Biography of John Charles Black

John Charles Black was born in Holmes County, Lexington, Mississippi on January 27, 1839. His father, Rev. John Black (July 19, 1809-Feb.13, 1847) was married to Josephine L. Culbertson (Sept. 9, 1813-Feb. 25, 1887) on September 9, 1834. Four children grew up-John Charles, William P., Mary (Mrs. George Hart) and Josephine La Rose (April 12, 1845-Oct. 6, 1863).

After her husband's death, Mrs. John Black moved (1847) to Danville, Illinois where her brother James M. Culbertson lived. She married Dr. William Fithian (April 7, 1799-April 5, 1890), who had settled in Danville in 1830 and developed a fine medical practice and accumulated several thousand acres in Vermillion County.

In 1858, John C. Black entered Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, leaving it to enlist in the Union Army before April 14, 1861, as a private in the Montgomery Guards of Crawfordsville. This was two days (April 12) after Fort Sumter was fired upon. This Company became Company "I" of the 11th Indiana Infantry.  Black was enrolled in that Regiment and served as a Sergeant Major, promoted April 25, 1861) for the three months enlistment under Colonel (afterward Major General) Lew Wallace. He then returned to Danville and recruited a three year company which became Company "K" of the 37th Illinois Infantry, with Colonel (afterwards Major General) Julius White commanding. Black was appointed Major on April 15, 1862 then to Lieutenant Colonel on June 9, 1862 and then promoted to Colonel on November 20, 1862. On March 13, 1865, he was promoted to Brevet Brigadier General for gallant services in the assault on Fort Blakeley, Alabama. Before that time, he had served with his regiment in every state in the Confederacy except the Carolinas, Georgia and Texas, to which latter state his Regiment was ordered for guard duty, July 17, 1865. Black resigned August 15, 1865, within a month after his regiment was ordered on guard duty. He was wounded in the right arm at Pea Ridge, Arkansas on March 5-8, 1862 and lost use of that arm. He was then wounded in the left arm at Prairie Grove, Arkansas on December 7, 1862. He later served in the capture of Vicksburg, Red River campaign, the capture of Mobile and in Texas. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on December 7, 1862. After his resignation he read law in Chicago and was admitted to the bar in 1867 and to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1869. He developed a large practice in Danville.

He ran for Congress in the Seventh District in 1866 but was defeated. He ran again in 1876 and 1884 and was again defeated, although he led the Democratic ticket in 1884 by nearly 2,800 votes.

Joining the Grand Army of the Republic in 1866, he became Commander of the Department of Illinois in 1898, and was elected at San Francisco on August 17, 1903 as Commander-in-Chief of the Order. He was elected as a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States on December 3, 1884 and Commander of the Illinois Commandery in 1896. General Black was one of the managers of the National Soldiers' Home for disabled volunteer soldiers from 1878-1890; trustee of the Illinois Soldiers and Orphans Home at Normal from 1901-1904; trustee of Wabash College 1898- 1900 receiving an Honorary M.A. degree, and an LL.D. from Wabash College and LL.D. from Knox College.

General Black was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Cincinnati in 1872 and delegate-at-large from Illinois to the convention that nominated Grover Cleveland in 1884. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1872 and for the United States Senate in 1879.

From March 6, 1885 to March 27, 1889, he was Commissioner of Pensions by appointment of President Grover Cleveland. He inaugurated many reforms which reduced the expenses of the Bureau and at the same time saved not less than a million dollars in pension attorney's fees.

He served in the 53rd Congress from March 4, 1893 until January 12, 1895, resigning to become U.S.
Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, serving until 1899. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Black to the
Civil Service Commission in 1904. He was the minority party member of the Commission but was chosen President. Upon his resignation from the Commission in 1913, Black moved to Chicago, where he died on August 17, 1915; interment was in Spring Hill Cemetery, Danville, Illinois.
 

He married Adaline Griggs, daughter of C.R. and Leona Griggs, on September 28, 1867 in Champaign
County. Their children was Grace (who married F.B. Vrooman); John D., an attorney in Chicago; Josephine La Rose, deceased; and Helene.