Dr. Francis Marion Black
The late Dr. Francis M. Black was a prominent citizen of Darbyville, Ohio, for many years and during his residence here in the county he took an actiye part in every phase of the deyelopment of Washington C. H. and Fayette county. He was a distinguished soldier of the Civil War and was always interested in the welfare of the old soldiers. He was not a man of pretense and therefore did not pose as a perfect man. But he was a man of high ideals, and, like men of strength of character, his ideals were always above him. His ideals were not meager, but full, broad and telling—ideals of home, of social life, of business, of the sanctuary, of obligation and duty, of faith and religion. He was a man whose speech was sane, whose honor was unswerying, and whose word was pure gold.
Dr. Francis M. Black, the son of William and Elizabeth Black, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, October 27, 1827, and died in Washington C. H., Ohio, January 20, 1902. He was one of nine children, all of whom are now deceased wnth the exception of Captain Edward R., of Leistville, Ohio.
Doctor Black was educated in the public schools of his native county and received his medical education under the tutelage of Doctor Hull, of Circleville, Ohio, to which he added a course of lectures in the medical school at Columbus. He began the practice of medicine at Williamsport, Ohio, in 1849, but the next year moved to Darbyville. Ohio, where he resided until 1883. In that year he removed to Washington C. H., where he lived the remainder of his life. While in Darbyville he was in partnership with Doctor Allen for some years, after which he practiced alone. Upon settling in Washington C. H. he entered intcj partnership with Dr. C. A. Foster and they remained together for several years. Doctor Black owned a fine farm near Darbyville to which he gave his careful supervision. He sold this farm and invested in Pickaway county farm land and had nearly four hundred acres of well-improved land at the time of his death. He was interested in the business life of Washington C. H. and was president and a large stockholder of one of the largest banks in the city. At the time of his death he was the oldest physician in the county although he had practically retired from active practice a few years before his death.
Doctor Black was married in October, 1853, to Mary Zinn Ambrose, a daughter of Elijah and Prudence (Sharp) Zinn. His widow is still living in this city in the old homestead. There were no children born to this union.
Doctor Black was a Scottish Rite Mason and had attained to the thirty second degree and was also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He was always active in Masonic affairs and was interred with full Masonic honors. Mrs. Black has been a life-long member of the Methodist chnrch and although Doctor Black was not a member of the denomination, yet he was a regular attendant upon its services. He lived a life of usefulness and honor in every respect and was truly one of the noblemen of earth.
In the year 1862 Doctor Black enlisted in Company A, Ninetieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was elected captain of his company immediately after it was mustered into the service. His regiment was attached to the Fourteenth Army Corps and fought in many of the bloodiest engagements of the war. At the battle of Stone River his regiment suffered fearful losses, but he escaped without injury although many of his brave comrades fell to rise no more. The Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic took a prominent part at the time of the funeral services.
Thus briefly is told the story of the life of a good citizen. He came to the end of life's journey with no regrets on account of a wasted life. The trail he has left in this world he has found in that better world where he is now marching with those who have kept the faith and fought the fight which ends in eternal happiness.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)