BLACK, HUGH

BLACK, KEOCHON, PAUL, NICOL, RICHARDSON, FLAGLER, CROSS, HODGE, SMITH

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/24/2004 at 16:40:47

Biography reproduced from page 274 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Hugh Black, deceased, was a most highly respected, enterprising and successful farmer of Irvington township, Kossuth county. He was born in Scotland in May, 1845, and was the son of Hugh and Frances (Keochon) Black, both of whom were natives of Scotland. The father died in his native land many years ago. The mother with her family emigrated to the United States in 1859, settling first in Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, and later lived with her son Hugh, in Kossuth county, Iowa, for six years but was residing with a daughter in Wisconsin at the time of her death, which occurred in 1904, when she had reached the advanced age of ninety-two years. In her family were three children: John, of Algona; Mary, who is the widow of Alexander Paul and resides at Milton Junction, Wisconsin; and Hugh, the subject of this review.

Hugh Black emigrated to America with his mother when he was fourteen years of age and located first at Rock Prairie, near Janesville, Wisconsin. Some years later he came to Kossuth county, Iowa, and established his home on sections 8 and 9, Irvington township. The land on which he settled has been improved to some extent, one feature of the improvements being a sod house, and upon this farm he later built a frame house more suited to the comforts of the family. He continued to live on this farm during the remaining years of his life, greatly improving the place and bringing it to a very high state of cultivation. He constructed all modern and necessary buildings required to complete a well equipped and attractive farm. He was killed by accident on the farm, August 18, 1897, and was buried in Algona. He left an estate consisting of three hundred and twenty acres in Kossuth county and one hundred and sixty acres in McPherson county, South Dakota.

On December 27, 1877, Mr. Black was united in marriage to Miss Harriet A. Paul, a native of Milton township, Rock county, Wisconsin, and a daughter of William and Harriet Esther (Nicol) Paul. Mrs. Black was reared in her parents’ home and received her early education in the common schools of Wisconsin, later becoming a student at Milton College, that state. The father was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1812 and emigrated to America when he was twenty-five years of age, locating first at Newark, Ohio, where he continued to reside until his removal to Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1846. He followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1878. The mother was born in Madison county, Virginia, January 8, 1819, and her death occurred in Milton, Wisconsin, in November, 1899. Her father was of German descent and her mother was of English parentage. To Mr. and Mrs. Paul ten children were born. Ellen J., born January 10, 1844, is the wife of William Richardson, of Alpha, Iowa. Wallace A., born December 9, 1845, resides at Milton Junction, Wisconsin. Mary A., born December 15, 1847, is the wife of Ira Flagler, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Horace A., born February 26, 1850, resides at Breckenridge, Minnesota. Harriet A., born March 29, 1852, is the wife of Hugh Black, of this review. George Addison and Georgiana are twins, born January 1, 1855, and the latter is the widow of Wilber Cross. Elizabeth Esther, born December 26, 1857, is a trained nurse and resides at St. Louis, Missouri. Eliza Jane, whose birth occurred in May, 1860, is the widow of William Hodge and resides in Janesville, Wisconsin. William Butler, who completes the family, was born February 1, 1863, and resides on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Black have three children. Edna, born March 25, 1880, is the wife of Neil Smith, of Wesley township, and they have two children, Leona May and Harriet. James F., born October 12, 1881, married Belle Smith and has three children, Pauline A., Hugh M. and Florence. Paul H., born April 8, 1883, lives at home with his mother. He is the owner of two-thirds of one hundred and sixty acres of land and is engaged in the cultivation of a large farm of two hundred and forty acres. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party.

Hugh Black was a loyal member of the democratic party, and attended the Presbyterian church. He was one of the highly respected and influential citizens of Kossuth county and a man who could always be relied upon to give his assistance to every worthy cause seeking the advancement and best interests of the people of his county and state.