John Henry Black
John Henry Black was born on July 28, 1834, near Eldorado, Pennsylvania, to Jacob and Mary Black. His father was a farmer who owned $4,500 of real estate in 1850. He grew up and attended school in Blair County, Pennsylvania, and by 1860, he was working as a teacher.
 
He enlisted in the Union army in April 1861 and mustered in as a corporal in Company H of the 14th Pennsylvania Infantry on April 24. According to his service records, he was 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with brown hair and blue eyes. He mustered out on August 7, 1861, when his term of enlistment expired. He enlisted again on January 24, 1862, and mustered in as a private in Company C of the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry. The regiment took part in the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, and the Second Battle of Winchester.
 
Writing in July 1862, he insisted that “all true and loyal Americans” should have “the good of their beloved country at heart.” He viewed the Confederate cause as “one of the wildest rebellions that ever cursed a nation since the sun first sent forth its light upon the earth.” As “long as there is an enemy aiming at the destruction of Independence,” she declared, “so long should all loyal men continue to be soldiers. For where is the true Unionist that would wish to live in this country when the Stars & Stripes should fail to wave over him.” He was promoted to 2nd lieutenant on April 29, 1864, and to 1st lieutenant on February 6, 1865. He mustered out on July 20, 1865.
 
Black married Susan Jane “Jennie” Leighty in April 1864, and they had at least two children: Carrie, born around 1866; and Lillian, born around 1876. He returned to Blair County after the war and resumed his work as a teacher. By 1870, he owned $200 of personal property. His wife died in April 1908. By 1910, he was living in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, with his daughter Carrie. He died of cerebral apoplexy in Duncansville on May 10, 1922.
1342
DATABASE CONTENT
(1342)Black, John H.1834-07-281922-05-10
  • Conflict Side: Union
  • Role: Soldier
  • Rank in: Corporal
  • Rank out: 1st Lieutenant
  • Rank highest: 1st Lieutenant
  • Gender: Male
  • Race: White

Documents - Records: 27

  • (3105) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 21 July 1862
  • (3106) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 17 January 1865
  • (3107) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 13 January 1865
  • (3109) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 5 July 1862
  • (3110) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 10 June 1864
  • (3111) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 25 October 1863
  • (3112) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 13 December 1863
  • (3113) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 28 December 1863
  • (3114) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 21 September 1862
  • (3115) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 3 January 1864
  • (3117) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 4 October 1864
  • (3119) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 6 May 1864
  • (3120) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 2 October 1864
  • (3121) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 22 January 1865
  • (3123) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 18 February 1863
  • (3124) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 2 November 1863
  • (3125) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 5 January 1865
  • (3127) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 17 September 1862
  • (3128) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 9 April 1862
  • (3129) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 14 April 1862
  • (3130) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 15 May 1862
  • (3131) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 26 June 1862
  • (3132) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 6 March 1865
  • (3133) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 2 March 1865
  • (3134) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 15 March 1865
  • (3171) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 30 October 1862
  • (3172) [writer] ~ John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 27 September 1862

People - Records: 1

  • (1342) Black, John H. is the [husband of] (1343) Leighty, Susan Jane

Places - Records: 2

  • (1167) [birth] ~ Eldorado, Blair County, Pennsylvania
  • (1168) [death] ~ Duncansville, Blair County, Pennsylvania

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Regiments - Records: 2

  • (444) [enlisted] ~ 14th Pennsylvania Infantry
  • (443) [officer] [C] ~ 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry

Groups - Records: 1

  • (6) [member/supporter] ~ Grand Army of the Republic
SOURCES

1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 United States Federal Censuses, available from Ancestry.com; Pennsylvania Veterans Card Files, 1775-1916, available from Ancestry.com; Altoona Tribune, 11 April 1908; Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906-1968, available from Ancestry.com; John Henry Black to Susan Jane Leighty, 5 July 1862, Nau Collection.