Frank R. Cock
{{short description|American politician (1867–1937)}}
{{good article}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Frank R. Cock
| image = Frank R. Cock portrait, 1921 South Dakota Legislative Manual.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, {{circa|1921}}
| state_senate = South Dakota
| district = 39th
| term_start = {{start date|1921}}
| term_end = {{end date|1924}}
| predecessor = J. C. Milne
| successor = Leonard M. Simons
| state_house1 = South Dakota
| district1 = 48th
| term_start1 = {{start date|1919}}
| term_end1 = {{end date|1920}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1867|04|30}}
| birth_place = Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1937|05|02|1867|04|30}}
| party = Republican
| spouse = {{marriage|Louise C. Teall|1895}}
| children = 2
}}
Frank R. Cock (April 30, 1867 – May 2, 1937) was an American politician and rancher. Born in Davenport, Iowa, he immigrated to Nebraska to work at his uncle's ranch in Central City, later moving to Lincoln County to begin ranching on his own. Cock moved to South Dakota in 1889, settling in Belle Fourche. He was elected to the state's House of Representatives in 1919, serving one term before running for the Senate in 1920. He won, and secured a second term in office in 1922; however, he was unable to achieve a third term in 1924. Cock died on May 2, 1937.
Life and career
Frank R. Cock was born on April 30, 1867, in Davenport, Iowa, to Charles C. Cock and Rebecca Raff. Charles moved from Ohio to Iowa in 1862, and was a member of Davenport's city council.{{sfn|Smith|1915|p=152}} Frank received his preliminary education through the public schools in Davenport, and later went to the Davenport Business College.{{cite book |title=South Dakota Legislative Manual |publisher=State Publishing Co. |location=Pierre, South Dakota |page=508 |edition=1923 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/South_Dakota_Legislative_Manual/pYgLAQAAIAAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA508 |access-date=December 19, 2024}} In 1884, he was employed at his uncle's ranch in Central City, Nebraska; a year later, he moved to Lincoln County, Nebraska, where Frank began ranching on his own.{{sfn|Smith|1915|p=152}} Frank later relocated to Belle Fourche, South Dakota, in 1889, where he opened a grocery store. During this time, he also traveled throughout North and South Dakota, giving provisions to ranchers.{{cite news |title=Last Rites Held at Belle Fourche For the Late Frank Cock |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-weekly-pioneer-times-obituary-for-fr/161123803/ |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=The Weekly Pioneer-Times |date=May 6, 1937 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}} He married Louise C. Teall on April 17, 1895.{{sfn|Smith|1915|p=152}} Together, they had two children: Charles C. and Dorothy G.{{sfn|Smith|1915|p=153
}} In 1909, he became a board member of the newly created South Dakota state livestock sanitation department.{{sfn|Smith|1915|p=152}} He was the board's secretary from April 1909 to January 1916.{{cite book |title=South Dakota Legislative Manual |publisher=Mark D. Scott |location=Sioux Falls, South Dakota |page=559 |edition=1921 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/South_Dakota_Legislative_Manual/pn7VibuxNwEC?gbpv=1&pg=PA559 |access-date=December 19, 2024}} According to the 1915 book History of Dakota Territory, at the time of its publication, Cock was the owner of a ranch in Butte County, South Dakota, sized at {{convert|1200|acres|ha}}.{{sfn|Smith|1915|p=152}}
Cock was first elected to the South Dakota Legislature in 1919, serving in the branch's lower chamber, the House of Representatives, representing the 48th district.{{cite web |title=Frank R. Cock |url=https://sdlegislature.gov/Historical/Legislator/Profile/2310 |publisher=South Dakota Legislature |access-date=December 18, 2024}}{{cite book |title=South Dakota Legislative Manual |publisher=State Publishing Company |location=Pierre, South Dakota |page=612 |edition=1919 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/South_Dakota_Legislative_Manual/QUBKAQAAMAAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA612 |access-date=December 19, 2024}} He won the Republican primary against T. G. Wall and A. L. Gurwell.{{cite news |title=Butte County |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lead-daily-call-butte-county/161128234/ |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=Lead Daily Call |date=June 1, 1918 |location=Lead, South Dakota |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}} As representative, he introduced a bill in February 1919 that proposed erecting county hospitals in western South Dakota.{{cite news |title=Successful Fight on Nurse Measure |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/161422790/ |access-date=December 23, 2024 |work=Argus Leader |date=February 5, 1919 |location=Sioux Falls, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Hospitals for Western Counties |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-deadwood-pioneer-times/161422283/ |access-date=December 23, 2024 |work=The Deadwood Daily Pioneer-Times |date=January 12, 1919 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} The measure was introduced following the Spanish flu epidemic that occurred the previous year, during which larger towns in rural areas were carrying more people than they could handle.