Black, John Charles, 1839-1915

Member, 37th Illinois Infantry, Civil War; U.S. commissioner of pensions, 1885-1889; Illinois congressman, 1893-1895; U.S. district attorney, northern district, Illinois, 1895-1899; commander-in-chief, Grand Army of the Republic, 1903-1904; president, civil service commission, 1904-1913.

Lawyer from Danville, Illinois who served in the 37th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War, achieving rank of Brevet Brigadier General, served as Commissioner of Pensions after appointed by Pres. Cleveland, in Congress, 1893-1895, then resigned when appointed U.S. Attorney to Northern Illinois, was appointed to the Civil Service Commission by Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, serving until 1913 when he retired. He was the son of Rev. John Black and when his father died in 1847, his mother moved to Danville, Ill. where she met and married Dr. William Fithian, who traveled to Missouri and Arkansas during the Civil War to care for his wounded son and step-sons. Black was wounded twice in battle once at Pea Ridge and once at Prairie Grove, Ark. He was at the capture of Vicksburg and Mobile and the Red River Campaign. He was also very active in the G.A.R.