Mrs. Margaret Black, p. 1174

MRS. MARGARET BLACK, widow of John A. Black, is a native of Morris township, this county, where she still resides. She was born in 1832, on what is known as the old "Rutan farm," where she spent the days of her girlhood, and was one of a family of thirteen born to John Rutan, a prosperous farmer. They were of New Jersey descent. Margaret Rutan united with the Presbyterian Church when eighteen years of age. She was married to John A. Black in 1860.

John A. Black was born April 13, 1826, near Johnstown, and was one of a family of six children, all of whom emigrated West except himself, locating in the States of Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri. The ancestors came from Ireland, and the family has been characterized by honesty and sterling worth. Mr. Black early chose as his vocation that of a carpenter, in which he made himself proficient, and locating in Morris township, where he devoted his energy to his calling, was amply prosperous. When his country was in peril he did not hesitate in the performance of his duty, but, in 1862, left his young wife and home, and gave himself over to the "fortunes of war," enlisting in Company D, 140th Regiment, P. V. I., and served until the war closed. He was captured at Gettysburg, and consigned to Belle Isle prison, where he was for six months held a prisoner of war, enduring all the hardships incident to prison life. In conjunction with three of his fellow-prisoners, plans for escape were laid, but the hardships and ill food to which he had been subjected had so reduced him physically as to render him unable to travel. So much attached to him were his companions in misfortune that, rather than accept liberty at the cost of leaving him behind, they chose to remain and share his fate. The war ending, Mr. Black returned to his home, where he resided until his death, which resulted in 1880 from the kick of a horse. By his kind disposition, sterling uprightness and Christian charity he won many lasting friends, and enjoyed an enviable popularity. He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was an elder, and an enthusiastic Sunday school worker, being an instructor in the Sunday-school at the time of his death. In political views he was a Republican, though conservative.

To Mr. And Mrs. Black were born three sons, namely: Brice, born March 25, 1861 (married June 11, 1892, to Lizzie Reller, of this county); John Miller, born June 8, 1867 (married September 13, 1892, to Lizzie Dille, of Washington county), and Boyd E., born March 18, 1871. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Black and her two sons, Brice and Boyd E., have managed to good advantage the farm and other property. The place on which they reside, known as the "Timothy Lindley" farm, has been their home since 1866. John M. Black works at the carpenter's trade, which was also followed by his father.

Text taken from page 1174 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed January 1997 by Julie Jolly of Knob Noster, MO as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]