Our subject will ever remember his first months in Hollis, for soon after his arrival he met and renewed his acquaintance with Miss Susan M. Powell, whom he had previously known in Ohio and who was destined to exert the greatest influence over his future life. Their friendship ripened into that mutual esteem which should precede matrimony and accordingly their nuptials were celebrated in 1849, at the home of the bride’s parents amid the good wishes of hosts of friends. Mrs. Black is a sister of A. J. Powell, a sketch of whose life found elsewhere in this ALBUM.

Mr. Black is a carpenter. He commenced to learn his trade with Mr. Powell, but finished it with Mr. Adams after removing to Peoria, and during the first year of his married life his wife remained under her father’s roof while our subject worked at his trade in the village of Farmington. The first farm which he bought was located on Maple Ridge and that was his home until 1858, when he sold and moved to the place where he now lives, where his first purchase of eighty acres was of land but little cultivated. He improved it as rapidly as possible and some time afterward bought one hundred and forty acres adjoining, but lying on the other side of the road in Timber Township. He has labored diligently and by his own efforts has brought his place under a fine state of cultivation.

During the time Mr. Black was employed at his trade he erected a great many find buildings, the chief of which were: the large house on the poor farm of Peoria County, the “Mason House” of Fulton County, and some fine residences in the towns of Kingston Mines and Glasford. Seven children blessed their union, six of whom grew to maturity as follows: Theodore died in infancy; Miss Cora is a young lady at home with her parents; Lydia is the wife of Dr. A. Brown of Peoria; Charlie, the fourth child, is a young man of much ability, a graduate of Brown’s Commercial College. He has received a good education and occupies a prominent place in the community, having been Highway Commissioner. He is a dealer in fine stock, a business which he handles to a good advantage; Corda is also at home with her parents, she and Lydia are graduates of a school in St. Louis; Lincoln is married and lives in Chicago where he is engaged in the mercantile business; Judson, twin brother of Lincoln is still at home; spent some time in a dry goods store. They are a fine family and enjoy the respect and esteem of all. Mr. Black and his entire family are members in good standing of the La Marsh Baptist Church and are living consistent and useful Christian lives.

Our subject is a believer in the principles of the Republican party and takes a lively interest in matters pertaining thereto. His ability and integrity have been recognized and employed in various ways. He was Government Store-keeper for seven years in Peoria and gave excellent satisfaction; was Justice of the Peace for twenty years and has also served his township in the capacity of Assessor. He is enterprising and always on the lookout for improvements and possesses good judgment in business affairs. He was the first man to introduce into the county an imported Suffolk boar; he also brought into the township the first Short-horn bulls, and the first pure bred full-blood Morgan horse. He takes a deep interest in fine horses as well as in other fine stock.

Pages 842-843