WILLIAM BLACK was born near Wigton, in Cumberland, Eng., April 6, 1806, his parents being William and Margaret (Hobson) Black, natives of England, where his father died, June 17, 1817, and was buried at Wigton. His mother and five children - John, David, William, Thomas and Elizabeth, left England, June 10, 1822, and took passage at Liverpool on a vessel bound for New York. On arriving at that port, they started west in a two-horse wagon, coming as far as Pittsburg, where they bought a flat boat, on which they loaded their wagon and team, and came as far as Wheeling by boat, but the water getting so low, they disposed of their flat boats and started out again with the wagon. They came as far as Louisville, Ky., where all but one of the company took the water again, and came to Shawneetown, where John Armstrong met them with a team, and brought them to Greene county, landing here about Dec. 20, 1822. They located on section 21, where his mother owned 500 acres of land, on which she resided until her death. Feb. 7, 1854. William remained with his mother until he was 23 years of age when he started out in life for himself, locating on section 32 in this township, where he purchased 200 acres of land, on which he has since resided. He was married March 27, 1830, to Caroline Woodman, daughter of Elijah and Catherine (Clifton) Woodman. This union was blessed with eight children, only three of whom are living - John, married Delilah Early, and resides in this township; Catherine, wife of Curtius Brace, residing in Kane; Alice E., wife of James Cullimore, residing in Carrollton. Those deceased are - Oscar, James, Charles, Henry and Orville. Mr. Black has, by thrift and energy, added to his land until he now has 317 acres, all on section 32, which is under cultivation and nicely improved. Mr. Black is one of the pioneer settlers of Greene county, and has been through all the hard times incident to the building up of the new country. He is highly esteemed by all who know him, or have any dealings with him. Mr. Black started out in politics as a whig, but now votes the republican ticket.