My Genealogy Hound

N. J. BLACK, contractor and builder, Avalon, was born near Six-Mile Ferry, Allegheny county, Pa., May 22, 1851, the son of John and Mary (Coleman) Black, both of whom were natives of this county. John Black was a carpenter, and his parents came from Ireland. The subject of this sketch attended the country schools, and at the age of fourteen he was in the service of Rev. McAboy. He next learned the carpenter’s trade, and after working eight years for Mullon, Steen & Co. he moved to Bellevue, where he continued his trade for two years. For the next five years he was in the grocery business at West Bellevue, but his health failing him, he again took up the hammer and saw, this time contracting for himself, and has erected nearly all the houses at West Bellevue built since he engaged in the business. At the age of twenty-one he married Mary S. Davis, a granddaughter of Bassell Davis, he being the first white settler that side of the river. Her parents were James S. and Mary J. (Beem) Davis, both natives of this county. Her father was a farmer and an extensive sheep-raiser. Mr. and Mrs. Black have one child, Birdie D. They are members of the Bellevue M. P. Church, of which he is a steward. Mr. Black is a member of Jr. O. U. A. M. When he first moved to West Bellevue he was elected assessor and councilman, serving three years. He was then appointed first postmaster, the office then being called Myler, now changed to Avalon. He was elected burgess in 1888, and re-elected in 1889.