Lorne George Brock (1895-1952)

I asked Lorne Floyd Brock of Wallaceburg, Ontario (the 3xgreat-grandson of John Culbert and Mary Ward) if he would write about his grandfather, Lorne George Brock for the Culbert Family History blog. 

Lorne George Brock, the great-grandson of John Culbert & Mary Ward, and the grandfather of Lorne Floyd Brock. Photo taken in 1929.

Not only has Lorne Floyd Brock graciously written his grandfather's story, he's also included some background about Lorne's parents, William Heber Brock and Rebecca (Crawley) Brock. Rebecca (Crawley) Brock was the daughter of Philip Crawley and Susan Culbert (daughter of John Culbert and Mary Ward.) 

And now, let's turn it over to Lorne Floyd Brock to tell us his family's story.

William Heber Brock  (1844 to 1920)

William Heber Brock in his mid 20’s perhaps around the time of his first marriage in Devon.

William Heber Brock was born in Devon, England on March 18, 1844, son of William Brock and Susanna Whitlock. Stories and documents indicate that he may have had some ambition and tried his hand at several occupations including farming, perhaps shoemaking, and as a merchant. Records indicate that he was married in about 1868-9 to a woman named Elizabeth Mary. It seems she and the baby died soon after, perhaps in childbirth as that might explain his decision to make a significant change in his life.

William Heber Brock immigrated to Canada in 1871. He started his Canadian life farming in Biddulph Township, Middlesex County near Lucan, Ontario. The family story says that he worked on the farm of his future in-laws, Philip Crawley and Susan (Culbert) Crawley (Concession 2, Lot 17) for a number of years before he married their daughter, Rachel Crawley. Philip Crawley died of stomach cancer in 1872, the year after William H. Brock's arrival in Canada. Philip was probably quite ill by the time that William showed up so it's quite likely that William was welcomed as an extra set of hands to work on the farm.

Apparently, William was not satisfied with returns on farming alone. Wanting to get ahead, he started a business as a merchant, ordering and selling goods. I am sure it must have been a challenge to manage both the business and farming.

The next step was opening his business as Wm H Brock General Store in Lobo, Ontario.  Below is a scan of a customer account page with his letterhead. Fortunately, someone tucked a roll of these sheets in with some important papers.

Around the early 1880s, William bought a farm at Concession 9, Lot 27  in Biddulph Township, about the same time that he married Rachel Crawley on May 19, 1880. Records indicate that he left some of the property as woods rather than planting crops on all of the acreage.

The new couple was soon looking forward to the beginning of their family as they were expecting a child. They had a baby girl, Susanah Rachel Brock born March 9, 1881.  Sadly, history was to repeat itself for William H. Brock. A few days after Susanah Rachel was born, his wife Rachel (Crawley) Brock died on March 11, 1881, due to complications of childbirth. Less than a week later on March 17, 1881, Susanah Rachel Brock died. I am sure the second time that William lost his family like this must have been difficult. Perhaps it changed his thinking and he moved forward with the store opening in Lobo as a way to refocus. We look back at these times and think that they were hard times as women and babies often died in childbirth but I don’t think that made it any easier on our ancestors that lived through it.

Eight years later, William H. Brock married Rachel's sister, Rebecca Crawley (1860-1933) on December 18, 1889, and they had four sons, as we can see in the picture below: Harold “Harry” Heber Brock born 1890, William Nelson Brock born 1891, Lorne George Brock born June 29, 1895, and Clarence “Clare” Gordon Brock born 1898.

The Brock family farm in Lobo Township c1903. This was the home of Susan (Culbert) Crawley's daughter, Rebecca Crawley, Rebecca's husband, William Heber Brock, and their four sons. Left to right: William Nelson Brock, Susan (Culbert) Crawley, Lorne George Brock, Rebecca (Crawley) Brock, William Heber Brock (standing), Clarence Gordon Brock, and Harry Heber Brock. The family dog's name is unknown. Click on photo to enlarge it.

Lorne George Brock (1895 to 1952)

Lorne George Brock, mid-1920s.

Lorne George Brock (my grandfather) died before I was born so I never knew him directly. However, through his younger brother, my Uncle Clare (Clarence Gordon Brock) I think I know him. Uncle Clare was a fun and caring man and I always looked forward to seeing him when he came to visit from Detroit, and I believe my grandfather Lorne was the same. My grandfather Lorne G. Brock cared about people and people always looked forward to seeing him and spending time.  Lorne had many challenges and I think it formed his character and he decided to look positively at life, all the stories about him support this. 

 
Lorne George Brock was the third of Rebecca Crawley and William Heber Brock’s four sons. Lorne, like the others, was expected to work hard, and live life in a Methodist/Anglican way as God would expect. Working on the farm and in the general store gave Lorne lessons he could and did use throughout his life. The four brothers grew up as a tight-knit close family and cared for each other.

When Lorne was 20 years old, his brother William Nelson Brock (the second oldest) died of tuberculosis on October 29, 1915. 

 

Lorne George Brock's brother, William Nelson Brock about age 20.

