Isaac C. Black, Arlington, was born September 22, 1832, in Plumstead Township, Bucks Co., Penn. He is a son of Isaac and Cynthia (Carver) Black, who were natives of the same place and were the parents of nine children, viz.: Sophia, William, Catharine, Anna, Levi, Isaac C., Ezra, Abraham and Jesse Black. Of these Abraham was killed in the battle of the Wilderness. Only our subject and his brother William Black, who is a farmer in Ohio Township, came to Bureau County.
Isaac C. Black was reared in his native county, where he worked at saw-milling and carpentering till August 3, 1854, when he came to West Grove, now Arlington, where he helped to build the first business place in the town. After following his trade several years he farmed about three years and then went into the grain business. In 1865 he commenced business in the elevator built by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. The next year he worked for S. C. Gray, in the new elevator and was there for fourteen years. In 1882, after working two years at his trade, he took an interest in the firm of J. H. Dole & Co., commission men, and now has charge of both elevators.
Mr. Black was married July 8, 1858, to Mariah H. Simpson, a daughter of James and Lydia (Pickelheimer) Simpson. They were the parents of eleven children, who are all living. Mrs. Black is the mother of the following children;
Anna, deceased; Mrs. Ada D. Miller; Millie R., deceased, Louis L., deceased; Joseph R., and Bertha I., deceased. The grandparents of Mrs. Black were Joshua and Sarah (Rose) Simpson.
Religiously Mrs. Black is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Black is an Ancient I. O. O. F., politically a Republican, and the eldest male resident in Arlington.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885