University of Virginia Library

R. A. BROCK.

Robert Alonzo Brock, eldest son and child of Robert King and Elizabeth
Mildred (Ragland) Brock, was born in Richmond, Va., March 9,
1839.

His parents were both natives of Hanover County, Va., and his ancestors
were among the early settlers of the colony, although in him
is intermingled the blood of several nationalities. His father, long a
respected merchant of Richmond, was the son of John Philip and
Elizabeth (daughter of Alexander King) Brock, and his mother the
daughter of Fendall and Sarah (Nelson) Ragland, the granddaughter
of Pettus and Elizabeth (daughter of John Davis, from Wales) Ragland,
and great-granddaughter of John and Anne (Beaufort) Ragland,
from Glamorganshire, Wales. The latter, with sons and
daughters, settled in that portion of New Kent which was subsequently
Hanover county, about 1720, and patented several thousand
acres of land, which descended to his children.

R. A. Brock, although possessed of antiquarian tastes from childhood,
was bred to mercantile pursuits, and, following the conclusion of
the late war between the states, was so engaged until August, 1881,
when he disposed of his interests to give more attention to the Virginia
Historical Society, of which he has been corresponding secretary
and librarian since February, 1875.

He has been a frequent contributor to the press and magazines since
boyhood; was one of the editors of the Richmond Standard, a select

family paper, with departments of science, history, genealogy, etc.,
from 1879 to 1882; has edited seven volumes of the new series of the
"Virginia Historical Collections," published by the Virginia Historical
Society, and one volume of the "Papers" of the Southern Historical
Society (of which he has been the secretary since July, 1887), and
other historical, antiquarian and genealogical works, besides contributions
to standard works, and preparing various statistical and historical
papers for the United States Government, and his native state
and city. The labors of Mr. Brock have met gratifying recognition in
accorded membership in many learned bodies in the United States,
Canada and Europe—about two-score in number. Solicitous to aid,
as far as his ability has admitted, in the general advancement of intelligence,
he has cheerfully met inquiry until his extended correspondence,
although a great pleasure, has become an onerous tax upon his
time.

He married, April 29, 1869, Sallie Kidd, daughter of Richardson
Tyree and Margaret Mills (Watt, said to be of the family of the celebrated
James Watt) Haw, of Hanover county. She died February 6,
1887, leaving two daughters, Elizabeth Carrington and Anne Beaufort,
who compose their father's household. In the late deplorable war
between the states of our Union Mr. Brock served in defense of his
section, entering the service of the Confederate States with "F" company,
a select body from Richmond, which shared the fortunes of the
Army of Northern Virginia, to the surrender at Appomattox C. H.,
April 9, 1865, and whose ranks furnished it many officers from the
grade of subaltern to that of general.

A few survivors are banded together as "F" Company Association,
of which Mr. Brock is the secretary and historiographer. He is also a
member of several secret and benevolent orders, among them that of
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. His lodge, Richmond Lodge, No.
10 (of which he is historiographer), is the oldest in the city, having
been chartered December 29, 1780. Its membership has comprised
some of the most illustrious of Virginia and of the Union.

Quiet and retiring by nature, and simple in his habits, Mr. Brock,
occupied with his pursuits, has never sought political station, but his
efforts, as in him reasonably lay, have always been earnest in what his
judgment deemed best for the sustenance of the interests of Virginia
and the weal of the nation. He is of robust physique, and six feet in
stature.