My Genealogy Hound

P. M. Black, the well-known and faithful sheriff of Arkansas County, came originally from Peoria County, Ill., being a son of Thomas and Isabella (Brunson) Black. Thomas Black was born in Pennsylvania, and is a distant relative of John C. Black, of the United States Pension Office. He was a son of Michael Black, also of that State, and of German descent. Moving to Illinois when Thomas was a boy he located eighteen miles north of Peoria, where he owned a large farm and where he died at an old age. Thomas Black was the youngest of seven children, four still living. He remained in Illinois until 1864, when he went to Iowa and engaged in farming in Dallas County, then becoming occupied in the real estate business at Des Moines, Polk County, for five years. On May 15, 1874, he came to this county and still makes his home here. His wife died in 1881, at the age of fifty years, and had borne ten children, six of whom survive. Phineas M. Black was born January 7, 1855, was married in 1876 to Miss Carrie Stillwell, a native of this county, and a daughter of Asher and Carolina (Maxwell) Stillwell. Mr. Black started in business after his marriage with nothing but determination and a strong will-power to rely on, but has been prosperous in all of his undertakings. He was elected sheriff in 1888 and still holds the position, serving in an acceptable manner. He is also engaged in stock-raising. Mr. and Mrs. Black are the parents of two children: Hattie O. and Lester A. Mr. Black is a member of the I. O. O. F. and is a stanch Democrat.