The subject of this review is one of the sturdy men who have made the reservation portion of Nez Perces County one of the best places in the state of Idaho. He is well respected, is a man of ability and erudition and has a wide influence in the affairs of the County.
John H. Black was born in Clark County, Missouri, on January 4, i860, being the son of Andrew J. and Ann (Burner) Black, natives of Ohio. The father is of Scotch Irish lineage and now lives near Southwick. The mother died when John H. was a small boy.
For twenty years of his life, our subject was in Missouri and during this time he gained his education from the district schools. Then came a trip to the west and settlement was made near Colfax, and one year was spent on a dairy ranch. Then he farmed until 1890, after which he purchased a ranch adjoining Leland. Here he remained until the opening of the reservation, when he took his present place in the vicinity of Gifford. He was in financial straits at that time, but by hard work and taking advantage of the resources of the country, he has come to be well rewarded with the goods of this world. This last year Mr. Black rented his land and is now living in Gilford. He has the following brothers and sisters: Charles E., in Leland; Samuel, at Southwick; Matilda J., wife of John A. Porter, a banker of Luray City, Missouri; Mabel, a school girl in Leland.
Mr. Black is a staunch Democrat, active in all questions of interest and a zealous laborer for good schools and roads.
On February 9, 1890, Mr. Black married Miss Mary E., daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Luther) Williams, the wedding occurring at Leland. Mr. Williams was born in Virginia and died in 1901, aged seventy. His death resulted from a team running over him. He was a pioneer of Illinois, being one of the first settlers in Gallatin County. Then he went to Pratt County, Kansas, in 1885 and then engaged in stock raising, merchandising and banking. He owned a large hotel and other property. The mother of Mrs. Black was born in Illinois and died at the residence of her son, Rev. Williams, on the reservation, in March, 1900. Mrs. Black was born in Illinois in February, 1873 and has five brothers and three sisters. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Black: Norval A., born May 26, 1895; Ila M., born November 22, 1898, and Norma Irene, born October 20, 1901.
Back to: Nez Perce Biographies
Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903