John Black, saw-mill, P. O. Brandt; born in Bethel Township, Miami Co., March 31, 1832 is a son of Adam and Elizabeth Black; he worked on the farm till 21 years old, when he came to Brandt, and, with A. Uptegraft, built a sawmill, which he ran for about seven years; he then traded his interest in the mill for land in Shelby Co., but rented the mill and continued the business; for three or four winters he carried on coopering also; from the time he commenced in Brandt, in 1853, to the present time, with the exception of about one year, he has worked on a mill, owning different mills, and the same mill at different times; the firm at present is Black & Hower; besides their custom-work, they handle about 100,000 feet of lumber annually; in the spring of 1860, he purchased eight acres of land south of town, and located on it in the fall of the same year; he has made considerable improvement on his lot, and, at intervals, made additions to it, till he has, in one body, 42 acres; besides his half-interest in the mill, he has also five lots in Brandt. He has been a member of the Board of Education for twelve consecutive years, Assessor one year, and, at the last spring election, was elected to his fifth term as Township Treasurer. On the 24th of May, 1855, he married Susan Swanger; she was born in Pennsylvania May 12, 1836, and brought to this State while young; her father died soon after their arrival here, and she was adopted in the family of Lewis Gearhart, where she grew to womanhood John and Susan Black are the parents of two children-; Luvina, born April 5, 1856, and Charles R., born Jan. 5, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Black and daughter are worthy members of the M. E. Church.