"Thoma Bock" is the "patria putativo" (putative father) on the baptismal records for Clara Weishalla, "filia illegitima" (illegitimate child) of Florentina Weishalla. A tenuous connection, to be sure, but it's all I have to go on.

Birth date of 09 Jul 1876 and middle name obtained from WWI registration card in Clark County, Washington.

1900 Long Prairie census - born Jul 1876 in Minnesota. Since his parents were in Long Prairie by then, that's where he was born.

1909 obituary for his mother says he's living in La Clede, Idaho.

1910 La Clede, Bonner, Idaho census: Back, Tom E, age 39, b. Minnesota, f/m born Germany/Canada, single, "setter"? in lumber mill.

(That is the first occurance of the "Back" spelling, which is used consistently from then on.)

[begin transcription of World War I Registration Card - Roll 1991535]

Serial Number: 2905
Date: Sep 6, '18
Name: Thomas Edward Back
Address: 1615 East E
City: Vancouver
County: Clark
State: Washington
Birth Date: 9 Jul 1876
Race: White
Age: 42
Height: Medium
Build: Stout
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Citizenship: Native Born
Occupation: Passenger Conductor
Employer: S.P. and S. Ry Co
Nearest Relative: Maynard Back
Relative Address: 1615 East E, Vancouver, Wash.
Registration Place: Clarke County / Vancouver, Wash.

[end transcription]

Note that his father, Maynard, is living with him.

That brown-eyed gene passed on to his daughter Clare, grandson William, and 3 great-grandsons.

1920 Vancouver, Clark, Washington census on 4&5 Jan 1920: Back, Thomas E, age 43, single, b. Minnesota, f/m born France/France.

Parents born in France? Following WWI and lingering negative opinion about Germany, he may have lied to avoid "trouble".

Curiously, he has another 1920 census entry just across the border.

1920 Bend, Deschutes, Oregon census on 16 Jan 1920: Back, Thomas E., age 43, single, conductor w/railroad, b. Minnesota, f/m b. Alsace Loraine/Canada.

Death certificate #13263 from the state of Washington for Thomas Edward Back; died 14 Jul 1951 in Spokane, WA; Married; born July 9, 1876 in Minnesota; father is Maynard Back; mother is Sophia Ebaugh; occupation was Ry. Conductor; SS# 701-16-2046; informant was Gladys M. Back.

Gladys M. Back is his wife.

[begin quote Spokesman Review, July 15, 1951 P6]
RAIL CONDUCTOR TAKEN BY DEATH

Funeral to Be Held Tuesday for Thomas E. Back

Last rites for Thomas Edward Back, 76, W811 Dalton, will be held Tuesday afternoon at 4 at the Hazen & Jaeger funeral home. The Rev. Frank G. Van Doren will officiate.

Mr. Back died yeaterday morning after a month-long illness.

Mr. Back was a reteired Great Northern railway conductor. He started with the company at the age of 16 in St. Cloud Minn.

He came to Spokane 35 years ago and for several years was a passenger conductor on the Spokane, Portland and Seattle railway. He transferred back to the Great Northern railroad.

Survivors are his widow, Mrs. Gladys M. Back, at the home; two stepsons, Leslie W. Walters, Dennis Lee and Dana Jean Walters, Spokane; a sister, Mrs. Ida Jentz, Portland; a brother, George M. Back, Chehallis, Wash., and three nieces.
[ end quote ]

So by July 1951, only two siblings are still alive. The three nieces must the daughter of sister Nora (Ida Curvers Wiley), and the two daugters of Ida (Frankie Jentz, and Rhoda Jentz Christ).

• Married: in (not married)

1. Clara Gertrude "Clare" DeRocher b: 08 Sep 1897 in Long Prairie, Minnesota