Born near Brownsville, Ohio, September 27, 1843, and was reared to agricultural pursuits like the average farmer boy. When the country became involved in civil war he resolved to enlist as a soldier for the Union, and at the age of seventeen responded to the first call for three months volunteers, but was not mustered into service. On the 1st of August 1861, he re-enlisted for three years' service as a member of Company G, Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This regiment had more names on its roll than any other Ohio regiment that went forth to defend the Union. He veteranized on the 17th of December, 1863, at Vicksburg, again enlisting for three years. He was in the service altogether for about four years, being mustered out after the close of the war at Louisville, Kentucky, on the 20th of July, 1865. Returning to his home after the war, Mr. Black felt the need of a better education than he had previously acquired, and for two winters attended college, while devoting the summer months to work on the farm. In the spring of 1867 he removed to Tonica, Illinois, where he engaged in farming on rented land for a short time, and later bought a small place. He continued his residence there until the spring of 1872, when he came to Mills county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, two and a half miles north of Malvern, which he converted into a fine stock farm by adding to the original purchase. On the, 9th of September, 1867, Mr. Black was united in marriage to Miss Martha Landes, who died in Malvern, in 1872, at the age of twenty-seven years. By that union were born two children. Mr. Black was married January 14, 1875, in Mills county, his second union being with Miss Hannah B. Evans. Mr. Black is liberal, public-spirited and progressive and in his political views is an out and out Republican. He filled several local offices in the township where he resided, and in 1899 was elected to the state legislature, in which he faithfully represents his district. He is chairman of the committee on the Home for Feeble-Minded Children, and is a member of other important committees. His wise counsel is sought on many matters of interest to the county and state, and it is to such men as he that is due the credit of our wise and beneficent legislation. Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, he has taken an active interest in public affairs, and has supported those enterprises which he believes calculated to advance the public welfare. He was one of the organizers, and a member of Milton Summers Post, No. 204, G. A. R., of Malvern, of which he was the first commander. Religiously he and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, and are prominent in the community where they reside.

Born near Brownsville, Ohio, September 27, 1843, and was reared to agricultural pursuits like the average farmer boy. When the country became involved in civil war he resolved to enlist as a soldier for the Union, and at the age of seventeen responded to the first call for three months volunteers, but was not mustered into service. On the 1st of August 1861, he re-enlisted for three years' service as a member of Company G, Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This regiment had more names on its roll than any other Ohio regiment that went forth to defend the Union. He veteranized on the 17th of December, 1863, at Vicksburg, again enlisting for three years. He was in the service altogether for about four years, being mustered out after the close of the war at Louisville, Kentucky, on the 20th of July, 1865. Returning to his home after the war, Mr. Black felt the need of a better education than he had previously acquired, and for two winters attended college, while devoting the summer months to work on the farm. In the spring of 1867 he removed to Tonica, Illinois, where he engaged in farming on rented land for a short time, and later bought a small place. He continued his residence there until the spring of 1872, when he came to Mills county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, two and a half miles north of Malvern, which he converted into a fine stock farm by adding to the original purchase. On the, 9th of September, 1867, Mr. Black was united in marriage to Miss Martha Landes, who died in Malvern, in 1872, at the age of twenty-seven years. By that union were born two children. Mr. Black was married January 14, 1875, in Mills county, his second union being with Miss Hannah B. Evans. Mr. Black is liberal, public-spirited and progressive and in his political views is an out and out Republican. He filled several local offices in the township where he resided, and in 1899 was elected to the state legislature, in which he faithfully represents his district. He is chairman of the committee on the Home for Feeble-Minded Children, and is a member of other important committees. His wise counsel is sought on many matters of interest to the county and state, and it is to such men as he that is due the credit of our wise and beneficent legislation. Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, he has taken an active interest in public affairs, and has supported those enterprises which he believes calculated to advance the public welfare. He was one of the organizers, and a member of Milton Summers Post, No. 204, G. A. R., of Malvern, of which he was the first commander. Religiously he and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, and are prominent in the community where they reside.