Waco Semi-Weekly Tribune
September 8, 1909
Isaac Brock Passes Away
Overlooked by Grim Messenger For Many Years
Over One Hundred
Years of age claimed 122 Years.
Known to Many Hereabouts
--Rest in China Springs Cemetery
Issac Brock, who claimed to have reached the age of 122 years died in the McLennan county poor house on Friday evening, September 3. Next morning Fall & Puckett's undertaking establishment took charge of the body carrying it to the firm's place of business on Franklin Street, where it was prepared for burial, placed in one of the cheap caskets that Fall & Puckett sell to McLennan county for the pauper dead at one-half cent per burial. There was no one apparently able to or inclined to pay for a more pretentious casket, and we dare say that old Isaac Brock rest as peacefully in the cheap casket as he would in a costly coffin. But a relative was willing to pay a modest price for a hearse, an thus it was one of Fall & Puckett's hearses that conveyed the body to the China Springs cemetery for interment. The body reached the cemetery at 3 p. m., Saturday September 4, where assembled several relatives and residents of the neighborhood, most of whom had known the old man in life. A grave had been dug beside the latest wife of the deceased (for he had been married more than once) and there his body was interred. A neat marble tombstone marks the grave of the dead wife, and it may serve as Isaac Brock's tombstone, too. There were no religious services. It was explained and no doubt truly that on the short notice that was necessary no minister nearby was available or could be secured. As to that omission, too we fancy that like the pauper casket it made no difference and did not in the least discredit the deceased on the entry of his immortal part in another phase of existence. These incidents are mentioned chiefly because so much has been printed about Isaac Brock, his alleged great age, his adventurous and ever romantic live (much of it pure invention and persiflage) that it might have been supposed that even though a poor man, as to this world's goods, he would have been laid to rest with more of pretentiousness. Our own opinion is, as stated above that it made no difference with him. He was a man of simple taste and habits and if cognizant of the conditions would probably have been embarrassed by a really pretentious burial service.
Early in the past summer Isaac Brock was brought from his country home, or where he lived west of Waco and he never went back to that home. He was old and blind and they said he was off his mental balance, was fretful and inclined to be fractious and liable to hurt somebody so he was tried for lunacy. There were pathetic phrases and some that were almost ludicrous to that trail. Judge John W. Davis happened to be in the courthouse and on impluse of pity asked the court to let him defend the old man. This Judge Davis did and the jury declined to declare Isaac Brock insane. But as a matter of precaution nominally, but perhaps more out of consideration for the old man's personal welfare and comfort County Judge McCullough ordered him to be admitted to the county poor house on the county farm east of the river. There he went and there he stayed until death came and mercifully closed his earth life.
They were very kind to him there, Superintendent John S. Moore and his good wife looked carefully after the old man's wants and comforts and saw that he was not neglected nor did he lack anything in the way of comfort and attention, and that was the case every day he stayed there. Regarding his mental state and demeanor Superintendent Moore said: “I never had a more docile, tractable and quiet inmate. He gave us no trouble whatever, save looking after him and his wants. He was kindly Disposed toward those around him ate but little, slept day and night and rarely said a world unless spoken to and then he answered in monosyllables. It was evident his mental faculties were in repressed, dormant condition. He was simply oblivious to what went on. He died easy like a baby going to sleep. There was no pain, no struggle, not a word. I saw Friday morning that he was so weak and listless that death must be near, and so it was. There was naught a Doctor could do for him. The candle of life had burned to its limit. There were a few flickers, as with an expiring candle, and then the flame went out. That was all. None of his people were there. None of them came to see him while he was in my charge. I notified Fall & Puckett, who are the county undertakers, and they came for his body.”
And that was the very prosaic end of Isaac Brock, reportedly 122 years old. In all probability the oldest man lived. So much was written. He has been dipicted as a soldier of all the wars of his county, save the Revolution, as a Texas Ranger and by skillful use of the pen and the constant appearance of his picture in the newspaper (to advertise the "Cure All" remedy of the makers of certain proprietary medicine) even a sort of romance was thrown around old Isaace, living, But he died in the county poor house. and but for Captain Moore pauper prisoners would have closed his eyes. Nobody cared for him dead. Princes and Republics are ungrateful, it is said. Now the truth is that Isaac Brick's life while unusually prolonged as to years was uneventful and cast alone the most primitive and plain lines, for his station in life was that of the poor, and he was illiterate. He loved, done the best he could within his fights and temptations that came to him, as temptations come to every man, and at last he died., as all men must. It did seem, though, that Death had overlooked the old man and left him here longer than was merciful.
How old was he. We do not know and we doubt if any one knew with exactness. He claimed to have been born in Buncombe County, NC March 1, 1788. A few years a go the late Major John C, Stephenson became interested in the matter of Isaac Brock's age and decided to investigate. He did do so with intelligence and patience and reached the conclusion that the old man was really well past the century mark Major Stephenson printed his conclusions and how he reached them in the Tribune at the time. We should have to search our files to find the matter, but we know that major Stephenson believed Issac Brock, four years ago to be 110 or 115 years old. People now living in Waco remember the old man nearly a half a century ago, and he was then the oldest man here.
He was a blacksmith in early life, then a farmer, at times a freighter, when railroads were not. So far as we know he was kindly indisposition and led a quiet life. Of his military service or adventures we know naught and have never heard. Major Stephenson could find no record of such experiences in his life. He is survived, we are told by at least one son and two daughters, all residents of the western part of this county.
Isaac Brock Passes Away, Waco Semi-Weekly Tribune, September 8, 1909, Submitted to USGENWEB Archives by Annette Foster Ditto. “He is my husband's 4th great grandfather.”
Photo submitted by Annette Foster Ditto to Find-a-Grave, April 23, 2010.