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THOMAS C. BLACK, farmer, residing on sections 34 and 35, Canton Township, has been a resident of Benton County since 1861. He was born in La Porte County, Ind., Nov. 8, 1837. His father, Eli Black, and his mother, Mary A. (Cole) Black, were natives of New York State, where they were united in marriage. They moved to Indiana in 1837 and settled on a farm in La Porte County, thus becoming pioneers of that county. His father died May 31, 1859, aged sixty-three years, and his mother Jan. 24, 1864, also in her sixty-third year. There were five children in the family — Mary, now the wife of H. S. Webster; William, living in Gage County, Neb.; Sidney, who died at the age of thirty-three years; Thomas C.; and Sarah E., wife of Edwin R. Pratt, residing in Nebraska.Thomas C. Black was reared on a farm and resided in his native State until 1861, then came to Iowa and settled in Canton Township, Benton County. Here his father had entered 200 acres about 1854, and Thomas fell heir to one-fifth interest in the same on the death of his father. On his arrival here he at once commenced the improvement of this land, his brother Sidney residing with him, and after the death of their mother they purchased the interest of the other heirs, and jointly owned the same until 1867, when they divided their interest. Mr. Black now owns 480 acres, all of which is well improved. He is engaged principally in stock-farming, keeping usually 100 head, having a number of full-blood and high-grade Durhams.
Mr. Black has been twice married, his first taking place Jan. 17, 1866, when he took as his bride Ellen A. Pratt, daughter of Milo and Sophia Pratt. She died Sept. 8, 1872, leaving two children — Alice M. and Calista E. On the 1st day of November, 1874, he married Mary E. Thomas, daughter of Abram and Sarah Thomas. She was born in Boone County, Ind., Dec. 5, 1848. They have four children living — Anna B., Edna E., Mabel and Thomas C. Mrs. Black's father died in Boone County, Ind., in 1850, aged thirty-eight years. Her mother is still living and resides on her farm in Canton Township.
In politics Mr. Black was originally a Whig, but on the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks.
A fine lithograph portrait of Mr. Black is shown on another page.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 339-340.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on February 18th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.
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