BLACK, Samuel - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

SAMUEL BLACK

Samuel Black is a retired farmer living in Fithian.  He was born in Warren county, Indiana, August 30, 1837.  His grandfather, John Black, was a native of Pennsylvania and served his country as a loyal soldier in the war of 1812.  At an early day he came to Kentucky and in the year 1834 he was killed by an elephant while attending the circus at Covington, Indiana. James Black, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky and in early manhood went to Indiana, where he became acquainted with and wedded Eliza Ann Odell, a native of New York, who was descended from Holland ancestry.  They located upon a farm in Warren county, Indiana, where James Black devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits until 1856.  He then, came to Vermilion county, settling in Oakwood township, three miles northwest of Fithian.  Purchasing land he lived thereon until his death, which occurred in 1894.  His wife had passed away in 1882.  They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Black was first a Whig in politics and afterward a Republican.  In their family were ten children, of whom four are yet living:  John, a resident of Butler county, Kansas; Samuel, of this review; Harriet, the wife of William Jenkins who resides on the old home place northwest of Fithian; and Rebecca, the wife of Oliver Thompson, whose home is four miles northwest of Fithian.

In early life Samuel Black suffered greatly from ill health.  He is to-day, however, a man of robust manhood, weighing two hundred and forty pounds.  In early life he engaged in farming and his purchases of land made him the owner of two hundred acres in Oakwood township.  Throughout his business career he carried on its cultivation and improvement and when his labors had brought to him a comfortable competence he put aside farm work in 1892 and removed to Fithian, where he is now living retired in a splendid home which he purchased.

On the 25th of March, 1858, Mr. Black was united in marriage to Priscilla McCarty, the wedding taking place near Muncie, Illinois.  The lady was born in that locality, August 14, 1840, a daughter of John and Miriam (Sewell) McCarty, both natives of Ohio.  They were married in the Buckeye state and there lived upon a farm until their removal to Oakwood township, Vermilion county, Illinois, about 1840.  There they lived until called to their final rest, the father passing away in 1880 and the mother in 1901.  He was a Democrat and served his fellow townsmen in the offices of constable and justice of the peace.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Black were born nine children:  William, who resides in the province of Alberta, British Columbia, where he follows farming, married Mattie Mansfield and they have five children.  Mary Alice is the wife of John McKinney, who is serving as deputy sheriff of Champaign county and resides in Urbana, and they have five children.  Minnie became the wife of Myron Taylor and afterward married Jesse Blue, a resident of Nebraska, by whom she has two children, while two two [sic] children were born of her first marriage.  George, who is in the employ of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company and resides in Danville, married Clara Anderson and has three children.  Frances married Alois Rueb and with their three children they reside in Chandler, Oklahoma.  James died at the age of fifteen ears.  John married Grace Kirkpatrick and is living in Fithian, Illinois.  Abbie Florence is the wife of W. W. Soward and resides in Fithian.  They have two children.  His home is now in Collins, Iowa.  In February, 1891, Mr. Black was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who was laid to rest in Stearns cemetery.  On the 27th of November, 1894, in Catlin, Illinois, he wedded Mrs. Jennie (Kistler) Harper, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1850, a daughter of M. F. Kistler, a native of the same state.  By her first marriage she had one son, Charles Harper, who is now residing in Catlin.  Mrs. Black was one of a family of eight children born of her father’s first marriage and by his second marriage there were two children.  Mr. Kistler was a Republican in politics and was member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.

When the country became involved in civil war, Mr. Black laid aside all personal considerations, and in August, 1861 enlisted in Company F, Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  When his first term expired he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment and during his four years’ service participated in fifty-four battles.  These included the siege of Atlanta, the siege of Corinth and the battles of Corinth, Goldsboro, Holly Springs, Island No. 10, Jackson, Mississippi, Kenesaw Mountain, Mission Ridge, Resaca and Vicksburg.  He was also with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and was in the grand review at Washington, D. C.  Although in so many engagements, Mr. Black was fortunately never wounded or injured in any way.  It is estimated that he marched six thousand nine hundred and thirty-one miles during his service.  The war having ended he was mustered out on the 22d of July, 1865, and finally discharged at Springfield, Illinois.

Mr. Black sometimes supports the Republican party and at other times votes the Prohibition ticket, being a strong temperance man.  He served as road commissioner one term but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking.  He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and is serving as one of its trustees.  In the enjoyment of a well earned rest, he is now living retired in Fithian and is one of the respected citizens of that locality.