Black, Levi Morris 1842-1924 with Children's Families

BLACK, GOUGH, COON, COPELAND, BROOKS, STAFFORD

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/16/2022 at 10:52:03

Black, Levi Morris 1842-1924 and Children’s Families

This story was taken from page 342 of the History of Ireton (1882-1961) published on the occasion of the Ireton Diamond Jubilee. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

If one were to select Ireton’s “Man of the Century”, Levi Morris Black would be a worthy candidate. He was a pioneer leader in the Community on the civic, social and business front.

He was born on Jan. 15, 1842, in Henry Co., IN, when the Civil War broke out he volunteered and served with the 57th Indian Volunteers Regiment. While stationed in Kentucky during the war, he became seriously ill with measles and upon recovery was honorably discharged from duty.

He came west and settled on the SE quarter of Sec. #24 in Washington Twp. In 1871, a well-educated individual, he taught a country school in Preston, Twp. (Plymouth Co.) in 1873-74 and also taught at Seney. He later sold his land in Washington Twp. And bought land in Center Twp. (NW quarter of Sec. #29) and when the Town of Ireton was founded, he was one of the first to build a residence there.

He had married Sarah Gough in 1864; she was an invalid and they had hoped the move would improve her health but she passed on in 1872, the first settler to die in Washington Twp. and is buried in Union Hill Cemetery. Black was one of the organizers of that early Cemetery. In 1875, he married Arfinda Coon of Marquette, WI; they then lived for a few years in Orange City while he served as County Auditor.

Black was Ireton’s first postmaster; he was involved in several business ventures in early Ireton, from managing an mercantile business, being a partner in a drug store, operating a real estate firm, and acting as a “self-taught” legal advisor. He was mayor of Ireton in 1916 and 1917.

He was a Charter member of Launtz Post #215 of the G.A.R. and of the local masonic lodge (Sioux Lodge #477 A.F. and A.M.). he was an assistant Adjutant General of the Iowa G.A.R., in 1899, serving under C.F. Bailey of Ireton, who was State G.A.R. President that year.

Black died at age 82 in 1924, a big man in many ways, terms like “tall and straight as an arrow” and “tallest man in Sioux Co.” were used to describe him. His obituary in the local paper labeled him “the most beloved citizen the town has ever known and the friend of everybody who had the honor of his acquaintance.”

ANOTHER VERSION:
This story was taken from pp. 356-357 of the History of Ireton (1882-1961) published on the occasion of the Ireton Diamond Jubilee. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.
Black, L. M., Sr.

Levi Morris Black was born in Henry Co. Ind. on Jan. 15, 1842, where he grew to manhood. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the 57th Indiana Infantry and served until his discharge from service.

In Mar. 1871, he came to Sioux County with his wife and 2 sons, Enoch and Harley. He located on a homestead in Washington Twp. He taught school at various times and was elected county auditor in 1873, serving one term.

When the town of Ireton started, he moved here and entered the mercantile business. He was appointed the first postmaster of Ireton, serving many years.

When the G.A.R. Post was mustered in Oct. 1883, he served as the first post commander and was a member of Sioux Lodge No. 477 A.F. and A.M.

He was active in politics many years, a staunch and unswerving Republican and no one ever had need to wonder where he stood on any public question or issue. He took his position boldly, was ready to sound a triumphant note in victory and if he chanced to be on the losing side, went down with flying colors. This trait won him the respect of his political foes. He served as the Ireton mayor, on the school board and gave advice on legal matters when the town had no lawyer.

When he passed away at the age of 82, the “Tall Willow from Reading Twp.” left hundreds of friends who mourned his passing along with a wife, three sons and two daughters, Enoch, Harley, Morrie, Ollie (Mrs. Paul) and Fannie (Kluter). They too have passed on, but each one of the Black family left an indelible mark in the history of Ireton.

RESEARCH NOTES : Mostly taken from a family report on ancestry.com (done by others, not confirmed by submitter) Secondary source.

Levi Morris Black sr. was born 15 Jan 1842 Henry County Indiana and died 19 Jan 1924 Ireton IA. He was the son of John Wesley Black 1798-1877 and Susanna Ola Copeland 1812-1906. His first wife was Sarah J. Gough born 1848 Indiana and died 13 Mar 1873 Washington Tsp. Sioux County IA. They were married 28 Apr 1864 in Henry Indiana.

