George W Black

BLACK, FLOWERS, BUCKNER

Posted By: J. Breen (email)
Date: 10/2/2020 at 11:36:00

George W. Black died shortly before noon today, having suffered a stroke of paralysis about 8:30 this morning. He was working in the yard and went into the house complaining of a headache and in a few minutes sank to the floor and remained in an unconscious condition to the end. Mr. Black has lived in Washington since 1956 and has always bore the reputation of being a highly respected citizen. He was a barber by trade and had been engaged in that business here until a few years ago when he retired from business. He was past 80 years of age and was born in Uniontown, PA and moved from there to Davenport from which place he came here. During the civil war he first enlisted in the 25th Iowa and later when a colored regiment was organized, he joined it and was one of the prominent members of the regiment. His first wife died in 1888 and he was again married about twenty years ago to Emma Buckner of Oskaloosa, who with their only child, Ruth at home, survives him. Of his first wife’s children Mrs. Miles Shelton of Chicago is the only survivor. Nate Black of this city is a grandson. Deceased was one of the organizers of the A. M. E. church here and has always been an active member. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.

Source: Washington Press, September 17, 1914

George W. Black
He was eighty-one years old, but he didn’t look it, and he stood in line with the G. A. R’s at the reception for Col. Palmer, happy and proud to thus honor his chief. It was probably as he would have wished it, for there was no suffering. On Wednesday September 16 he was mowing the yard complained of a headache and went into the house to rest by sank to the floor before he reached the bedroom. He never regained consciousness.

George W. Black was a familiar figure in Washington coming here the same year that the Savages did in 1856. The year previous he followed the barber business on the Mississippi steamers and settled in Davenport for a few months. He was a good soldier enlisting with the 2nd Iowa Infantry first but was obliged to return after a year’s service on account of sickness. Later he helped organize a Colored regiment at Keokuk, and he held the rank of sergeant until the close of the war. He was a member of the local G. A. R Post.

Uniontown, Pennsylvania was Mr. Black’s birthplace in 1834. C. H. Wilson knew him when they were boys, the Black’s lived on the hill and Mr. Wilson remembers him as a capable colored boy whom every one trusted. He was married to Miss Sarah Flowers before he left Pennsylvania, his wife dying in 1888. One daughter of this union, Mrs. Miles Shelton is living in Chicago. In 1893 he married Miss Emma Buckner of Oskaloosa, who with one daughter, Ruth survives. Nate L. Black of this city was a grandson.

Since 1856, the Black barber shop has been an established place, many Washington men would allow no one else to shave them for they said Geo. Black knew just how to do it right. He was respected and industrious and had many friends, who will mourn his demise, but 81 years is a long life and all was well with him. He was a charter member of the A. M. E. church. His pastor Rev. J. H. Bell had charge of the funeral services which were held on Sunday afternoon.

Source: Washington Democrat September 23, 1914

George Black Headstone
 

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