John W. Black was born in Boone county, Missouri, February 11, 1833, His father was a native of Virginia, and migrated to Boone county when a young man, and was there united in marriage to Miss Ann, daughter of Andrew Hannah, who was from Kentucky. In 1849, with his wife and family of six sons and three daughters, he removed to Daviess county, and settled in Jefferson -township, one and one-half miles south of Victoria. The good mother died November 29, 1S51, but the children all survive.
The subject of this sketch having received all the advantages of a good education, when eighteen years of age began school teaching, receiving for his services the sum of $20 per month. Mr. Black acquired a proficiency in his profession and was esteemed among the best of the early educators in the county. In 1860, on-the fourth Saturday in March, Mr. Black was licensed to preach by the New Salem Baptist Church, and has continued in the ministry of that church ever since, having been regularly ordained on the fourth Sunday in December, 1877. He served one year as a missionary in the Gentry Association. He is deservedly held in high esteem, not only by the members of his flock, but by all who know him.
Mr. Black and Miss Tabitha Sappington were united in marriage on the 18th of September, 1853, and the Rev. D. Doyle, an early pioneer preacher of the Baptist denomination, who was said to have preached the first sermon in the State, officiated. This marriage, which has proven a happy one, has been blessed with five children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Elizabeth A., born February 2, 1855; Lou Eva M., born February 8, 1857; Benjamin F., born July 7, 1859; Minerva F., born November 25, 1861; and Minnie C., born May 27, 1864. Mr. Black resides at Victoria, where he owns a pleasant home. His third daughter, Miss Minerva, is a teacher in the public school at Winston, and her brother, Benjamin F., is a clerk in a store at the same place.