John Black
John Black, a retired master mechanic of Lima, is also one of the city's old and honored citizens. He was born in Scotland in 1848, and is a son of John Black, whose ancestors as far back as can be traced were of Scotch birth and rearing.
John Black, the father, emigrated to America in the early '50's and commenced his business career as a locomotive builder in the Niles Locomotive Works, at Cincinnati, Ohio. There he continued until he secured a position as an engineer on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad being thus employed for several years and later being connected in the same capacity with the C., H. & D. Railway, running between Cincinnati and Richmond, Indiana. He then became a master mechanic in the C., H. & D. Railway shops, at Richmond, and when that road gained control of the D. & M. Railroad, in 1863, he was appointed master mechanic of their shops at Lima, and continued as such, and as general master mechanic, for a period of 23 years. His death took place in 1893. During his entire residence in Lima he had been a prominent and useful citizen, serving frequently as a member of the City Council and supporting and assisting in formulating ordinances for the general welfare. Politically he was a Democrat.
John Black, our immediate subject, was reared through youth in Scotland, attending school and serving his apprenticeship to the machinist's trade prior to coming to America in 1869. He joined his father in Lima, and immediately commenced work in the machine shops of the C., H. & D. Railway, remaining there for a period of 20 years and two months. From the most subordinate position, through careful and persistent work, he was promoted to be engineer, and foreman and finally, in 1889, general foreman. He then became connected with the "Nickel Plate" Railroad as general foreman in their Chicago shops, where he remained one year, after which he served for three years as master mechanic of the Rock Island shops at Chicago.
The death of his father at Lima recalled John Black to this city, when he abandoned the railroad business altogether. He had accumulated property, both in Chicago and Lima, and has since devoted his time and attention to his investments. In 1900 he built the Black Block in Lima, this being a fine four- story brick building of Bedford stone front, with dimensions of 185 by 50 feet, and containing stores, offices and apartments. It is occupied by leading business men, and is the scene of much of the city's commerce. Mr. Black also built other fine buildings, and owns valuable real estate in Chicago. He is one of the stockholders in The Ohio National Bank of this city.
In 1876 Mr. Black was married to Kate Hardesty, who is a daughter of the late Reuben Hardesty, one of the pioneers in the lumber trade of Lima. The four sons of the family are: William G., who is general foreman of the "Nickel Plate" Railroad shops at Fort Wayne, Indiana; John , a graduate of the University of Chicago, later serving two years as a chemist with Parke Davis & Company, of Detroit, then a student in mechanical chemistry at Cornell University, and at present assistant professor in that department; Charles H., a graduate of the Englewood High School, Chicago, served an apprenticeship in the C., H. & D. shops, and is now a machinist at the Lima Locomotive & Machine Works; and Robert C., a recent graduate of the Lima High School, who has entered Purdue University to pursue a course in mechanical and electrical engineering. All of Mr. Black's sons are practical young men, who know how to apply the education they have been given by an indulgent father and reflect credit upon him and his generous thoughtfulness.