Biographical Sketches
HON. FRANCIS MARION BLACK
Who for 10 years sat upon the supreme bench of Missouri, stands conspicuously high among the most able members of the bar of the state. No citizen in the commonwealth has retired from office with a cleaner record or higher respect that Judge Black. His splendid success has been achieved entirely through his own efforts. He wears his honors modestly. The salient characteristics by which he is recognized in his unswerving fidelity to duty.
He was born on a farm in Champaign county, Ohio, July 24, 1836, the son of Peter and Marie (Hilliard) Black, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Vermont. At an early day his parents emigrated westward, locating in Champaign county, Ohio, where the father purchased and developed a tract of land. In their family were 4 sons and 3 daughters, and of his number 3 are now living, namely: Lydia, wife of Thomas Archer, who resides in Ohio; Elias, who owns and manages the old Ohio homestead, and Francis M., of this sketch.
The future Judge began his education in the district schools near his home, the schoolhouse being a rude structure built of logs and furnished with primitive equipments. There he pursued his studies until 18 years of age. Vacations were spent in work on the farm. Two sons of the family died in infancy, and as the remaining brother was in ill health the greater part of the time, much of the labor and responsibility of the farm devolved upon Francis. His taste, however, was not for agricultural pursuits. He possessed a strong desire to secure further educational privileges and gladly pursued a one year's course in a high school of Urbana, Ohio. After attaining his majority he entered Farmers' College, of College Hill, Ohio, where he remained three years, pursuing a full course in mathematics, natural science, mental and moral philosophy, and a limited course in Latin. He paid his tuition and other expenses at thie institution from the sale of wheat raised on 10 acres of ground donated by his father for this purpose, planting and harvesting the wheat himself during his vacations, and thus made his college education possible. During his college course the president called upon him to take charge of a class in Olmsted's philosophy. The study was completed with credit to the instructor and with credit to the college.
It was the intention of Judge Black's father, when his son finished his college course that he should become a farmer, and offered to assist him in the purchase of a farm. Francis, however, had fully determined to enter upon the study of law. His father became very much enraged at this opposition to his own plans and predicted Francis would make a failure in the law. The result, assuredly, has proved otherwise. Nature evidently intended Francis Black for the legal profession. It was a wise choise he made when he entered upon the preparation for this calling. He began the study of law under the direction of General John H. Young, of Urbana, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of that state in 1864. Believing the west would prove a better field for his labors he removed to Kansas City, Missouri, in the same year, -- a young man full of energy and with a laudable ambition and courageous spirit. Since that time his fortunes have been identified with this city. The building up of a practice by a young lawyer is generally slow, but merit and hard work were rewarded, and, in the course of a few years, he became recognized as one of the most able members of the bar of Missouri.
While in full practice he was called to the circuit judgeship in 1880, and was confessedly one of the ablest circuit judges in the state. In 1884, before the end of his term, he was elected to the supreme bench for a ten-year term, and during 1893-4 was chief justice of Missouri. He was re-nominated for the same position, without solicitation and without a competitor for the place - the first instance of the kind in the history of this state. No higher testimonial of his ability could be given, or of the appreciation of the public for his services. His decisions are models of judicial soundness and will rank among the best ever delivered in any state. It may be justly said without disparagement to others, that in mental endowment and in legal equipment he has rarely had a equal. Some of the most difficult cases ever before a supreme court for decision were brought to trial during his term upon the bench. These included the famous land cases in the city of St. Louis, one of which had been pending in the courts for a period of 40 years, and had been 3 times reversed by the supreme court. The titles involved in these cases extended back into the Spanish and French times and involved the ownership of a large amount of property now embraced within the most popular residence district in St. Louis. The title on one side was Spanish and French concessions, and on the other New Madrid earthquake certificates.
Judge Black's practice at the bar covered a wide range, embracing commercial, corporation and land law and all the departments of equity, in all of which he ranked among the first lawyers in the state. His characteristics as a lawyer are thorough and exhaustive learning, acute and wide-reaching perception, sound and accurate judgment and absolute integrity of purpose and conduct in life. His intellectual powers are of the highest order, allied with a practical judgment and the soundest of common sense, -- a manhood that is ideal in the independence of its character and the courageousness of its convictions. As a judge he earned the appellation which was given to Aristides, which with his other qualifications make his official career a model for his successors. Take him in combinatgion, he has hardly had his equal in the state, either as a lawyer or judge, and as a man his character has always been above reproach. In public trusts and in private station alike he has always had the respect, confidence and reverence of all whose opinions are of value.
Judge Black was married in 1867, to Miss Susan Barnes Geiger, the accomplished and culture daughter of Dr. Albertus Geiger, formerly a well-known physician of Dayton, Ohio. In social life Judge Black lays aside the dignity of the bench, the ceremonious formality of the courtroom, and becomes a courteous, genial gentleman, with the faculty of placing at their ease those who approach him.
This page was last updated August 1, 2006.