Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1888-04-29

Among those prominently mentioned
for the Vice Pro 'ilency is Pension
Com. Black. ShonlI Cleveland Oh
tain the Pi osidential nomination, the
end of the ticket wnull unqu-stionably
he chosen from tue west. Back has
many elements in his favor. lie, il any
ore. could obtain the solder vote. mad lie
il extremely popular in the west. GEN
eral John Charles Black. the lirst Dem
ucratic Commissioners Of Pensions, was
born in Lewiston, Miss. January 81,
1929. He is Of Scotch-Irish descent.
his covennnter ancestors having taken
refuge in the north Of Ireland from the
Scottish prosecutions, nnl thence later
having cmigrated to South Carolina IN
rre-Iev1lutionnry days. Tho South
Carolina Blacks divided, one branch
of the family going to Virginia and an
other to PENNSYLVANIA. His great great
grandfather Finlnn, was IA member of
the Revolutionary Congress. His
father was born in Pennsylvania, mud
became II Presbyterian minister. r~ecriv-
ing the degree Of Doctor Of Divinity
when not twenty-five years old. and dy-
ing when but thirty-srvcn yenrs oil. at
which time he WIS pnstor OF the Filth
Presbyterian Church OF Allegheny. At
the time of his fathers denth, Gercral
Black WAS the oldest child Of four sur
Niving, he being but eight years Of age.
His mother was of the Cuibethsou fami-
ly OF Pennsylvania, though she wns
born in Iudianu, in Madison. Upon
DR. Blnck's death the widow removed,
in thu Fall of 1917, to Dauville. Ills,
where she has since resided. Left no
uther heritage than a good NAME, young
Blnci found himself full OF earnest am
bition to secure n collegiate education
Hs n preparation for his iife-labor, and
TO provide for this he worked in his
school vacations at tenming and other
labor, until he became fitted for teach
ing. which he pursued for some months.
md then, having husbandcd his slender
.mrningI, he entered Wabash College,
Charlottesville, Ind. where lie hclprd
out his meagre resource hy such labor
rs he could secuie ont Of his study
hours. lie Was blesse ! with Il spis ndid
physique and indomitabIe energy. lie
vns NEAR the completion OF his Junior
year in college When tie new came by
telegraph Of the firing on Sumter
yN.ki.- - i-.-
listed ms n private soldier in tho Mont
gomery Guards, n company mustered n
few duys later Mt indianapolis MS Com
paDy !, Eleventh Ind ana Zounves,
Colonel Lew Wallace, commanding. As
n private in tho same company, WAS
mustered William Z. Black. the Goner-
ais only brother, md about four years
younger. who was ut the tine in the
Freshman class i'll the fame College
General Black was appointed Scrgent-
Major of the Eleventh Indiana, and at
the expiration Of the enlistment inm'-
diately engaged in recruiting II company
for the thIoe years service. for that
purpose retu, ming to Illinois. The
company WAS mustered rs the lcft-nank
company of the Thirty-seventh Illinois
Volunteer Iniautry, ut Chicago In Sep
tomber, 1861. and B!nck was mnd1 tho
muster major Of tho regiment his
brother succeeding to the chptaincy Of
the company which 10 had helped to
recruit aud drill. General Black re-
manned in the service till tho close OF
the war, being promoted to the Lieu
tennnt.Colonelcy and cclonulry of his
regiment and winning his stnr ''ior gal-
Lint aud meritorious service" lie was
severely wounded in tho right forearm
at Poa Ridge, Ark, March 81, 1862,
aud in the let upper nrm at tue baltic
of Prairie Grove, Ark. December T.,
1862. In politics General Black hns
been. since the close Of the war, u con
Ristent Democrat. He hns lived in Il
Republican State and District. mud has
consequently never received Office.
though he hus twice run for Congress,
once for Lieuienant-G Governor of the
State, and in 1878 received the vote Of
his party In the Legislature for the
United States Senate. General Black
IL admittedly tho lending political
orator Of Illinois. aud al advocate Of
the highest quality in his profession
the Inv. Large biaincd. qnick-wittcd,
with o piercing decp.blue eye, brown
hair, n clear, strong voice, and much
grace Of gesture, f,v Gun eqnnl. aud
none surpass him IN the forum or tho
council. His record. alike in war and
peace, Is without n blcniish.