From: "Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and
Brown Counties, Illinois 1892", by Biographical Review Publishing
Company, Chicago, Illinois; pages 296, a reprinted by Stevens
Publishing Co., Astoria, Ill., 1971, is sold by the Schuyler County
Historical Society, Rushville, Illinois.
John H. Black, a prominent citizen of Woodstock township, is a
representative of one of the earliest families of Schuyler county, and
is entitled to a space in this history. He was born in Woodstock
township, August 2, 1842. His father, James P. Black, was a native of
Mecklenburgh county, North Carolina, a son of Richard S. Black (see
sketch of Isaac Black). James P. Black removed to Indiana at the age of
fourteen years, and resided thee until 1826. Then, with his bride, he
came to Illinois; the "wedding journey" was accomplished with a yoke of
oxen, the bridegroom walking most of the distance. He located in
Woodstock township, and there entered a tract of Government land which
he began to improve. It was in this year that the county was organized;
there were few white settlers. Indians were numerous, and the frontier
was not far removed toward the setting sun. Mrs. Black's maiden name
was Mary Padgett; she was born in Kentucky, a daughter of John and
Eleanor Padgett, and died on the home farm in 1851. Our subject, John
H. Black, received his education in the common schools of Woodstock
township, and at the Western Seminary, Rushville. At the age of
nineteen years he began teaching in Woodstock township, and was
actively engaged in educational labors for more than twenty years.
In 1867 he removed to Richfield, Adams county, and there
purchased a home in which he live4d for a few years; his next change
was to Quincy, where he bought city property, and thence he removed to
Camp Point, where he lived five years; at the expiration of that period
he returned to Quincy and made his home there until 1878, when he sold
out and bought the farm he now occupies on section 12, Woodstock
township.
Mr. Black was united in marriage in 1862, to Telitha Parke, a
native of Brown county, Illinois, and a daughter of Oliver H. F. and
Mary (Logsdon) Parke, natives of Kentucky, and pioneers of Brown
County, Illinois. Of this union five children have been born: Mary,
Nettie, John R., Lelia and J. Charles. The father and mother are
members of the Church of God. Mr. Black has held various offices of
trust, and has represented Woodstock township on the county Board of
Supervisors for three terms. For twelve years he was Superintendent of
Schools in Adams county, and did much to elevate the educational
standard. He is a man of rare force and uprightness of character, and
has the respect and confidence of the entire community.
