William P. Black-- Part 5: Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Red River

William Black also was at the capture of Arkansas Post, the Vicksburg Campaign and the Red River Expedition.  He received an honorable discharge on September 29, 1864, and returned to Danville, Illinois.

After the war, he moved to Chicago and studied law at the firm of Arrington and Dent.  He passed the Illinois bar exam in 1867 and established a successful law practice with Thomas Dent, with clientele that included the Chicago Board of Trade.

He married Hortensia Mary MacGreal of Galveston, Texas, on May 28, 1869, and they had one son.

--Old Secesh

William and John Black-- Part 3: On to the 37th Illinois

The 11th Indiana, of which the Black brothers were members, was a 90-day regiment and after their enlistments expired, they were discharged.  Most of the regiment reenlisted retaining the number, but this time for three years.  At this time the brothers left Indiana and returned to their home in Danville, Illinois, where they organized what became Company K in the 37th Illinois Infantry, comprised of men from Danville and Vermilion County.

With the experience they gained in the 11th, the brothers became officers in the new unit.  William became its captain.  John became the major of the 37th.

--Old Secesh

William and John Black In the 11th Indiana Under Lew Wallace-- Part 2

From Wikipedia.

The 11th Indiana Infantry Regiment was a three-month unit, enlisting at Indianapolis, Indiana, to serve for 90 days.  Its commander was Colonel Lew Wallace. and George McGinnis was its lieutenant colonel.

It was sent to Western Virginia (now West Virginia) and saw only minimal action on the raid into the town of Romney.  It then returned to Indianapolis where it was mustered out, having served its three months.

It was then reorganized as the 11th Indiana with Wallace and McGinnis again commanding.  This time the service was for three years.

So, William and John Black did serve under Lew Wallace.   It was on their return to Indianapolis that the Black brothers left the unit.  They went back to Danville and organized what became Company K of the 37th Illinois Infantry.

--Old Secesh

Illinois' William P. Black-- Part 3: Born in Kentucky, Moved to Danville, Illinois

The following information is from The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.

WILLIAM PERKINS BLACK  (1842-1916)

Born in November 11, 1842, in Woodford County, Kentucky.  After his father, the Reverend John Black died, his mother, Josephine Culbertson Black,  moved the family to Danville, Illinois, to be near her brother.  James Culbertson.  Soon thereafter, she married Dr. William Fithian.

Fithian served in the Illinois legislature in 1834 with Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln successfully represented Fithian in a lawsuit in 1850.  During the 1858 campaign for U.S. Senate, Lincoln stayed at the Fithian home in Danville and spoke  briefly to a crowd of well-wishers.  This was not the site of a Lincoln-Douglas Debate, however.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, William Black was enrolled as a ministry student at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana.  Along with his brother, John C. Black, he enlisted in the 11th Indiana Infantry Regiment and fought at the Battle of Romney, Virginia (now West Virginia) on June 11, 1861.

--Old Secesh

William P. Black, Medal of Honor Recipient and Brother of John C. Black-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

WILLIAM PERKINS BLACK

(November 11, 1841-January 3, 1916)

Lawyer and recipient of America's highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in 1862.  He gained national prominence as the lead counsel of the defense of the accused bombers of Haymarket Square Riot.

He was the brother of John C. Black, Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and also a recipient of the Medal of Honor.  They are one of only five pairs of brothers to receive the award.

Born in Woodward County, Kentucky.  His family moved to Danville, Illinois.

In 1867, he formed the law firm of Dent & Black with Thomas Dent.

--Old Secesh

Illinois' John C. Black-- Part 8: A Very Busy Postwar Life

In 1867, he passed Illinois' bar exam and set up a thriving practice in his hometown, Danville, Illinois. Throughout his life, John C. Black held a variety of positions in governmental and veterans organizations.  He ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1872 and declined nomination for governor in 1884.

In 1884, he declined being vice president of the U.S. on the ticket of Grover Cleveland. he then held the position of Commissioner of Pensions from 1885 to 1889.  He was defeated in bids for Congress and Senate four times,  but then won for one term in Congress 1893-1895.

In 1895, he was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois where he served until 1899.

He was an active member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion and Grand Army of the Republic and served as the national commander of the latter group 1903-1904.

From 1904 to 1913, he was president of the U.S. Civil Service Commission and also a frequent speaker on the extremely popular Chautauqua Circuit.

John Charles Black died on August 17, 1915, and is buried in Spring Hill cemetery in Danville.

--Old Secesh