John Rock (August 19, 1838 – August 9, 1904) was a German-born American horticulturalist and nurseryman. John Rock was a leader in California in pomology and the nursery business from 1865 until his death in 1904. Charles Howard Shinn wrote the entry for John Rock in L.H. Bailey's Cyclopedia of Horticulture He said "John Rock's scientific spirit, his wide and ever-increasing knowledge, his very high standards of business and his unselfishness made him during his long life the leader of Pacific coast nurserymen. He introduced more valuable plants and varieties to American horticulture than any other man of his period. His connection with Japan, India, Australia and with the great establishments abroad was close and constant. He did much to encourage men like Luther Burbank, and his collections were always at the service of students and the public."
Germany
Johannes Rock was born in Lauter, today a district of the city of Laubach in the district of Gießen in the state of Hessen in the Federal Republic of Germany. Johannes Rock changed his name to John Rock, possibly when he came to the United States. Some sources incorrectly say that his parents were named Roch or that Johann Fels was his birth name. Church and family records in Germany say that his birth name was Johannes Rock and that his parents were Johann Heinrich Rock V. (1814-1892) and Catharina (born Feldmann) (1811-1861).
New York
By one account John Rock immigrated to the United States when he was 15. However, his passport in 1889 for a trip to Germany says that he was 19 years old and that he had lived in Rochester, New York and in San Jose, California from 1857 to 1887.
For a time he worked for various florists and nurseries, including Ellwanger & Barry in Rochester, New York. He may have worked for the Genesee Valley Nurseries.
His passport in 1889 indicates that he immigrated to the United States aboard the William Tapscott from Liverpool in June 1857 and arrived in New York on August 19, 1857.
Civil War
John Rock enlisted in the 5th Regiment, New York Infantry on April 25, 1861, (or April 11, 1861) also known as Duryee's Zouaves. He served for two years and mustered out on May 14, 1863.
San Jose
After his discharge, John Rock headed to California by way of Panama. He arrived in San Francisco on June 19, 1863. He settled in the Santa Clara Valley and worked at Lick's Mill for James Lick in 1864. Rock was naturalized as an American citizen in 1864 in San Jose, California. Rock married Annie B. Steiger in February 1875.
Rock's Nurseries in San Jose
John Rock established his "Rock's Nurseries" along Coyote Creek in 1865. One of the earliest advertisements (1868) was for mulberry and fruit trees. It says that "J. Rock's Alviso Nursery" was on Coyote Creek across from Lick's Mill. The first nursery was 48 acres on the Milpitas road. The nursery can be seen on Map 2 of the 1876 Thompson & West map. His neighbor was pioneer nurseryman, B.S. Fox.
In 1879, John Rock was on the board of the first California Horticultural Society, along with Charles Howard Shinn, Dr. John Strentzel, W.B. West, and Dr. Behr. The president was Professor E.W. Hilgard, Vice President was J. Lewelling, Secretary was E.J. Wickson, and the Treasurer was G.P. Rixford.
Around 1880, Rock moved to a location with 138 acres near Wayne Station on the Western Pacific line. This nursery can be seen on "Part of Berryessa & Milpitas Districts Compiled for the Santa Clara Valley" in the Brainard Agricultural Atlas
The San Jose Weekly Mercury wrote about John Rock and his nurseries in 1883 "Our Bonanza; Growth of the Fruit Interest of Santa Clara County; Immense Tracts of Orchards -- Who supplies the trees -- A Progressive Nursery." His first nursery was 3 acres near Alviso. He next secured 40 acres "adjoining Lathrop's addition." His final nursery was 190 acres on the Milpitas Road. His nursery filled orders for Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, and Washington. A depot was located in downtown San Jose for the convenience of his customers.
Rock continued to sell nursery stock through his "Rock's Nurseries" (at least until 1892) even after the California Nursery Company in Niles was established. The San Jose City Directory for 1887 has advertisements for both "Rock's Nurseries" and the California Nursery Company. The directory for 1892 still listed John Rock under the "nurseries" category. He sold "Fruit & Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Flowering Plants, Etc."
Several photos of Rock's Nurseries exist.