GEORGE W. BLACK, wholesale and retail dealer in all kinds of tobacco, his factory being known as 153, is a native of Washington County having been born March 26, 1842 in the house where he now lives. His grandfather Daniel Black [Swartz] came to this country from Wurtemburg Germany prior to the Revolution and settled in Cumberland County Pa. He died at an advanced age at Chambersburg Pa. Whither he had moved in 1800. He was married in Germany and had two sons-Daniel and George. Of these, Daniel settled in Knox County, Ill where his descendants are still found having the old family German name Schwartz. He died when aged over 90. George Black, the second son of Daniel, was born in 1793, at Shippensburg, Pa and was reared to agricultural pursuits from boyhood. He also learned milling, which he followed in connection with farming, and drew many a load of flour to Baltimore and Philadelphia in his day. About the year 1820 he learned the tobacco and cigar business in Adamsburgh, Pa and in 1823 came to Washington County, where he opened a business in that line, carrying on same until he retired in 1852. In 1856-57 he built the house in which A.B. Caldwell now lives, and there resided until his death, January 30, 1862, he being then sixty-nine years of age. Mr. Black was no politician. For thirty or forty years he was a director of the First National Bank of Washington. He was the originator of the "Stoga" cigar, so called from the old Conestoga wagons that were used in freighting over the National pike. The wagoners requiring a cheap cigar and "plenty of it" for the money, having more regard for quantity than quality, Mr. Black gratified their wants by introducing his far-famed "Stoga." He married, in 1832, Julie, daughter of Jacob Shaffer, one of the first watch and clock makers in the borough of Washington, and who also made the old-fashioned silverware, some of which is still in the possession of our subject. His store was opposite the "Auld House" in the old block corner now standing, and his residence was in Morgan's brick house. He came here from Lancaster County, Pa and died in Washington in 1850, aged 96 years and 4 months. Mr. and Mrs. Black had eight children: Jacob S. who went to California in 1860, and died there in 1889 Martha, now Mrs. A.J. Montgomery, living in Washington, Pa George W subject of sketch Mary, widow of Elbridge Cracraft, living in Washington D.C. Four children that died in childhood. The mother was called from earth July 19,1865, at the age of fifty-six years. George W. Black received his primary education at the common schools of his native town and later attended Washington and Jefferson College. After leaving school he assisted A.R. Waltz and Company in the tobacco business, to which he ultimately succeeded. In 1866 he was united in marriage, at Monongahela, with Myra B. Crall, of this county, and to them seven children were born Samuel, in Washington Martha, head nurse at present in a hospital, State of California Maryetta, at home William, a printer in Pittsburgh Lucy and Myra Belle, at home George, who died in infancy Mr. Black is Democratic in politics and in his social connections is a member of the F. & A.M. The family for generations back have been Lutherans. Our subject is popular as a whole-souled, genial, good-natured, sociable companion, a loyal and progressive citizen, and has hosts of friends. The home in which he lives on South Main Street was built in 1830 by his father, and is a substantial relic of the past.

Text taken from page 705 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Elizabeth Burns of Phoenix, AZ as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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