BLACK, Hon. Moses - 1890 Bio (1801-1867)

BLACK, MAHAFFEY, WILLIAMSON, GLASGOW, GAGE, STEVER, BURKHART, RIDER, MCREA, AVERILL

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/28/2007 at 17:22:23

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Page 538

Hon. Moses BLACK is numbered among the pioneer settlers of Jefferson County, of 1844, and from that time until his death was prominently identified with its history, growth and advancement. He was born in Adams County, Ohio, September 26, 1801, and was a son of Samuel and Jane (MAHAFFEY) BLACK. He was of Scotch-Irish (sic) descent, his paternal grandfather, James BLACK, having emigrated to America from the North of Ireland, and settled in Westmoreland County, Pa. He was born in Londonderry, of the Emerald Isle, in 1732, and wedded Sally WILLIAMSON. Their son Samuel BLACK married Jane MAHAFFEY and their union was blessed by the birth of Moses BLACK, the subject of this sketch.

Having attained to mature years, our subject was joined in wedlock on the 30th of August, 1827, in Ohio, with Nancy GLASGOW, and during their residence in the Buckeye State, they became parents of six children, as follows: Sarah J., who is now the wife of C. W. GAGE, of Fairfield; William G., who married Rachel STEVER, and resides in Fairfield Township; Rhoda M., wife of J. G. BURKHART, of Locust Grove Township; Selina, who died at the age of two years; James Madison, who married Emeline RIDER, and is living in Fairfield; and Pauline, who died at the age of twenty years. After the birth of the last named daughter, the family removed to Jefferson County, and the following children were born: Catherine, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Susanna, who is the wife of George McREA, of Fairfield; Haddassah M., who is living in Fairfield; Francis, who died in infancy; Moses Walker, who married Catherine AVERILL, and resides in Fairfield; and Robert Theodore, who died at the age of twenty-two years.

It was in 1841 that Mr. BLACK first left his native State; journeying Westward, he at length located in Brown County, Ill., where he remained until the spring of 1844, which witnessed his arrival in Jefferson County, Iowa. He made a settlement in Des Moines Township, and continued to own and operate that farm for nineteen years, when in 1863, he sold out and purchased a farm north of Fairfield, where he resided until his death May 1, 1867. In his early life he was a ship carpenter, but his later years he devoted exclusively to agricultural pursuits. His wife, who long survived him, died on the 14th of October, 1880, at the age of seventy-two years.

During his entire residence in this community, Mr. BLACK was regarded as a prominent and influential citizen, highly esteemed for his sterling worth and strict integrity. In his early manhood he became a member of the United Presbyterian Church and continued one of its faithful workers for forty years or up to the time of his death. He was honored by being made the first County Judge of Jefferson County, under the system of county organization that went into effect in 1851. He was an anti-slavery Whig in early life, and while serving as County Judge, aided in the organization of the Republican party in Iowa, at Burlington, and was one of those who took part in the informal meeting in that city in 1863 for the purpose of organizing the party. He had little taste for public office, and accepted the County Judgeship with reluctance, but having been elected to the office, he displayed the same fidelity to duty which ever marked his career, whether as a public or private citizen. He was an industrious, upright, honorable man, enterprising and public-spirited, and was most highly respected by all who knew him.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.