James Henry Black

BLACK, BROWN, HARDY, MCGEE, MYERS, SHAFER

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/14/2004 at 22:17:25

James Henry Black was one of those pioneer farmers of Madison county who had a part in the work of developing a prosperous and highly cultivated agricultural region from a wild stretch of prairie. He was justly held in high honor in the county and his death, which occurred in Winterset on the 3ist of May, 1914, was a loss to the community. He was born in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1827, a son of James Henry Black, Sr. He was one of a family of five sisters and four brothers and was the last to pass to the great beyond.

Mr. Black received his education in Pennsylvania and remained there until he was twenty-seven years of age, removing from his native state to Carthage, Illinois, in 1854. A year later he continued westward and prospected in various parts of the middle west in search of an advantageous location, as he had decided to devote his life to farming. He walked and rode across southern Iowa and went as far as Denver, Colorado. He then returned eastward and came to Douglas township, Madison county, which so pleased him that he at once purchased a farm, upon which he lived for many years. He paid eleven dollars per acre cash in gold which he had carried in a buckskin belt on all of his journeys.

The farm comprised a quarter section but at that time only five acres had been broken and a log house had been erected thereon. His first task was to make a fence around the cultivated ground and he accordingly split rails for that purpose. Like most of the pioneer farmers, much of his work was done with an ox team and before many months had elapsed he had the greater part of his land under cultivation. In the early days in addition to farming he outfitted six mule teams and freighted farm products from Warren and Madison counties to Denver, Colorado, across the treacherous Missouri and other streams, running the risk of attack by hostile Indians upon the plains. He was very successful in all of his undertakings, his determination enabling him to surmount all obstacles that seemed to prevent him from accomplishing his purpose. As the years passed he not only improved and developed his own farm but also aided in community projects, such as building bridges, locating roads and erecting schoolhouses and churches. He was a man of marked public spirit and the growth of the county was a source of as much pleasure to him as his own material prosperity. When the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad was built into this part of Iowa he was among the first to realize something of the great benefit that it would be to the community and subscribed one hundred dollars toward securing it for Winterset. Seven years before his demise he retired from active life and removed to Winterset, where his last days were spent in peace and quiet. He passed away at the advanced age of eighty-six years.

Mr. Black was married near Winterset in July, 1857, to Miss Charlotte Shafer, a daughter of Henry and Betsy (Meyers) Shafer, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana respectively. The father removed to Switzerland county, Indiana, and there followed farming for a number of years. To Mr. and Mrs. Black were born seven children: Abner, George M., Harry and Mrs. C. W. Brown, all of Winterset; Mrs. O. E. Hardy, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Mrs. Jennie McGee, of Denver, Colorado; and Frank, who died in Winterset, December 9, 1911.

Mr. Black was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was a thorough student of the Bible, which he found an unfailing treasure-house. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party, whose measures and candidates he supported at the polls. He was greatly attached to his family and found more pleasure at his own fireside than in outside connections. He was, however, genial and hospitable in spirit and had many friends, whom he valued highly and who much enjoyed his society. His life was characterized by industry, public spirit and integrity and Madison county is the gainer for his having been a resident thereof.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”