Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-22

TROY. n. Y, March 22.-Former Gov.
Frank S. Black, long prominent in ma
tional republican politics, died at his
home here this morning. Valvular disease
of the heart. with which he had been
afflicted for Some time, was the cause.
1t was while he was governor that Mr..
Black. while walking up the stairs at the
capitol ono day, first discovered that his
heart action was weak. It was not until
last August. however. that. the disease
took an alarming turn. He recovered
partially and subsequently appeared in
an argument before the United States
Supreme Court at Washington. About
Christmas his illness again took an
alarming turn and he was confined to his
bed. a week ago he began to grow
rapidly worse and heart experts pro-
nounced his case hopeless.
Hears His Fate Calmly.
Gov Black insisted that he be told the
exact nature of his illness and the ply
sicians Informed him that the end was
only question of a few days. The gov
ernor received the news calmly, express
ing regret that an important case In
which he was engaged and which was to
have been heard by the United states
Supreme Court at Washington had not
been finished before his fatal illness.
A few hours later he became uncen-
scious and remained so'untiEthe END
Mrs Black and his son Arthur We're at
the governors bedside when he passed
away.
- Had Planned to Retire.
In January, 1912, Mr.. Black announced
Ii -,x <s1<t, irfI y,
day, March s, 1913, he would retire from
his profession and spend the rest Of his
days on his farm at Freedom. N. IL.
Money" he said, sis not all of happi-
ness. 1t is a mighty good thing to have.
but / could never reconcile my efforts
to get money with real happiness. I'm
not Directing to other men striving and
delving until old age for money. That
may be their keenest happiness, but 1t Ia
not mine. Peace and quiet in the coun-
try. far from politics, far from profess
sional activities and far from the petty
details of everyday life in the city, sum
UP my idea of real happiness.
Was Born on a Farm.
Mr. Black. was born on farm near
Limington, Me-, March s, 1858.
"Sixty acres of stones" to use the
words he once used himself to picture his
birthplace, describes the farm where he
was born.
On this farm, where he did his share of
work in helping to maintain the large
the boy lived until he was eleven years
old, obtaining such training as he could
in haphazard way at the district
school, The family then moved to the
town of Alfred, Me-, where Jacob Black,
his father, occupied the county house, an
inn, through virtue Of having been elected
to the Office of keeper of the jail.
In 1871, when eighteen years old, and
with $50 in his pocket, earned by teach
ing school, he entered Dartmouth Col
lege. lie was graduated in 1879.
Entered Newspaper Work.
A period Of peddling chromos immedi-
ately followed. BY chance acquaintance
ship with the owner of the paper, he be-
came editor of the Johnstown On. -
Journal.
After leaving the paper young Black
started for Boston to try his fortunes
there, but at Troy, n. Y, he halted.
While doing newspaper work there he
studied law, was admitted to the bar in
1870 and hung out his single soon aft
erWard.
He ran for Congress in 1895. and was
elected.
Two years later came his election to
the goyernorshtp Of New York.
Congressman, Then Governor.
Mr. Blacks entry into politics dated
from the shooting of Robert Ross, Troy
manufacturer. by Bat Shea during a
ward fight at municipal election in
1894 Black organized a committee of
safety, addressed mass meetings in the
interest of law and order, and as q re-
I'd tn, ahalf of Wo
elected to Congress-, and then became
governor.
He was a candidate for reelection to
that office, but the Organization" of
which Thomas e. Plat was leader,
brought about the nomination of Theo-
dore Roosevelt
Mr.. Black resumed the practice of law
after retiring as governor. and was iden-
titled with many important cases, includ-
ing the Molineux murder case.
He was seif-made man. AS one of a
family of eleven children his early ad-
vantages were those of the ordinary poor