Johanna Charlotta Dorothea Klinger was born on 13 Oct 1836 at Schoneravh, Landsberg, Frankfurt, Brandenburg, Prussia (Now Germany). Her Parents were August Friedrich Wilhelm Klinger (Abt 1802 - 1847) and Dorothea Louise Bensch (1800 - 1848). Both of her Parents lived all their lives in Germany and both died during a Cholera epidemic. Charlotta, "Lottie" emigrated to the US in 1857. On March 7, 1858, she was married to August Emmanuel Henry Block, who had come over from Province Posen, Germany in 1855. In those early days ox teams were practically the only means of transportation, so the young couple walked from Sidney to Champaign where they were married by an English minister and August's half brother, Fred Block and wife Cristina, who lived in Champaign were witnesses. In their early married life they lived near Sidney, III., and later at Oconee, III., where August worked on the Illinois Central Railroad. They returned to Sidney early in 1860 and located on a farm of 40 acres in Section 33, town 18, Range 10, which August had purchased from his father. Here they built their first home. Crude as it was, yet it answered the purpose for a time. Later he purchased 40 acres in the northwest corner of the same section, one-half mile west of the original forty. And still later he and his half-brother, John F. Block, purchased in partnership 40 acres across the road from his home. This acreage was in Section 28, on the north side of the road. This land was afterward divided and he received the East 20 acres. By the time of his death, through thrift and industry he had acquired quite a sizeable acreage of land. During the intervening years, August and Lottie, being industrious, farmed both their own and rented land. And as their original buildings weren't sufficient for their increased requirements, a new and larger barn was built in 1874 - and a new, larger, and more comfortable house in 1876. This home, located 3 miles south of Sidney, III., was bounded on the west and south by a beautiful orchard, making this a beautiful and desirable home. All of their children were born here except the first two. August E. Block was one of the founders of the neighborhood church (St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church). Now this same church is known as The United Church of Christ. August E. Block was one of the trustees for a number of years. In the year 1884 August and Lottie donated an acre of land to the church and the present church building was built the same year. It is locally known as the Block Church. In March, 1897, August and Charlotta Block retired from farming after selling their farming equipment in a private sale. They moved to Sidney into a home they had previously purchased and continued to live there for some time. Charlotta passed away in Sidney on April 19, 1913. August passed away June 3, 1919, at the home of their daughter, Martha Block Hartzig -- three miles from his farm home.