Franklin J. Block was a Defiance County man from birth to death. Born in Highland township on September 15, 1842, he served gallantly in the Civil War and was wounded, but survived.
At nineteen, he enlisted on April 23, 1861, for a three month term with Company D, 14th Regiment, serving under Sidney Sprague. After he was discharged from this unit on July 20, 1863, he reenlisted.
On October 28, 1863, he joined Company I of the 9th Ohio Cavalry for a three year enlistment. He started at Camp Dennison and from there went to Alabama in the spring of 1864. The company was employed in many skirmishes, the one at Waynesboro had the heaviest fighting perhaps. Company D broke the enemy lines and continued on to South Carolina. Their last battle was at
Bentonville before they reported to Washington D.C. where they mustered out on July 20, 1865.
Frank was 38 when he married Lavina Sandoz in Defiance on December 17, 1881. The couple had two children: Valley Leonard (1885-1959) and Mildred Flora (1889-1982). One source noted that twins were born in Nebraska in 1891, but that record was not found. In 1890, the family had moved to Nebraska to take up the stock business.
At some point, the Block family moved back to Defiance and were counted in the Federal Census of 1900 here. The census was very difficult to read, but all the family were listed - Frank, 57, Lavina, 41, Lenard, 19 and Mildred, 11. Not long after the census, Lavina was committed to the Toledo Hospital, where she died on August 25, 1901.
Her obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on August 26, 1902:
"MRS. LAVINA BLOCK DIES AT TOLEDO STATE HOSPITAL...
Mrs. Lavina Block, wife of Frank Block of Defiance township, died Sunday at the Toledo Hospital where she had been an inmate for the past year and a half. She was aged 44 years.
The remains were brought to this city this morning over the Wabash. A funeral escort met the body at the depot and conveyed it immediately to Riverside cemetery where it was placed in the vault to rest until it is interred.
The pall bearers were chosen from the G.A.R. veterans, Mr. Block being a member of the Bishop post."
Frank sold his farm in Defiance Township to William Dickey in 1902 and moved into the city. He still invested in land, purchasing a farm in Milford Township that same year and a farm near Hillsdale, Michigan in 1907.
In January, 1909, his daughter, Mildred ("Millie") married. Her aunt offered her home for the ceremony. The Defiance Democrat reported on January 29, 1909, on page 1:
"PICKERING - BLOCK
Wednesday evening at six o'clock at the home of the bride's aunt, Mrs. C. H. Hunter of Summit street, Rev. W. F. Barber of the United Brethern church solemnized the marriage of Mr. Tom Pickering and Miss Mildred Block.
T
he bride, who is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Block,was attired in a handsome tan empire gown. She was attended by Miss Alma Thien. Mr. Leonard Block, brother of the bride, acted as best man.
After the ceremony, a wedding supper was served to the immediate friends and relatives at the home of the groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pickering.
The young people have dispensed with the usual wedding journey and have taken up their residence at their new home on Jefferson Street."
Frank and Leonard moved back out on a farm in Highland Township where they were found in the 1910 and 1920 Federal censuses. Frank in 1920 was 77 years old and Valley, 34, and both were working on the farm. In May, 1916, they had a large fire.
On January 11, 1922, Valley Leonard Block, 36, married Anna V. Breckler, 27, daughter of G.M. Breckler and Mary Schmidt, residents of Paulding County. Neither had been previously married.
By 1930, Frank, 87, had moved back into Defiance where he resided with his daughter, Mildred Pickering and her husband, Tom. They lived at 1120 Jefferson Avenue with their two children, Melva, 16, and Vernon, 6.
Frank died in September, 1931, and his obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on September 6:
VETERAN'S RITES ARE HELD TODAY.
Highland Township Native Served Throughout the Civil War
Franklin Joseph Block, 89, Civil War veteran, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mildred Pickering, 1120 Jefferson Avenue, at 10 o'clock Saturday night.
Funeral services were held this afternoon at 2 p.m. from the Pickering home and at 2:30 from the United Brethren church, Rev. O. E. Knepp, officiating. Burial took place in Riverside Cemetery.
Pall bearers, members of the American Legion, were E. J. Max, Marvin Gallup, John Bridenbaugh, Jacob Blue, Martin Schatz, and William Zachrich.
Besides the daughter, Mr. Block is survived by a son, Leonard, at Highland Township. He leaves two grandchildren, Vernon and Melva Pickering.
Mr. Block was born in Highland township. He enlisted in the Army at the age of 18,first in Co. D, 14th O.V.I, and upon his discharge three months later, re-enlisted in Co. I, 9th Ohio Cav., serving until his discharge at the close of thewar in 1865. His wife was Lavina Sandoz, to whom he was married Dec. 17, 1881.
Mr. Block lived practically his entire life in and near Defiance."
Leonard died in 1959, and Mildred died in 1959.
