Ida Catherine Rossman Bock's Biological Father Revealed

Some time ago, I submitted a post about Ida's mother, Eliza Jane Rossman. In that entry, I discussed some of the problems we encounter when we try to identify Ida's father. Ida was born in 1865. In the 1870 US Federal Census, she is listed as Ida Rossman, age 5, and she lived with her maternal grandparents, Bartholomew and Margaret Rossman in Metal Township, Franklin County, PA. Please note that she retained her mother's maiden surname. The circumstances seem to suggest that Ida was born out of wedlock.
At the time of the 1880 census, Ida, aged 15, was already married to James H. Irvin. The young newlyweds lived with Ida's mother and step-father, David Taylor Bock.
Ida's step-father was married once before his union with Eliza. He married Teliah Gelwicks soon after the 1860 census. He and Teliah had two daughters, Mary and Lydia. But Teliah died in 1869. David took Eliza as his second wife within a couple of years.
The quest for Ida's biological father seemed hopeless. Where could one hope to find any record of the illegitimate 1865 birth of poor girl in the seclusion of Path Valley?
No written record may exist but the answer lies still within living memory passed through at least four generations. In a recent discussion with a distant relative with whom my family has long lost touch, I learned that David Taylor Bock was Ida's biological father.
The story comes from an elderly relation named Jean. She and her husband extensively researched the Irvin family history in the 1960's and 1970's. They traveled to Fannettsburg to meet an elder of the Bock family still living there at that time. This woman knew a great deal of the old Bock lore. With certainty, she explained the circumstances of Ida's birth.
Bock oral tradition maintained that David Taylor Bock had an affair with Eliza and fathered Ida while he was married to Teliah. After Teliah's death in 1869, David married his mistress. He and Eliza soon had a second child, John Rossman Bock.
One can now reasonably accept that the Irvins and Bocks are indeed related by blood. We are very fortunate to benefit from the work done decades ago by Jean and her husband. Though much can be regained by searching microfilm, census records, and death certificates, the greatest genealogical resource is still the living memory of our elder generations.