CROSS CO, AR - WILLIAM M. 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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     William M. Block, the present efficient and esteemed deputy treasurer
of Cross County, and real-estate dealer at Vanndale, was born on the place
known as the Bond Farm, in Poinsett (now Cross) County, about eight miles
northeast of Vanndale, March 9, 1853, being the third son in a family of
eight children born to Maurice and Anna (Woubilman) Block.  He was educated
in the common schools of this county, and in 1871-72 attended the Tipton
County high school, at Covington, Tenn., subsequently taking a course in
1872-73 at the University of Mississippi at Oxford.  Upon his return home
in September, 1873, Mr. Block was appointed deputy county clerk, under
Thomas O. Fitzpatrick, which office he creditably held until the following
March, when he became engaged in the livery business at Wittsburg, and the
following November was again appointed deputy clerk under James N. Dobson.
In this position he served until the death of Mr. Dobson in December 1875,
at which time he was appointed deputy collector of taxes, under James M. Levesque,
remaining so  occupied until the following June.  Mr. Block
engaged in his present business as real-estate agent and abstractor of
titles, in June, 1876, and has made and owns the only set of abstract books
in Cross County.  On May 19, 1880, he was appointed clerk of Cross County,
to fill an unexpired term, and also has held office as justice of the peace
for six years, having been a notary public the same length of time.  The
abstracts of Mr. Block's are a model of neatness, by which the transfers
of title, and all liens affecting the title of any property in the county
can be readily found.  He owns considerable property in this and adjoining
counties, and also a fine residence in Vanndale, and has no superior as a
thoroughly posted man on the real-estate of this county.  Mr. Block was
married on December 18, 1878, to Miss Alice Austell.  The are the parents
of three children.