Biographies

SAMUEL W. BLACK is now engaged in general merchandising in Olena. He has a good store, supplied with a complete stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries and hardware, and is now enjoying a liberal patronage, which is well deserved. Mr. Black has a wide acquaintance in this community, and we feel assured that the record of his life will prove of interest to many of our readers.

A native of Ohio, he was born in Greene County, November 8, 1835, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (George) Black.

The father was born in Lexington, Va., and upon a farm was reared to manhood. At the age of twenty-one, he went with his parents to Greene County, Ohio, where he resided until 1839, when he came to the West, locating upon a farm in Warren County, Ill. A part of the city of Monmouth now stands upon that place. There Mr. Black resided until 1841, when he came to Henderson County, and purchased a tract of raw land in Stronghurst Township. This he at once began to improve and cultivate, and soon his labors made it a valuable tract. Selling that farm in 1848, he purchased land a mile south of Olena, and thereon made his home until his death, which occurred in the winter of 1856. His parents were natives of Germany, and his father served in the Revolutionary War. The mother of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania, and her parents were born in County Cork, Ireland. In Stronghurst Township she spent her last days, passing away April 17, 1885. In the Black family were nine children, of whom Samuel was the seventh in order of birth.

Since the age of six years our subject has resided in Illinois. He was reared under the parental roof, and when he had attained his majority he purchased the old homestead and began farming in his own interests. He is a successful and energetic farmer, and still owns two hundred and forty acres of rich land, which in its improved and cultivated condition attests the careful supervision of the owner.

On the 4th of March, 1864, Mr. Black was united in marriage with Miss C. Z. Henman. Unto them have been born ten children, but two of the number died in infancy. Ettie is now the wife of Samuel Lant, a farmer of Henderson County; Elizabeth is the wife of Burt Watson, a farmer of this community; Nellie is the wife of Edward Lant, an agriculturist; and Ida, Florence, Samuel, Andy and Wilbur are all at home.

For twelve years Mr. Black has been a member of the Masonic fraternity of Carman.

In politics, he is a stalwart Democrat, has faithfully served as Justice of the Peace for twelve years, and was the efficient Constable for six years.

In 1883, he purchased a store in Olena, and is now giving the greater part of his time and attention to his mercantile interests. He is an enterprising and progressive citizen , and his support and co-operation are never withheld from any worthy object. He came to Henderson County in an early day, and is numbered among its honored pioneer settlers. Those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his stanchest friends, a fact which indicates an honorable and well-spent life.

From the Portrait and biographical record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson counties, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1894)
May, 1894. Lake City Publishing Co.