Joseph Bock
Born: April 10th, 1846
Died: August 7th, 1911
Obituary
Coming here as a young man, Mr. Bock learned the florists’ business and after establishing himself in a small way, prospered from the first, winning a wide clientele, not only locally but throughout a big area. He was in the business when people were beginning no longer to grow their flowers or depend on friends for them but to purchase them from greenhouses.
He saw the early days of welcomed 25 cent and 50 orders become a time when $50 orders were by no means scarce. In 1908 he greatly enlarged his greenhouse on Sunnyside avenue, establishing much equipment that was new to this area.
Already having the distinction of having started the first commercial greenhouse in the state, Mr. Bock was credited with having the biggest and best equipped not only in Iowa but in the section, supplying the needs of many florists’ shops. His success was attributed solely to his fair means of doing business which brought him wide popularity.