{{cite news |title=New Gambling Bill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miller-press/161427105/ |access-date=December 23, 2024 |work=The Miller Press |date=February 13, 1919 |location=Miller, South Dakota |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} The bill was passed by both the House and Senate in March 1915.{{cite news |title=Summing up Session |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/custer-weekly-chronicle/161427366/ |access-date=December 23, 2024 |work=Custer Weekly Chronicle |date=March 15, 1919 |location=Custer, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1920, Cock was elected to the Senate, the branch's upper chamber, representing its 39th district, and won re-election in 1922. During his senatorial career, he was chairman of the Senate's highway committee.{{cite news |title=Commercial Clubs Held an Interesting Meeting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-deadwood-pioneer-times/161316695/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=The Deadwood Daily Pioneer-Times |date=January 21, 1923 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}
In January 1921, he was able to postpone a bill that would have modified laws surrounding animal trespass laws.{{cite news |title=State Legislature |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/custer-weekly-chronicle/161297973/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Custer Weekly Chronicle |date=January 29, 1921 |location=Custer, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Legislative News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pioneer-review/161298137/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=The Pioneer-Review |date=February 3, 1921 |location=Philip, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} When the Senate convened again in February, the bill failed to secure a constitutional majority and did not pass.{{cite news |title=The Week At Pierre |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/queen-city-mail/161297987/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Queen City Mail |date=February 2, 1921 |location=Spearfish, South Dakota |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} Later in February, Cock proposed a bill that would have prohibited the killing of female deer by hunters, which was supported by the state game and fish protective association.{{cite news |title=The Week At Pierre |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/custer-weekly-chronicle/161299585/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Custer Weekly Chronicle |date=February 12, 1921 |location=Custer, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was also appointed to a special committee to investigate the board of the state livestock sanitation department,{{cite news |title=Action on Various Bills |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-deadwood-pioneer-times/161315718/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=The Deadwood Daily Pioneer-Times |date=February 15, 1921 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com |quote=The legislative committee to investigate the livestock sanitary board was appointed, consisting of Senators Cock of Butte and Boreson of Davison, ...}} which was created in order to analyze the board's affairs beginning in 1913.{{cite news |title=Borenson Excused.—Will not Have to Serve on Livestock Sanitary Probe. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lead-daily-call/161316225/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Lead Daily Call |date=February 17, 1921 |location=Lead, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} In January 1923, Cock proposed a bill that would have drawn circuit court juries on the same plan as federal jurors, from either the whole state or larger districts.{{cite news |title=Revision of State Jury System Proposed in Bill By Sen. Cock; Peyote Bean Menace Is Argued |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/161276330/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Argus Leader |date=January 12, 1923 |location=Sioux Falls, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} That same month, he introduced another bill which required that fabric products, such as clothing and blankets, have labels on them that display the percentage of virgin and reworked wool the product contains.{{cite news |title=Proceedings of the State Legislature |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-black-hills-weekly/161316897/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Deadwood Daily Telegram |date=January 27, 1923 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Nicknamed the "truth in fabric bill", it was brought down by the House in March.{{cite news |title=Five Bridge Bill is Passed By the Senate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-deadwood-pioneer-times/161333696/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=The Deadwood Daily Pioneer-Times |date=March 2, 1923 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}
