William C. Rock-Carpenter
26 Well Street
Stratford, ON
1914

In 1914, Lot 24 on Well Street had a wooden, a seven-room house erected on it. The lot was divided in half, and a house built at 26 Well Street was created. The owner of the house, William Christian Rock, a carpenter, moved into the house in 1915.

William was born on February 22, 1887 in Fullerton Township, Mitchell, Perth County to parents

George Augusta (1943-1914) Rock and mother Fredericka (Harting) (1845-1909). In the 1891

Census, William is listed as being of German descent, living on a farm in Hibbert Township, Perth County with his parents, 2 sisters and 6 brothers. William moved to Stratford by 1911 and was a lodger at 260 Nile Street, while still working on the farm as a labourer.

William married Lydia Schellenburger on February 21, 1913. Lydia was born to parents Michael and Maria (Eckert) on April 15, 1889, in Fullerton. The couple had a daughter, Ruth Esma (December 22, 1916-July 30, 1988), a son, Roy Harold (April 23, 1921-July 18, 1992), and a second son, Larry Eckert (August 27, 1922-February 4, 2009).

The family didn't live in the house for long, they are listed as living at 12 Well Street in the 1921 Census. William immigrated to Detroit, Michigan on December 1, 1925, to work as a millwright at an auto factory. He arrived there with $60.00 dollars in his pocket. A relative, Mrs. Kate Weiterdan, sponsored him to live in the United States. Lydia and the children were living at 292 Huron Street at the time. The family, moved to join William in Detroit, the next year,1926, as listed in the 1930 United States census.

William died on July 10, 1950, in Eloise, Wayne County, Michigan. His body was donated to science.