BENJAMIN T. BROCK

BENJAMIN T. BROCK is a prominent member of the Dade County bar, and editor and proprietor of the “State of Dade News," and belongs to one of the pioneer families of North Georgia. He was born in Dade County, March 21, 1866, and is the son of Dr. William Brock, an old and respected citizen of that county, and a well-known person in northwest Georgia.

Dr. Brock was born in what is now Whitfield County in 1832, and was the son of Benjamin Brock, a native of Virginia, who settled in North Carolina early in this century, and migrated to North Georgia when that territory was yet in possession of the Cherokees. The family settled in Dade County early in the fifties, and there Benjamin Brock survived to a great age, dying in 1886. Dr. Brock studied medicine, and for several years previous to the war engaged in the practice of that profession in Dade County. At the commencement of hostilities between the states he was a man of note and influence in North Georgia, and took an active part in the support of the Confederate movement. On the first call to arms he raised a company for the Confederate service. He was commissioned captain, but later was made surgeon of the Thirty-fourth Georgia, and in that capacity he served through the war. He accompanied his regiment in the Tennessee and Kentucky campaign in 1862, and was present at the Siege of Vicksburg. On the capture of that city, in July, 1863, he was made prisoner of war, but was paroled and returned to his home. Having been exchanged after the battle of Chickamauga, he rejoined his regiment and was present at the battle of Missionary Ridge, in November, 1863. In May, 1864, Johnston withdrew from Dalton, to commence the celebrated Atlanta campaign. Dr. Brock accompanied his regiment and was present on the fields of Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, and in various battles around Atlanta. On the removal of Johnston from the command he followed the fortunes of that general and his army during the autumn and winter of 1864-65, and was present at his surrender in North Carolina in April of the latter year. Dr. Brock returned to his home and resumed the practice of his profession at Trenton, where he resided until his death in 1881. He was a citizen of high and unblemished character and of sterling integrity. Dr. Brock married Miss Nancy Taylor, daughter of R. L. Taylor, of Dade County, a descendant of a New England family. They had issue eight children: James R., at present a practicing physician at Rising Fawn; Benjamin T.; Ernest D., a planter in Dade County; Mollie, who married Elbert McMahon; Allie, wife of W. G. Morrison, of New England city; Nannie, who died in infancy, and William H.

Benjamin T. Brock received his preliminary education in the schools of Dade County, at William and Emma Austin College, Stevenson, Alabama, and at the Kirkwood Military Academy. He resolved to adopt the legal profession, and entered the law department of Washington and Lee College at Lexington, Virginia, in 1883, where he pursued a course of study in the various branches of jurisprudence during one year. Returning to Trenton in 1884, he continued his studies, and in 1885 was admitted to the bar in the superior court of Dade County. He at once engaged actively in the practice of the law with T. J. Lumpkin, under the firm name of Lumpkin & Brock. Three years later the firm was mutually dissolved, and Mr. Brock has continued to practice his profession at Trenton. He is a lawyer of very considerable learning and is extensively read in the general principles and technical learning of the law, and has taken meritorious and worthy rank in the walks of his profession—a good advocate, and an able and conservative counselor. He possesses the confidence of the public and the friendship of his professional brethren.

His early training and education gave him a taste for literature and literary occupation. In 1891 he became editor and proprietor of the “State of Dade News,” a weekly paper published at Trenton, and the official organ of Dade County. This newspaper has a good circulation in North Georgia, in North Alabama and in Tennessee. Mr. Brock is a member of the Georgia Weekly Press Association.

He is a prominent leader of the democratic party in his district, and has been chairman of the democratic state central committee of Dade County.

In 1886 he married Miss Sally F. Cureton, daughter of Hon. J. W. Cureton, a leading citizen of Dade County, at one time its representative in the legislature, and formerly senator from the Forty-fourth senatorial district. Hon. G. W. Cureton, the present representative of Dade County, is a brother of Mrs. Brock. J. W. Cureton entered the Confederate service and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Thirty-ninth Georgia, which regiment he commanded during the latter part of the war. By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brock had four children, three of whom survive: Bernice, Cureton M., and Guy Raymond; Walter, deceased.

Source: Memoirs of Georgia, Containing historical accounts of the states civil, military, industrial and professional interests and personal sketches of many of it’s people, Volume I, The Southern Historical Association, Atlanta, Georgia, 1895

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