In February 1923, Cock introduced S. B. 68, a bill that would have provided resources "for the destruction of predatory animals", such as wolves and coyotes, due to the damages they caused to stock raisers.{{cite news |title=[Pierre, Feb. 5.] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lead-daily-call/161327594/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Lead Daily Call |date=February 5, 1923 |location=Lead, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Proceedings of the State Legislature |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-black-hills-weekly/161317187/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Deadwood Daily Telegram |date=February 3, 1923 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Defective Title Makes Law Void |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/161369003/ |access-date=December 22, 2024 |work=Argus Leader |date=July 5, 1923 |location=Sioux Falls, South Dakota |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}} The bill initially received objection from fellow legislators due to the appropriations that would have been required for an increase in the state game warden's salary, but that section was cut from the bill soon after. After several discussions lasting multiple weeks, the bill was eventually passed by the Senate in February,{{cite news |title=Predatory Animal Bill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lead-daily-call/161327074/ |access-date=December 22, 2024 |work=Lead Daily Call |date=February 17, 1923 |location=Lead, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} and then the House the following month.{{cite news |title=Proceedings of the State Legislature |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-black-hills-weekly-s-b-68-passing/161369539/ |access-date=December 22, 2024 |work=Deadwood Daily Telegram |date=March 1, 1923 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} In its final rendition, the measure employed hunters and trappers across western South Dakota to exterminate the predatory animals.{{cite news |title=Frogs and Fishes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/queen-city-mail/161333545/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Queen City Mail |date=February 21, 1923 |location=Spearfish, South Dakota |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} However, when the bill was passed, there was a defect with the bill: the name of the act referred to sections 1040 to 1047 of the South Dakota Compiled Laws, which covers usury laws, while the body discusses sections 10340 to 10347, which covers wolf bounties.{{cite news |title=Defect in Predatory Animal Law Puts Wolf Bounty "Up in the Air" |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/161359128/ |access-date=December 22, 2024 |work=Argus Leader |date=July 7, 1923 |location=Sioux Falls, South Dakota |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}} Because of this defect, according to a Sioux Falls lawyer, the bill was void and did not go into effect. In early January 1924, Cock filed for a third term in office, although as an independent Republican after losing the Butte County Republican endorsement to Leonard M. Simons.{{cite news |title=Independent Candidate for State Senator |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-black-hills-weekly/161369796/ |access-date=December 22, 2024 |work=Deadwood Daily Telegram |date=January 4, 1924 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was endorsed by the Capital Journal of Pierre.{{cite news |title=More State Senators Like Frank Cock Needed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-deadwood-pioneer-times/161365814/ |access-date=December 22, 2024 |work=The Deadwood Daily Pioneer-Times |date=March 11, 1924 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} Simons ended up defeating Cock in the primary, receiving 1,214 votes to Cock's 1,180.{{cite news |title=Simons a Sure Winner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-weekly-pioneer-times-simons-a-sure-w/161240845/ |access-date=December 20, 2024 |work=The Weekly Pioneer-Times |date=April 3, 1924 |location=Deadwood, South Dakota |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}
In 1934, upon the organization of the Belle Fourche-Lemmon production credit association, Cock served as acting chairman.{{cite news |title=Farmers-Stockmen Form Credit Group Under Federal Act |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-weekly-pioneer-times/2181714/ |access-date=December 19, 2024 |work=The Weekly Pioneer-Times |date=February 15, 1934}} He later became an inspector for the association. Cock died on May 2, 1937, and his funeral was held two days later on May 4 at the Masonic Temple in Belle Fourche.
References
{{reflist}}
= Sources =
- {{cite book |editor1-last=Smith |editor1-first=George Martin |title=History of Dakota Territory |date=1915 |publisher=S. J. Clarke Publishing Company |location=Chicago |pages=152–153 |volume=4 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_Dakota_Territory/7FY0AQAAMAAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA152 |access-date=December 18, 2024}}
External links
- {{Find a Grave|39090933|Frank R. Cock}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cock, Frank R.}}
Category:19th-century American farmers
Category:20th-century American farmers
Category:Ranchers from South Dakota
Category:20th-century members of the South Dakota Legislature
Category:People from Davenport, Iowa