The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-08-24
Death of Judge Black.

The eminent jurist died at his home
at York, Pa. on Sunday morning last,
after an illness of one week. From the
beginning of his illness he believed
that he would never recover and was
perfectly resigned. Mrs. Judge Black,
Lieutenant Governor Chauncey f.
Black and wife, Mr.. Henry Black, Mr..
and Mrs. Hornsby, A. b. Farquhar and
DR. Misenhelter were present at the
dissolution. Shortly before Judge
Black died he said to his wife "How
can ] fear to cross the dark river when
my Father waits for me on the other
shore ?" and added "Would were
as comfortable about all leave behind
unfinished 10 this world and then
breathed the following earnest prayer
"Oh, Thou beloved and most merciful
heavenly Father, from whom l had my
being and in whom have ever trusted If
it be Thy will grant that my suffering
may end and that I speedily be called
home to Thee, and o! bless and com
fort thee, nay Mary"
Tile EMlNENl Jthtoi . TAR E'
Jeremiah Sullivan Black was born in
Stony Creek township, Somerset county
Pa, in January, 1910. His father was
Henry Black, prominent man in that
region in his day, who at one time re.
presented his district in congress. He
was of Scotch extraction on his father
side and Pennsylvania German on that
of the mother whose maiden name was
Sullivan, Judge Blacks early days
were spent on his fathers farm but his
taste for books soon led his father to
avail himself of such advantages for
the education of his son as the schools
of that day afforded. On attaining his
majority young Black was admitted TO
the bar of Somerset which at that time
numbered among it's members the
ablest lawyers and the most accom-
plished orators of the state, among
them Chauncey Forward, Charles Ogle
and Joshua +. Cox. After some
years practice he was appointed presi
dent Judge of the common pleas of the
Somerset district in which Office he
soon became distinguished for his
learning, ability and integrity. When
the judiciary became elective in 1880
he was chosen one of the justices Of
the supreme court of the state which
office he held until 1857. During his
term as Judge Of the supreme court he
served as chief justice for number Of
years.
ENTERING THE BUCHANAN CABINET.
In 1857 upon the accession of James
Buchanan to the presidency of the
United States, Judge Black was invit-
cd into the cabinet as attorney general
which Office he accepted and filed until
early in the winter of 1861, when upon
the resignation of Lewis Cass as secre
tary of state, President Buchanan ten
dered him that port folio which he held
until the Inauguration of Abraham
Lincoln. After his retirement from
public Office he began to practice law
in Washington, and became counsel in
many of the leading cases before the
supreme court of the United States,
His arguments in the Almadin mine
case and the Milligan case made him
famous as a lawyer and advocate.
Judge Black has been at various times
| favorably and prominently mentioned
in connection with the presidency. He
has written much for the public press,
and his contributions to the periodical
literature of his time have been widely
read and greatly admired. Judge
Black leaves widow (who was a
daughter of the late Chauncey Forward)
two sons, Chauncey f. (now lieutenant
governor), and Henry Black, and sew
eral daughters.