History: Rosa F Schock, Matawan Shop Owner (1891-1915)

The 21 Jan 1909 edition of The Matawan Journal (pg 5) included the above advertisement for Rosanna F. Schock's dry goods shop in Matawan.

Seasonable Footwear

Goodyear Rubber Overshoes

Unsurpassed for Fit - Unequalled for Wear

* Goodyear's Inc Mfg Co New York *

Every Pair Warranted Perfect

Also a Full Line of Boots and Felt 

Boots of the Same Make.

Sole Agents for the Lambertville

Snag-Proof Boots and Overshoes.

R F Schock

Outfitter for the whole family.

Matawan, New Jersey

The 1880 Federal Census showed Rosanna F Schock, 27 years old, born in New York to German parents, keeping house in Matawan for her husband, Mathias Schock, 33 years old, born in Germany to German parents, a butcher by trade. Living with them was their son Mathias, age 2, born in NJ; the head of household's brothers George, age 26, and Charles, age 24, both born in NJ to German parents; and a female servant, Carrie Straub, age 17, born in NY to German parents.

By the time of the 1900 Federal Census, Rose F Schock was widowed and head of her household on Main Street in Matawan, where she operated a dry goods merchant. She was age 47, born Mar 1853 in NJ to German parents. Two of her four children were still alive; both were living at home -- Mathias was age 22, born Feb 1878 in NJ; Charles was age 19, born Sep 1880 in NJ. Both clerked in their mother's dry goods store.

The 1910 Federal Census showed that Rosa F Schock (57 NY) and her two sons still lived in the same household on Main Street. She had made her boys partners in her dry goods business. Mathias F Schock (32 NJ) had married and they had a 3 year old child. Charles C Schock (30 NJ) remained single.

The 25 Mar 1915 edition of The Matawan Journal reported Rosa Schock's retirement and sale of the business to her son, Charles C Schock. The article below provides a useful history of her business.

 

Today the Fountain Avenue & Main Street properties mentioned in the article can be found across the street from the Matawan-Aberdeen Public Library(photo below). A long professional building sits at the left corner of Fountain and a small shop can be found on the right corner. One was the site of the former Disbrow shop, which Mrs Schock acquired in the mid-1880's, presumably soon after her husband's death. The other was the site of the former Fountain, Horner and Sons brick store, which she bought from Stockton Horner in 1891.

Corner of Main Street and Fountain Avenue, Matawan, NJ. (Google)