Levi Morris Black then married Arfinda Adelia Coon at Ireton IA 1875, she was born 26 Jan 1847 Erie County PA and she died 2 Apr 1904 at Ireton IA. Her parents were Isaiah Jackson Coon 1824-1904 and Mary Brooks 1825-1884.

This family report states that Levi Black 1842-1924 married a third time on 13 Jul 1906 Chicago IL to Josephine Stafford born abt 1856 Indiana died August 1937 Terre Haute IN.

CHILDREN of Levi Black and Arfinda Coon:
1 . Enoch Black born 23 Jan1865 died 11 Mar 1951 Polk Co. FL He married Agnes Myra
2 . Harley Black born 1867 died 4 Nov 1937 Colorado Springs CO He married Flora C.
3 . Olive Mary Black born 1875 Iowa died 27 Sep 1946 Sioux Falls SD
4 . Fannie Arfinda Black born 3 Sep 1877 Orange City IA died 24 Oct 1931 Ireton IA
5 . Levi Morris Black Jr. born 13 Oct 1879 Ireton IA died 9 Mar 1960 Hawarden IA He married Elizabeth Chiney Coats in 1906, she died 1954. They had four daughters and one Coats step son.

OBITUARY OF L. M. Black (1842-1924)
L.M. BLACK IRETON PIONEER HAS PASSED AWAY
The citizens of Ireton and community have been called upon to mourn the death of one of its most venerable and foremost citizens, L.M. Black, pioneer and leader in civic and social affairs of Ireton from the time of the town’s inception, most beloved citizen the town has ever known and the friend of everybody who had the honor of his acquaintance.

The deceased was stricken with the illness that caused his death only a week before the end came but his enfeeble condition because of his advanced age of 82 years was such that he was unable to bear up under the disease and he passed away shortly before 9 o’clock last Saturday morning, January 19, 1924.

Levi Morris Black was born in Henry County, Indiana, on January 15, 1842, and grew to young manhood in his native community. When the call came for volunteers to assist in the preservation of the Union Mr. Black, the American, offered his services in the spirit of righteousness and fought through the years of the great conflict of the Civil War as a member of the 57th regiment of the Indiana volunteers. Six years after the close of the war, in 1871, he came west and located on a homestead in Sioux County southwest of Ireton and during the period of proving up on his claim taught school at Seney the only school for many miles around and a long distance from his homestead.

When the town of Ireton was located and organized in 1883 Mr. Black was one of the few men who took up residence here. He was the town’s first postmaster and at the same time was interested in the first mercantile store in the town. Until his death he and Mr. J. H. Sherman of Le Mars, were the only known survivors of Ireton’s first business men, and he was the only one who made Ireton his continuous home through all these years. It was very natural therefore that Mr. Black should have been an ardent booster for the town that meant so much to him and his efforts and inspiration have left many monuments that will refresh his memory for years to come.

Mr. Black held his first public office in Sioux county in the middle 70’s when he was elected to the office of county auditor the duties of which he discharged with honor for several years. He held the office of Mayor in Ireton for many years as well as many other offices of public trust in the community. He was a charter member of Launtz Post No. 215, G.A.R. of Ireton and held that membership continuously until the charter was surrendered from lack of members, when he transferred to the Post at Sioux Ctiy. He was Assistant Adjutant General of the Iowa G.A.R. under the administration of Commander Bailey. Mr. Black was an active and valued member Sioux Lodge No. 477 A.F. & A.M. for many years and was also a charter member of the local order of Eastern Stars.

He leaves to mourn his sudden death, a wife, three sons, E.W. of Lakeland, Florida, J.H.J. of Council Bluffs and L.M. Jr. of Ireton; two daughters, Mrs. C.S. Paul of Lakeland, Florida, and Mrs. Fred Kluter of Ireton; two step-sons, C.S. Paul of Lakeland, Florida, and one step-daughter, Mrs. B.F. Southard of Terre Haute, Indiana; nine grandchildren, two brothers and three sisters.

The funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the home and at 2:30 from the M.E. Church, and was one of the largest funerals ever held in Ireton. The church was crowded to the doors by old friends and neighbors from far and near who came to pay their last respects to their departed friend. Rev. De Witt and Rev. Carr officiated at the scriptures and the former a very impressive sermon. A quartet composed of Mrs. G. S. Pitts, Mrs. A.T. Bergstrom, F.F. Morris and E. L. Morrison with Mrs. Morris at the piano, sang three selections. Following the sermon the Masonic lodge took charge of the services when T.J. Reeves of Orange City, a past grand officer of the lodge paid tribute to the departed in behalf of the Masonic lodge and rendered the ritualistic services. At the conclusion of the services a long procession followed the remains to the cemetery headed by the pall bearers, Dr. A.L. Craik, Supt. J.R. Coons, A.T. Bergstrom, Earl Wells, F.J. Parrott and Chas. Fletcher, followed by relatives, the Masons, W.R.C. and the American Legion. At the cemetery the last honors were given by the Legion boys.
Thus the last sad rites were performed for him whose memory will be cherished always by those who knew him. His cheery smile and happy greetings, as well as his valued helpfulness in community enterprises will be sorely missed in the community.
Source: The Ireton Ledger, page 1 Date: Thursday, Jan. 24, 1924
L.M. Black was the great-grandfather of Dean Siders who submitted this obituary.

OBITUARY OF ARFINDA ((Mrs. Levi M.) Black
First the death of Mrs. Black was noted in the Alton Democrat of April 16, 1904 and an obituary was found in the Ireton Ledger as follows:
Ireton Weekly Ledger April 8, 1904
Mrs. L. M. Black died at her home in Ireton last Saturday morning at 8:30 o'clock and was buried in the Ireton cemetery Monday afternoon; Mrs. Black has been a sufferer from rheumatism for the past twenty years and for the past eleven years she had been obliged to use an invalid chair and crutches, but the direct cause of her death was an attack of pneumonia which, complicated with the other ailments, served to weaken her constitution and give the ravages of the disease full play. All that loving hands could do for her was done, The best medical science was employed in her behalf and watchers were constantly at her bedside looking for the least hopeful sign of returning strength but it availed them not and she passed peacefully away to the land where there is no sorrow and the shadows are only sunshine.
The life of Mrs. Black was marked by the existence of true womanhood. Patient and loving to those about her even in her great suffering brought her the respect and love of all. Mrs. Black loved her home and all that it contained and it was her wish that the funeral services be held in the place where she had constantly spent the last few years of her life. Rev Gilbert preached the sermon and he was assisted in the services by Revs. H.F. Wallace, H. Grimm and J. P. Linn. The floral offerings were magnificent and showed in what high esteem the lady was held. During the hour of services and funeral every business house in town was closed.

Mrs. Black was born in Erie county Penn. January 26,.1847 and died in Ireton April 2, 1904 making her 57 years, 2 months and 7 days old. In 1874 she was married to L. M. Black and they settled at Orange City. In 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Black moved to Ireton where they have since made their home and where they have been constant and loving companions until her death. Two daughters Mrs. Olive M. Buck and Mrs. Fannie A,Kluter, and a son, Levi M. Black, Jr., were born to them and besides these she leaves two stepsons, E. W. Black, of Ireton, J. H. J. Black, of Sioux Falls, two sisters, two brothers and her father to mourn her loss. The funeral was large and was attended by a large number of people from out of town, among them being Mrs. Jacob Trahn and Mrs. John Doggert of Cherokee, cousins of the deceased, Mr. and Mrs. N, N. Coon, of Canton, SD, cousins. N. J. House of Canton, uncle, Mr, and Mrs. H. J. Lenderink and two daughters of Orange City, Mrs. Lenderink being a sister, Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Schaap, of Orange City, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. J. Black, of Sioux Falls, and Mr. and Mrs. Clint Burket, of Hawarden, and Messrs. A. J. Henry, Geo. W. Brewster and Harry Morgan, of Orange City.
(Ardinfa Adelia Coon was born 26 Jan 1847 Erie Co. Penn. Died 2, April 1904 Ireton IA. Her parents were Isaac and Mary Coon. She was the second of three wives of Levi Morris Black born 15 Jan 1842 Henry County IN, died 19 Jan 1924 Ireton IA. Levi’s first wife was Sarah J. Gough and they had two sons Enoch and Harley. Levi and Arfinda had three children Olive, Fannie and Levie M. His third wife was Josephine Stafford.)

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