BLACK, Charles W. (1843-1930)

BLACK, LANDES, EVANS, REED

Posted By: Kathy Weaver (email)
Date: 5/9/2016 at 08:25:28

Malvern Leader
Oct. 16, 1930
page 1

Charles W. Black Answers to His Last Roll Call. Soldier, Farmer, Legislator, Outstanding Citizen of County, Dies Oct. 12.

Hon. Charles W. Black, Civil war veteran, state legislator, and outstanding citizen of Malvern and Mills county, passed to his reward Sunday evening, Oct. 12, at his home in Malvern after an illness of several weeks. He made a brave fight to regain his health but when the summons came he was ready with a clear answer for his last roll call.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock in the Presbyterian church in Malvern whither a large concourse of friends and relatives assembled to pay their last respects to this man whom all loved and delighted to honor. Masses of beautiful flowers banked the front of the church and surrounded the loved form as it lay in state in the church he had delighted to attend so large a portion of his life.

He was attended by three of his old Grand Army comrades who acted as a guard of honor and sat at the head of the casket. A.D. French, Lon Mayberry, and A. Ring. Twenty members of the local American Legion attended in a body and acted as escort there and at the cemetery. A special choir, Mrs. L.A. Talbott, Miss Hazel Donner, Dr. I.U. Parsons, and R.W. Criswell, with Miss Helen Jones as accompanist, sang some of the songs he had loved. The services were in charge of the pastor, Dr. Henry D. White, assisted by Rev. A.E. Kiser of Council Bluffs, Rev. Elbert Nickerson of Wahoo, Nebr., President L.C. Denise, and Dr. Charles Herron of Omaha Presbyterian Theological university. The pall bearers were: Walter Donner, L.A. Talbott, S.J. Anderson, Dr. J.O. Laird, W.H. Nagle, and Fred Dickersbach. Honorary pall bearer were L.W. Miller, J.R. Hurst, E.C. Linquist, Harry F. Clark, C.S. Royce and Ira Fritz. Beautiful floral pieces were sent from the Presbyterian academy for colored people at Arkadelphia, Ark., the Omaha Presbyterian Theological School, and the Omaha University, schools that Mr. Black had aided materially the past few years. There were many other beautiful pieces from local organizations.

At the cemetery the beautiful G.A.R. ritualistic service was given by A.D. French of Glenwood in a very impressive manner as the members of the American Legion stood at attention. At the close "taps" were sounded by the bugler. During the hour of the funeral all business houses in Malvern were closed as a mark of respect for this man who had done so much for town and community.

The following life story and tribute was read by Dr. A.E. Kiser, a former pastor and longtime friend:

Charles Wesley Black, whose memory we cherish and honor, was born near the village of Brownsville, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1843 and departed this life Sunday evening, Oct. 12, 1930, at the ripe age of eighty-seven years and a few days.

His father, William Black, was a native of Scotland, and came to the United States in 1838. His mother, Martha Reed Black, was the daughter of Irish parents who emigrated to America in 1810 and to Ohio in the fall of 1816. She was born near Zanesville. It was in this vicinity that his parents met and were untied in marriage. Thus it will be observed that he was entitled to refer, as he was wont to do occasionally, to his Scotch-Irish ancestry. This worthy couple came to Malvern in 1871 and are well remembered by the older people whose memory dates back that far.

Charles Wesley or "C.W." as Mr. Black was familiarly known, was the oldest of a family of nine children, only one of whom survives him, viz: William Arthur of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mr. Black's boyhood and youth as well as his earlier manhood, were spent on the farm. As was usually the case at that time his educational opportunities were somewhat limited. Being the oldest of the family his father needed his help on the farm. After he was twelve years of age the winter term of the public school was the extent of his early schooling. This, however, was supplemented by two winter terms after the war at Muskingham college, New Concord, Ohio.

At the outbreak of the Civil war, being then seventeen years of age, he volunteered at the first call for troops to serve three months. He, however, was not mustered into service as the company was full and the government would not take any more three month enlistments. On the 1st of August, 1861, he re-enlisted for three years' service as a member of Co. G of the 32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His first captain was a son of William Hamilton, who like Mr. Black's father, was a Scotch immigrant. His first military service was in West Virginia and Maryland. Later his company was transferred to the Western Army under General John A. Logan's division at Memphis, Tenn. The company and regiment to which he belonged took a prominent part in the stirring events incident to the Vicksburg campaign.

In recognition of the splendid leadership General Grant accorded to Logan's division, which occupied the center of the line of investment, the honor of entering and taking charge of the prisoners. With the captured city as headquarters his regiment was employed in several expeditions, one into Louisiana and another known as the Meridian campaign.

In 1863 Mr. Black re-enlisted for three years more. His regiment was permitted to go home on a veterans' furlough for thirty days. On the 8th of June, 1864, his command became a part of Sherman's army and was under almost constant fire until the surrender of the city of Atlanta. It was during the battle of Atlanta that they suffered their greatest losses. Sherman's famous march to the sea was participated in as was also the march up through the Carolinas. After the surrender of the Confederate army under General Johnson his command started to Washington, D.C., passing through Richmond and Fredericksburg enroute. He and his comrades took part in the grand review of Sherman's army. They were then transferred to Louisville, Ky. with the army of Tennessee.

Mr. Black received his final discharge from the army July 28, 1865. He was highly favored during his army life in that he only reported once for sickness and was only slightly wounded.

In the spring of 1867 Mr. Black left Ohio and came to Tonica, Ill. where in September he was married to Miss Martha J. Landes. Two children were born to them, Miss Marion Landes and Margaret Aletta.

In 1879 the family moved to Malvern and located on a farm two and a half miles north of town. In November the wife and mother passed to her reward. For several years he made his home with his parents, who then, as previously noted, lived in Malvern. On the 14th of January, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah E. Evans who for upwards of forty-four years shared his joys and sorrows. This most estimable woman is well remembered by a host of friends.

In his early youth Mr. Black united with the Presbyterian church of Brownsville, Ohio. When he moved to Tonica, Ill. he transferred his membership to the M.E. church and from there to the Presbyterian church in Malvern. In 1874 he was elected as a ruling elder and has served in that capacity ever since most worthily. This covers a period of upward of fifty-six years during which time he has been re-elected eighteen times. This is an honorable record seldom equaled. When this building was dedicated he was elected superintendent of the Sunday school and continued to serve in that capacity for eleven years. During a much longer period he served in the same capacity Sunday afternoons at Centerline, Golden Hill, and White Cloud country school house points in the vicinity of Malvern.

Mr. Black always took an active interest in public affairs and was a liberal supporter of every enterprise calculated to promote the public affairs. I am informed that he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. In his political views he has been aptly characterized as "an out and out Republican." As such in 1899 he was elected to the state legislature where he served his district two terms with marked fidelity and wisdom. Malvern and Mills county have been fortunate indeed in having such a man as a citizen.

If I was asked to enumerate some of his outstanding sterling qualities I think I would speak of him first as a most liberal supporter of all Christian institutions and every worthy cause.