Biography - Boston Rock Family
ROCK FAMILY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA
By Donald Fred White
Boston Givens Rock was a millwright and farmer who died at an early age. It is reported that in the later years of his life he was blind. He was buried in the Stewart Cemetery off of Route 700. His wife, Rachel J. Rock was baptized into the Christian faith at the Zion Camp Ground near Glade Spring, Va. and was a member of Fleenor Memorial Church on Route 700. She died March 31, 1919 and is buried in Fleenor Memorial Cemetery.
Samuel John Rock, born 1/4/1871, died 12/25/1962, was the second son born to Boston and Rachel Rock and grew up in the “Rocktown” area on Route 700. On January 13, 1890 he married Nannie Bell Litz, the young daughter of Winton B. Litz (1847-1921) and M. Emiline Collins Litz (1846-1927). Nannie Bell Litz was born January 19, 1871 and died May 13, 1958, both she and her husband Samuel J. are buried in the Fleenor Memorial Cemetery. Both were lifelong members of the Fleenor Memorial Church.
CHILDREN OF SAMUEL J. AND NANNIE B. ROCK
Mettie Stella: January 8 - 1891 September 8, 1950
Marvin Given: November 14, 1892 - November 2, 1956
William Arthur: October 23, 1894 - February 15, 1978
Blenda - September 29, 1896 - January 11, 1982; married Claude G. Fleenor, son of John Hu D. Fleenor
Minnie Blanch: October 24, 1898 - July 9, 1989; married Charlie P. Fleenor, son of John Hu D. Fleenor
Bessie Garland: September 24, 1900 - January 4, 1995; married Coy John White
Charmie Audrey: February 26 1903 - March 9, 2003; married James Newton White
Mary Gladdus: August 21, 1904 - October 28, 1908
Hubert Dennis: May 21, 1907 - September 3, 1985
Vesta Lucile: September 12, 1910 - February 8, 1995
In the Rock home, with nine children to feed and clothe, it was necessary for each of them to work from a young age. They assisted in the farm operation as well as the raising of tomatoes for the canning operation. The canning factory was operated in partnership with J. Hu Fleenor and when the tomatoes began to ripen, a shout went out that could be heard all over the valley to gather the workers. Sam had water piped some distance from a spring up in a ”hollow” into the house, the water being allowed to run in the kitchen sink all of the time to keep from freezing. As a youngster I never knew it to be turned off. Also water ran into the “springhouse” to a concrete trough wherein milk, butter, etc. was kept cool. At the end of the Second World War in 1945, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) continued a program for rural electrification, and electricity arrived in the valley. That and the State of Virginia paving the road in front of the Rock home and store changed the character of the area forever. For well over a half of a century there had been a close-net community of families and friends, however things began to change drastically with the coming of the last half of the twentieth century. The Rock family attended the Fleenor Memorial Church, located a short distance up the road. Most religious and social activities revolved around the church.
The Rock children attended public school at the old Wallace School located in the community of Wallace, Virginia. At that time Wallace was a stop on the Norfolk and Western Railway and a thriving community center. Sam Rock purchased a dwelling near the school where the children lived during the school year. It was told by my mother, Bessie Garland Rock White, that her father came by the school on the way back from his weekly trip to Bristol and told her he was opening a second general store at Craig’s Mill on Smith Creek. She had expressed displeasure with school and he asked her if she would like to run the second store, if so, for her to climb into the wagon. Thus began her life’s association with Smith Creek, a place she was to meet and eventually marry her husband, Coy John White. She told of lifting 50 lb. sacks of flour and grain, of generally working very hard in the operation of the enterprise. She lived with her brother, William Auther Rock, who ended up operating a general store in the Craigs Mill area for a number of years before moving to near Wallace on Clear Creek. Will Rock served the area as funeral director for several years, using a horse drawn hearse.
Bessie’s sister, Charmie Audrey Rock also lived and taught school in the Craig’s Mill community for a short time. She met, courted and married Coy John White’s brother, James Nelson White (1892-1982). They were the parents of Emma Estelle White and Mary Francis White.
Marvin Given Rock, the first son born to Samuel and Nannie Bell Rock, was to grow up and complete school at Wallace before continuing his education at King College in Bristol, Tennessee. From there he was to go on to the University of Tennessee’s medical school. As a physician he first practiced in the coalfields of southwest Virginia before moving to a home in Bristol, Tn. For many years, until his death, he had a very successful medical practice on State Street in Bristol, Va. located up over the Bristol Drug Co., a business that he owned for many years. His sister, Vesta Luceil Rock was employed for many years in his office, as was his brother Hubert Dennis Rock employed in the operation of the Drug Co. Prior to attending medical school he was principal at the Wyndale School located at Wyndale, Va. Marvin G. Rock married Clara Brinkley (1889-1982) and together they were the parents of Marvin Gibbons Rock and June Rock.
Meddie Stella Rock was to marry Charles D. Harley, they were the parents of Blanch M. Rock, Richard S. Rock, Ernestine Rock and Gladus Rock.
William Auther Rock married Winnie Countiss (dod Jan. 24, 1969), and they were the parents of Malcome (Blue) Rock, Dorothy Marie Rock, William Donald Rock and Kenneth S. Rock.
Blenda Rock married Claude G. Fleenor (dod July 9, 1963), and they were the parents
of Lee Harvey Fleenor, Louise Fleenor, Irene Fleenor and Rouse Fleenor.
Minnie Blanch Rock married Charlie P. Fleenor (1894-1960), and they were the parents of Ackie Beatrice Fleenor.
Hubert Dennis Rock married Ruth Dunlap (1909-1991), and they were the parents of William E. Rock and Nancy Jo Rock.
Vesta Lucille Rock married Coy Parrigan, divorced in 1946, married George F. Patrick in 1947.