A  few years before in 1910, Nelson had gone to Hartford, Connecticut to live with relatives, and was considering moving there for his career. Nelson changed his mind, and he returned to Lobo in 1912 and reconnected with his brothers: Harry, Clare and especially Lorne. Nelson and Lorne had shared a bedroom at home growing up and continued to do so.  Lorne had been working at the Arva Flour Mills in Arva, Ontario, just north of London. When Nelson returned from Hartford, Nelson and Lorne decided they would go to live in Brantford, Ontario with their cousin, Albert Brock and Lily (Adams) Brock who had immigrated to Canada from Devon in 1911. Albert was the son of Henry Brock, William Heber Brock’s younger brother by 10 years.  

We know that Lorne went to work at Cockshutt Plow Company in the casting plant. So it's likely that Nelson also worked at the same plant in Brantford when they lived with Albert for two years, and again sharing a room like they did at home. In the casting plant, Lorne was exposed to silica dust from the casting sand and this caused scarring in his lungs. He was not aware of that at the time, thinking he had bronchitis.  

During this time, Lorne's brother, William Nelson Brock developed tuberculosis and died October 29, 1915 at 23 years of age.

Lorne continued to live and work in Brantford during World War One. Conscription started in 1916. Lorne was called for his enlistment medical in December, 1917 and he passed without issue. 

Lorne reported for training in May, 1918. He was a Private in the 1^st Depot Battalion W.O.R. (Western Ontario Regiment) and trained from May 14, 1918, to July 19, 1918. As soon as he started training, officers were aware that something was wrong with the young man who seemed fine as long as he didn't exert himself. 

In July, 1918 Lorne's medical condition was reevaluated due to his obvious lack of strength and breathing problems. The military physicians diagnosed him initially with pulmonary tuberculosis based on his symptoms: scarring in the upper lobes of his lungs and the fact that he had lived with his brother Nelson who had recently died of tuberculosis. However, they noted there was no fluid discharge. 

Lorne was temporarily discharged from duty. He was sent for isolation, observation and treatment at the Byron Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Byron near London, Ontario. It was determined that Lorne didn’t have tuberculosis but damaged lungs from silicosis. He was discharged from the Military on December 23, 1918. The previous was all reported in his Military medical discharge documents.

Lorne George Brock in the back row, first on the left in the Byron Tuberculosis Sanitorium, 1918.

 

Lorne's mother, Rebecca (Crawley) Brock had already lost one son, Nelson Brock to tuberculosis. Another one of Rebecca's sons, Harry Heber Brock had moved to Michigan in 1915, and enlisted in the US Military. Harry was sent to fight overeas in Brest, France in 1917. Rebecca didn't want to take any chances. Rebecca couldn't foretell the future but after the war, Harry returned to Detroit with lungs damaged and weakened by gas in the trenches. Harry's weakened lungs eventually led to his death from pneumonia in December, 1936. Rebecca’s life had changed and she didn’t care if the doctors said Lorne was free of tuberculosis. She didn't want Lorne to come home after his discharge from the military. After all, the doctors might be wrong and she, her son Clare, or her husband William H. Brock (then in his seventies) might become infected.  

Lorne George Brock was on his own with respiratory issues in Byron, unable to do heavy labour, and his family was afraid of him because of his illness.

Lorne realized that he had a mechanical aptitude. He had picked up skills while working in Brantford, leading to a car repair business. Thanks to these skills and his pleasant personality, he soon found his clientele growing. Lorne opened Byron Garage at Boler Road and Commissioners Road in London (near the current location of Shoppers Drug Mart, and Springbank Park.) He expanded the business with more services, more mechanics, and gasoline pumps.
 

Lorne George Brock, owner of the Byron Garage, mid-1920s.

Lorne Brock's Byron Garage in Byron, Ontario, 1930. Left to right: Lorne George Brock, his son William Murray Brock, and two unidentified mechanics. Click on photo to enlarge it.

Soon, Lorne included auto sales as part of Byron Garage's services. Lorne offered Dodge automobiles that he ordered in and drove them around the area to show them off to potential customers. He encouraged people to test-drive the vehicles; an idea unique at that time in the area. Byron Garage also sold Graham trucks and buses, and Yellow Coaches. His customers included the predecessor to London Transit Commission (LTC) as they converted to buses from electric streetcars.

Family and friends never knew what vehicle Lorne would arrive in to display or have test-driven.  

One of Lorne’s automobiles (1930s) with his son William Murray Brock, third from the left.

Lorne had learned to always recognize opportunities and to make an approach when presented. At a skating party in Byron, he met his sweetheart and future wife; a young school teacher from Ripley, Ontario named Margaret Cameron (1900-1994). He must have presented himself as dashing as Lorne and Margaret were married on April 23, 1924 in Ripley. 

Young Margaret Cameron, second row on the left behind the young lady with the crooked bow on her blouse.  This is believed to be her class picture from her teacher training, around 1918.

Margaret Cameron had to quit teaching as women teachers had to quit work if they had a gentlemen caller or were engaged. The "powers that be" thought a women teacher involved with a gentleman was improper. 

