John W. Black

As printed in 1911

JOHN W. BLACK.

Among the successful farmers of Orono township is John W. Black, who has prospered in his chosen calling and by industry and sound judgment merits the gratification he now derives from the possession of a handsome competence. He was born in Boone county, Kentucky, twenty miles from Cincinnati, Ohio, January 31, 1847, the son of Benjamin and Frances (Moore) Black, the former of whom was born in Boone county, Kentucky, March 9, 1812. He was united in marriage with Frances Moore, October 23, 1834. She was born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, September 8, 1808. This union was blessed with eleven children, six daughters and five sons. One son, Benjamin Franklin, and four little daughters died in infancy. The remaining children are the subject of this sketch, John W. Black, and his two brothers, Robert Connely Black, of Nichols, Iowa, and Arthur Lee Connely Black, of Newton, Alabama. The former was born April 20, 1841, the latter December 4, 1848. James M. Black was born August 24, 1838, and died in Audubon county, Iowa, June 28, 1907. Lida Black, born May 31, 1844, died in Orono township, April 10, 1906. Martha M. Black was born January 2, 1846. At Muscatine, Iowa, December 24, 1868, she was united in marriage to Alfred M. Wilkins. To them four children were born: Anna Belle, Rhoda, Mirmie and Maude. The three latter are dead. The mother passed away at Muscatine, October 12, 1882.

Benjamin Black, and all his children were born in Boone county, Kentucky. His mother, Margaret Connely, was of Scotch descent. She was born in the fort at Lexington, Kentucky. Her father was a surveyor in the employ of the United States government. Her husband, James Black, died January 16, 1833. He was a farmer and kept his business very straight. His death occurred after a short illness. The only debt he owed was thirty-seven and one-half cents, and he would not have owed that but the blacksmith could not make the change. She died December 11, 1848. Benjamin Black was a large man physically and mentally and an honorable, honest man in all the relations of life. His tender ministries to the little wife in her long invalidism was most beautiful. She passed away January 15, 1884. Had she lived till October 21, 1884, they would have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. After her departure he wanted to be reunited with his companion of almost fifty years- And after carrying here one year, three months and three days, his spirit was released from the earthly tabernacle. He died April 18, 1885. He came to his "grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in his season."

John W. Black came to Iowa with his parents at the age of five years. The father, mother and six children came from Kentucky with a team and covered wagon. They crossed the Father of Waters at Muscatine, November 26, 1852. He has lived in Muscatine county continuously since then, except one and a half years, the family spent in Cedar county, immediately after coming to Iowa. Although he is now in his sixty-fifth year he has never drunk a glass of liquor of any kind, never took a chew of tobacco or a smoke, or ever played a game of cards. He and his sister never left their parents, and after their death, they continued to live together till she answered the summons, "Come up higher." On the 17th of January, 1883, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. B. McKenney, at Maquon, Knox county, Illinois, Mr. Black was married to Miss Alice Templeton. Rev. Joseph E. Williams was the officiating clerk>'man.

One child, Elmer Wesley, came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Black. He was born April 12, 1885, and on December 18, 1907, married Miss Bertha Foster, who was born at Letts, Iowa, September 24, 1887. A son, Arthur, was born to them January- 17, 1911.

Mr. Black and family located on the one hundred and eighty acre farm in Orono township in February, 1889, to which he has devoted much time and energy, making it one of the highly desirable properties of the township. The prosperity which he has attained is the result of wisely directed effort, and he now has the satisfaction of knowing that he and his family have abundant resources upon which to draw in case of emergency. Although he has not sought political office, Mr. Black has ever since arriving at manhood voted with the democratic party, believing that in so doing he is performing his duty as an American citizen. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Conesville, and they have many friends not only in that denomination but throughout the section where they are widely recognized on account of their excellent traits of mind and character.

