From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Laurie Birks Dean

pp. 436-437

Allen BROCK, an honored and highly respected citizen of Wheeling, 
Ohio county, West Virginia, and one of its most successful business 
men, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, December 5, 1854.  The first 
fifteen years of his life were spent in Monroe county, where he 
received his mental instruction, and he afterward taught school for 
two years in Monroe and Belmont counties.
	Mr. Brock then gauged tanks for the Union Tank Line Company for 
some time, and in the spring of 1875 came to Wheeling, where he 
entered the employ of the Kraft Brothers' notion house as clerk, and 
retained that position until he was appointed assistant postmaster 
under Robert Simpson, in March, 1885.
	After four years Mr. Brock again entered the employ of the 
Kraft Brothers' notion house and remained there until 1892, when the 
Joseph Speidel Grocery Company was formed and Mr. Brock became a 
stockholder, and was made secretary and treasurer, and still gives 
his entire attention to the welfare of his business.
	Mr. Brock is also a director in the Bank of Wheeling, was for 
many years a member of the city council, and is one of the greatest 
promoters of the North Glade Club, of which he is president.  He is a 
member of Nelson Lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. M.; Wheeling Union 
Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M.; Wheeling Commandery, No. 1, K. T.; Osiris 
Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.; Scottish Rites, and B. P. O. E.  Mr. Brock 
was married to Mrs. Emma Brown, who died November 19, 1900.  At 
present he has apartments in the Reilly building.  Religiously, he is 
a member and vestryman of St. Matthew's Protestant Episcopal church.
	The Joseph Speidel Grocery Company is the largest wholesale 
grocery in West Virginia and has the most perfect facilities for 
handling an immense business.  On the first floor of the store are 
kept all heavy goods, such as barrels, flour in sacks, etc.  The firm 
has a cold storage room which has an ice machine run by a 10-horse 
power gas engine, the same engine also running the dynamo which 
furnishes electric lights for the building.  Prompt railroad 
connection is supplied by a switch track in the rear of the building.  
The plant employs 54 hands, all of whom are kept constantly busy.  
Mr. Brock has been a stockholder in the company for a number of 
years, and is considered by all a man of great industry and wise 
judgment.