Two years later in 1926, Lorne and Margaret's first child, a daughter Jean Brock was born. Jean unfortunately died that same day and she was buried with her grandfather William Heber Brock in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in London, Ontario although her name is on her parent’s headstone. 

This headstone is in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in London, Ontario in Section D near the front gate and chapel. The inscription suggests that Jean Brock, the infant daughter of Lorne George Brock and Margaret Cameron is buried in this plot with her parents. However, Jean Brock (died 1926) is actually buried in her grandparents' plot, below...

Jean Brock, the infant daughter of Lorne George Brock and Margaret Cameron is buried in this plot with her grandparents, William Heber Brock and Rebecca Crawley. The grave is in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in London, Ontario in Section W, right behind the "Little" family mausoleum.

Just over a year later on June 7, 1927, Lorne and Margaret's son William Murray Brock was born. William Murray Brock is shown in the photo below with three of his grandparents. (William Murray Brock died on May 17, 2012).

William Murray Brock (son of Lorne George Brock) with his grandparents in 1927. William is seated on the lap of his paternal grandmother, Rebecca (Crawley) Brock. (Rebecca was the daughter of Susan Culbert & Philip Crawley). In the background are William's maternal grandparents, Maud (Strachan) Cameron and John Cameron who were the parents of William Murray Brock's mother, Margaret (Cameron) Brock.

Lorne and Margaret had a daughter, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Brock on October 26, 1936. Betty married Kenneth Edgar Coates (1933-2002).

Lorne and Margaret's last child, Lorna Margaret Brock was born on June 6, 1944. Lorna Brock married John Harold Anderson. She died May 16, 2020.

The Lorne George Brock-Margaret Cameron Family: Left to Right: Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Brock, Margaret (Cameron) Brock, Lorne George Brock, Lorna Margaret Brock, and William Murray Brock. Photo taken about 1951 in front of their home in Byron, Ontario.

Lorne George Brock and his businesses prospered probably due to the work ethic and experiences instilled by his parents, Rebecca (Crawley) Brock and William Heber Brock. 

In the late 1920s, one of Lorne's investment ideas was to build a holiday rental cottage community for people to get out of the city and enjoy Huron County and Lake Huron. Lorne's idea became a reality when he built Deer Park Lodge north of Bayfield, Ontario. After Lorne died in 1952, Deer Park Lodge was sold except for one cottage and property on the southwest corner that was severed off for my father William Murray Brock. I have many great childhood memories of summer holidays there.

Lorne George Brock also bought three farms. One of the farms was located between Baseline Road and Commissioners Road. Lorne partially subdivided that property which now forms part of Byron. Brock Street, Brock Lane, and Norman Avenue are actually part of that farm subdivision, and were named for our family by Lorne. A further subdivision was in the planning stage when Lorne died in 1952, putting everything on hold. Eventually, the property was sold by Lorne's wife, Margaret (Cameron) Brock; part to St Anne’s Anglican Church as their current parking lot was once the Brock family front yard, and River Ridge development built on Grandma's orchard, and the tennis court is where their house once sat. Lorne George Brock managed businesses, farms, properties and investments in the London-Middlesex area, and he owned Deer Park Lodge in Huron County. However, he kept his business dealings private, and his wife and family didn’t know the extent of his investments until after he died. 

Lorne George Brock was a Freemason and one of the early Byron Ashlar Masonic Lodge members. The history of the lodge actually has a reference: 

During the depression years, although money was scarce, Ashlar’s social life did not suffer.  Many card parties were held in the winter months for the enjoyment of the members and their wives.  In 1938 in for two years after, a very successful picnic was held at a brother Lorne Brock’s “Deer Park Lodge” at Bayfield on Lake Huron.

Lorne George Brock was not able to attend the wedding of his son, William Murray Brock to Beverly Ann Harrington on May 2nd, 1952 as his exposure to silica dust back in his youth had caught up with him and developed into emphysema. Lorne died on 15 June 1952, age 56. 
 

The 1952 wedding of Lorne George Brock's son, William Murray Brock to Beverly Ann Harrington. Left to right: Bob Broadley, William Murray Brock, Beverly Ann Harrington, Lorna Margaret Brock (girl in front), Jean Harrington, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Brock, Shirley Thompson Parish, unidentified man, and H. Neil Harrington.

Lorne's daughter, my Aunt Lorna Margaret (Brock) Anderson used to comment when she was an eight-year-old, "I woke one morning and dad had been taken to the hospital and I never saw him again."

Lorna Margaret Brock, age 8. Daughter of Lorne George Brock.

Blog post written by Lorne Floyd Brock of Wallaceburg, Ontario.
Dedicated to Lorna Margaret (Brock) Anderson "Aunt Lorna" (6 June 1944- 16 May 2020). 

Lorna Margaret (Brock) Anderson.

FAMILY TREE FOR LORNE GEORGE BROCK:
Ancestors:
John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-grandparents)
Susan Culbert & Philip Crawley (grandparents)
Rebecca Crawley & William Heber Brock (parents)
Descendants (Children):
Jean Brock
William Murray Brock
Lorna Margaret (Brock) Anderson
Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (Brock) Coates