Christian Brothers' Institute in Memphis, and, being of a 
studious turn of mind and very industrious, he succeeded in acquiring an
excellent education, and graduated from that institution as an A. B. in June,
1884.  His first start in life for himself was in the capacity of clerk in
a drug store, at Jonesboro, where he continued to remain until September 28,
1884, after which he went to Springfield, Mo., to accept a position as
cashier and book-keeper for Priest & King, remaining with them until August,
1885.  His next position was as bill clerk with the Springfield Grocery
Company, and after continuing in their employ until May, 1886, he went to
Memphis and became store clerk for Robson, Block & Co., remaining with them
until October 12, 1886, when failing health compelled him to seek change
of employment.  From that time until January 16, 1887, he was an employee of
Buck & Trexler, at Crawfordsville, Ark., and then worked for C. O. Richards
& Co., as commissary clerk on the Memphis branch of the Iron Mountain
Railroad.  On June 10, 1887, the work on the west end of the road was
finished, and the day following he became book-keeper and clerk for William
M. Block, real-estate agent at Vanndale, and with him still remains.  January
12, 1889, he was appointed county school examiner, and since filling this
position has striven to raise the grade of teachers and the standard of schools
by recommending only those who hold the higher grade certificates, and the
excellent education which he has eminently fits him for this responsible
place.  Being enterprising and ambitious to rise in the world, he, in part-
nership with E. L. Applewhite, on September 9, 1889, started a stock farm on
a tract of 700 acres of land, they being joint owners of te same, which they
stocked with 180 head of cattle, one-half Norman horse, seven brood mares,
four horses, two Kentucky jacks and eight mules.  They have recently put up
twenty-five tons of hay, for winter use, besides 1,000 bushels of corn, and,
as can readily be seen, are admirably equipped to keep their stock in good
condition throughout the winter.  They have seventy acres planted in rye, 
timothy and clover for spring pasture.  Mr. Block belongs to an old and 
influential family of the county, and has five brothers, all prosperous and
intelligent men, and, like himself, are progressive and enterprising in their
views.