My Genealogy Hound

RICHARD S. BLACK, a thoroughly practical farmer of Lake township, Phelps county, Nebr., was born in 1849 in Schuyler county, Ill. When quite a lad he enlisted in Company G, Sixty -second Illinois infantry, took part in a number of engagements, and was mustered out at Fort Smith, Ark., in 1865. He then returned to his native county, where he worked on a farm until 1879, when he came to Nebraska, where he first located on section 33, township 5, range 17, in Phelps county; but subsequently moved to his present place on section 31, township 5, range 17. His sole possessions on coming here comprised a wagon and a team of horses; he now owns a quarter section of land, one hundred and forty acres of which are under cultivation and are well stocked and improved in every respect. In 1876 Mr. Black married Miss H. A. Demlavny, who was born in Illinois in 1858. Six children have resulted from this union, as follows — Howard, Claude, Atwell, Clara, Nancy and Katie. In politics Mr. Black is a democrat and is now serving as county supervisor, giving universal satisfaction in the performance of the duties of the office.

John L. Black, the father of Richard S., was the first white child born in Woodstock township, Schuyler county, Ill., his birth having occurred in 1830. In 1848 he married Miss Nancy Pickenpaugh, who was born in Illinois in 1832, became the mother of two children — the subject of this sketch and Mrs. Mary Bates of Butler county, Nebr. — and died in 1857. John L. Black was reared to farming, but he was a patriot and enlisted in Company E, One hundred and nineteenth Illinois infantry, and was mustered out in 1863. In politics he was a democrat.