The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-08-30
JEREMIAH S. BLACK.
Death Of the Great Jurist, Statesman
and Defender Of Christianity.
Brief Record Of Ills Noble and Honor.
able Life.

Judge Jeremiah 8. Black died at his homo
In York Pa, after weeks illness, on the
peaceful as the letting Of summers sun,
Ills two sons, Chauncey i. and Henry, his
daughter, Mrs Hornsby, his son-in-law, Mr.
iIornsby, and A. u. Farquhar were present.
when he died Just before his death he
spoke with confidence OF the future, saying
To his son Channccy that he had no fear Of
crossing tho dark river. adding: Il would
that / were NJ comfortable about what
leave behind I'm this world lie spoke Of
business and private matters To his ron. and
IN the midst Of It would stop and refer to
his faith In Christ On one occasion he
sud: i would not have YOU think for n
moment that fear to cross this river
have taken care 70 arrange for my future
over there, and therefore death has no ter
rors for me"
When his beloved wife knott by his bed
side, comforting him with her sympathy
ard love, he gave uttcrance to tho follow.
ing prayer
s0h, Thou beloved and most morciful
Father, from whom had my being and In
whom have ever trusted, grant, II 1t DO
Thy will, that no longer suffer this agony,
and that l be speedily called home to Thee.
And oh, my God, bless and comfort this my
Mary.
Jeremiah Sullivan Black was descended
from mixed ancestry, composed Of tho
German and Scotch-Irish elementA lie was
born In the Gladcs, Somerset county, IA,
June 10. 1910 His father, Henry Black, was
man Of prominence in Southern Penn>yl-
yania, ana was mont or OF Congress Mt tho
time Of his death. Young Black finished his
schooling ut n, after having gained fair
knowledge Of the classics mathematics,
and above all most precious to him,
thorough grounding In the knowledge OF
English classic literature. When his school
days ended he went home 10 work on the
farn, but his studies were not neglected.
for by the light OF the morning fire no
conned his Horace and Virgil. committing to
memory each day certain number OF lines.
Before he entered upon his profession no
had not only translated but learned the
whole Of these books by heart
Under Chauncey Forward he studied
law. and in 1851 was admitted to the bar
Wien no was - years of age he married his
instructor daughter, she being Il. About
this time L. Joined the sect known n the
Complexities or Disciples of Christ. with
whom he remained in fraternal relations tho
rest OF his lilo. Gov. Porter In lSi. APP
pointed him pre- i'd ny Judge of tho Frank
lin, Bedford and Somerset districts, and,
though party hight was made on the APP
pointment the unanimous approval OF the
members OF the bar decided the matter in
his favor. This office he held with great
credit for nine years When the position
was made elective he was chosen for tho
short term, and filled the Chief Justiceship
most acceptably for three years
Judge Black was reelected for fifteen
years, but was compelled to resign after
serving two, President Buchanan calling
HIM 10 the Cabinet as Attorney General,
where he remained until 1854 His most
was the protection Of the claims made by
Americans against the fraudulent prcten-
kions of the Spanish in regards to lands in
California MIR Stanton was associated
with him in these labors When Judge
Back was made Secretary Of State Stanton
became Attorney General throughout the
war he renamed a staunch War Democrat
When Black retired from the Cabinet he
resumed the practice Of law, and few men
have enjoyed so large n practice In the SUI
preme Court Of the land as he. His manner
was characterized by eminent legal ability,
courage and skill. lie talked to the court
delbcra ely, without notes, and cited au-
ant cases in which he was engaged were:
The M'lliken case, the Vanderbilt will Gaze,
the McGarrahan claim, the Belknap inn
reachment and the electoral contest In no
case where public interests We're involved,
n, III the Milliken case, did he take a fec tor
services rendered
Judge Black was elected member of the
PENNSYLVANIA Constitutional Convention in
ls,', and was urgent in pressing the nee 10
OF the legislative reform. He served WITH
out pay. Not only as n jurist, learned ex-
net, and apt. has he made himself known to
the people OF the whole nation, but as
writer OF political and theological articles
he has won place among the classic
writers of the age. His answer to
the structures on Christianity by Col
lngersoll. given in the pages Of one
OF the principal magazines in the land,
pro. okcd much cr.tici IN and praise. For 4
time 1t was the topic OF conversation and
OF leading newspaper articles. and Its cir
Gu alton passed the boundaries OF tho
United States into Canada and England,
where IL was nnelu vocaliy commended.
His last noted political paper was OH Mo-
nopoy," and the strong views he uttered,
backed by keen logic and biting words.
were rs rapturously applauded BY his SYM
pathlzers as they We're condemned by those
opposed 70 its views
Personally Judge Black was imposing in
his stature and manners Nearly ak feet
tall with shaggy eyebrows thai In repose
gave hma stern aspect, his strong bodily
frame and erect carriage made him n re-
markahlc figure in any assemblage Though
noted tor the radical views he held in poll
ties, he was a great social fayOrite, and Gar
field, Carpenter, lngcrsoll and Blaine always
sought him out when III washington Even
1had stevens defended him once in tho
House, when attacked by some one on tho
Democratic side.
Lawyer as he was, statesman and scholar
Of high ability deeply read in literature,
Judge Black devoted more time to the study
and pcrusal Of the Bible than persons would
t.link possible His ideas of right and
wrong gained In the strict old school II
remained with him through
out his life and make his character shine
with a brightness that mere culture or even
genius could never produce. He was an
American in every sense Of the term, the
peculiar produc; OF community whom, for
rugged strength and grand ambitions, the
world has never seen exCelled