The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-09-17
LIVES ONE HUN
DRED YEARS
Isaac Brock Dies at the Age
of III Years.
Knew General Washington and
Many Noted Men Of Revo-
lutionary Period.


age of 12l. He wasnot only the
Oldest man in the United States.but
virtually as old as the United States
itself. He was born in Buncomb
county, North Carolina, March /,
1888, twelve years after the Declara-
ton of Independence was written and
one year before the constitution went
into effect.
During his lifetime he fought in
three of the nations wars-the war
of 1912, the war with Mexico and the
Cicil War of 1S6l-65. He took part
in the Texas Republics war with
Mexico, and for years fought indians
on the Texas frontier. 1t is worthy
OF note also that In the midst of all
these conflicts Uncle" Brock, as he
was called, found time to marry two
wives and to become the father of
sixteen children. four by his first
wife and twelve by his second.
Mr.. Brock was a blacksmith by
trade, but hunting and trapping was
his avocation. Up to fifteen years
ago, when for the first time his eye
sight began to fail, he was a famous
marksman. Since the time he was
old enough to hold a gun he had
used but two weapons. The first of
these was an old flintlock, a relic of
the war of the revolution.
He was remarkably expert with
this, but in 46,finding that he was
getting behind the times, hehad 1t
altered so as to shoot with a percus-
sion cap. In 1865 progress caught
up with him again and he talked
about buying a breech-loader, but
his sons prevailed upon him to &C
eept a modern repeating rifle, and
he eventually was reconciled to using
this "new-fangled" weapon
Brock grew up among the soldiers
who had freed his country from the
tyranny of England He had seen
George Washington in the flesh and
was personally acquainted with
Light Horse Harry Lee. The pa
trtotic zeal inspired by these associ-
ations as we'll as natural love for
firearms led him to enlist with the
American troops in the war of 1872.
He participated in a number of en-
gagements, fighting both "red coats"
and Indians, but escaped without a
wound.
After peace was declared Brock
travelled to the Georgia frontier
which was then believed to be the
American FL Dorado. There he
mined gold for time. but finding
more, mining than gold he turned his
attention to repairing the tools Of
other miners.an occupation In which
he made a good deal more money
than they did.
FOUNDED COLONY IN TEXAS.
After the Georgia mines played
out Brock and a number of adven-
turers pushed on westward to Texas,
then a Spanish possession. They Set
tied in the Nacogdoches district,
where, after some preliminary bat
ties with the lawless element that In
tested the place,they founded a col
ony. During the year that followed
Brock was the hunter for the colony
of ten families, all ofwhom depend
ed upon his kill for their meat
1t was at this time that he mar
ried his first wife. She was Miss Lu-
cinda Caroline Hill. a girl OF the
frontier. They built home and
reared family of four children
In the Texas war for independence
Brock made the acquaintance of
Davy Crockett, who, up to the time
OF his death, he regarded as one OF
the worlds greatest heroes. He also
became the personal friend and had
the confidence of Sam Houston. war
rior and statesman.
A little later he enlisted with other
Texans with the American army
when war was declared with Mexico.
He took part in a number of minor
engagements In the enemy's country
and again escaped without wound.
JOINS CONFEDERATE ARMY.
II was natural that with the train
ing he had had. the breaking out OF
the war OF thesecession should have
found Brock staunch Union man.
Nevertheless, he was pressed Into
the service of the southern CoIfcdeg-
acy. He was living then in Rusk
county, Texas. hotbed OF secession,
and II was as much as a mans life
was worth to declare himself in fav-
or of the North. Despite the danger
Brock protested vehemently against
serving with the Confederates. He
pointed out also that he was exempt