John Wesley Templeton and Miss Mary Frances Crittenden were married at the home of her parents, Pryor and Nancy Jackson Crittenden, in Wilson county, Tennessee, May 13, 1852. Five children blessed this union: Alice, now Mrs. John W. Black, was born March 6, 1853, near Nashville, Tennessee; Blanche was born at Silver Springs, Tennessee, November 2, 1854; Joseph Crittenden Templeton, May 6, 1858; Mollie Browder Templeton, September 12, 1862; William McMurry Templeton, June 6, 1861. He died in infancy. The three last mentioned were born in Gentry county, Missouri, near where Stanberry now is. Blanche became the wife of Morton Hayden Rogers, November 27, 1873, and to them ten children were born. She died April 26, 1905. Mollie B. was married to Porter Johnson, December 24, 1885, and to them were born four children. Joseph Crittenden Templeton, was united in marriage to Miss Margaret D. Enlow, at Bridgeport, Ohio, August 17, 1886, and to this union nine children were born. He is now superintendent of the public schools of Palo Alto, California. One son, Eugene C, is an instructor in Leland Stanford Jr. University. Joseph C. Templeton, taught at Nichols, Iowa, in 1881-

The father of Mrs. John W. Black was born in Iredell county. North Carolina, January 9, 1820. He was the youngest of eight children born to his parents, John and Ann (Claywell) Templeton. In 1844 he went to Elkton, Kentucky, making the trip on horseback. After remaining there a while, he engaged in mercantile business at Winchester, Tennessee. In April, 1857, he and his family went to Gentry county, Missouri. He lived on a farm till November, 1858, when he again became a merchant- In May, 1863, he with his family returned to Kentucky. He lived near Greenville for twenty-four years. After the children all left the old home, they grew lonely and went to reside with their daughter, Mrs. Blanche Rogers, near Auburn, Kentucky. There he passed away June 20, 1889, at the age of sixty-nine years, five months and eleven days. The mother accompanied her daughter, Mrs. Black, home. On July 26, 1890, she departed, with her son, for his home, at the Montana Wesleyan University, Helena, Montana, he being an instructor in the school. There on March 16, 1892, she died, aged sixty-five years and two months. She was born in Nottoway county, Virginia, January 16, 1827. She went with her parents to Wilson county, Tennessee, in 183 1. They were intelligent, honorable and upright people. Her father, Pryor Crittenden, died in Wilson county, Tennessee, in April, 1854, aged seventy-three years. Her mother, Nancy (Jackson) Crittenden, was the only child of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Jackson, of Nottoway county, Virginia. She died at her home near Greenville, Kentucky, June 4, 1865, aged seventy-three years. To her and her husband were born thirteen children. Three sons, Robert M., Thomas P., and Daniel W. Crittenden, were medical doctors. One son. Colonel John Jackson Crittenden, was a military man. The great-grandparents of Mrs. Black were Peter Claywell and Jemima Arthur, who were married August 28, 1777. To them were born twelve children. Ehzabeth Blankinship, born October 30, 1778, died February 2, 1861.

Solomon Claywell, born February i6, 1780, died March 11, 1848. Ann Templeton, born August 1, 1781, died August 27, 1853, while her husband, John Templeton, who was born January 18, 1782, died September 17, 1852. These were Mrs. Black's grandparents and they died in Buchanan county, Missouri. Mildred Edson, the youngest of the family, was born November 3, 1782, and died November 21, 1855. Shadrach Claywell, bom February 4, 1784, died June 20, 1867. Jemima Fitzgerald, born August 26, 1785, died in February, 1862. Peter Claywell, Jr., born February 8, 1787, died April 30, 1878. Mary King, bom April 16, 1789, died January 29, 1874. Margaret Tomlinson, born August 22, 1790, died in August, 1865. Jane Holland, born June 27, 1792, died March 31, 1883. Sarah Browder, born April 26, 1796, died May 13, 1875. William A. Claywell, born January 19, 1799, died April 24, 1873. Peter Claywell, Sr., the father of this family, died May 17, 1842, and the mother, Jemima (Arthur) Claywell, died June 7, 1842.

As printed in History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time; (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.