In 2001 I found a mention of a George Melvin Black in his father Robert Levell Black's 1937 obituary, which said, "George Melvin Black, who preceded him [Robert L.] to the grave at an early age." I thought George was a child who had died very young, so I didn't think too much would be known about him. But for some reason, I asked Uncle Herston about him one day, and he remembered how George was killed by being thrown from a runaway horse.
He said, "Oh, yeah. That's the son that got killed when a horse ran away with him, got spooked by something." I think he said the horse ran into something (a fence?) and threw George, killing him instantly. Uncle Herston explained that this happened before he or my mother were born, but they had heard the story from Papa and their Uncle Bob. I also remember he said that George was supposed to be getting married the very next day to someone whose last name was HICKS. George's bags were already packed for their wedding trip.
Just by happenstance, I was in the courthouse a few weeks later, and Gene Raines was there. He told me he was writing a book about cemeteries and obits for Butler County. He knew I was researching BLACKs and had in his possession an obit of a Mr. Black who had been killed near Georgiana on a runaway horse in 1897, so I was able to connect that Mr. Black to Uncle Herston's story and give Gene Mr. Black's full name and parents' names too. Here is that obit:
Wednesday. 1-13-1897 Greenville Advocate
Last Sunday evening, a Mr. BLACK living near Georgiana was riding a spirited horse which became frightened at something and ran against some object, throwing Mr. BLACK with such force as to cause death. The horse was also killed by the shock. No other details are available.
He said, "Oh, yeah. That's the son that got killed when a horse ran away with him, got spooked by something." I think he said the horse ran into something (a fence?) and threw George, killing him instantly. Uncle Herston explained that this happened before he or my mother were born, but they had heard the story from Papa and their Uncle Bob. I also remember he said that George was supposed to be getting married the very next day to someone whose last name was HICKS. George's bags were already packed for their wedding trip.
Just by happenstance, I was in the courthouse a few weeks later, and Gene Raines was there. He told me he was writing a book about cemeteries and obits for Butler County. He knew I was researching BLACKs and had in his possession an obit of a Mr. Black who had been killed near Georgiana on a runaway horse in 1897, so I was able to connect that Mr. Black to Uncle Herston's story and give Gene Mr. Black's full name and parents' names too. Here is that obit:
Wednesday. 1-13-1897 Greenville Advocate
Last Sunday evening, a Mr. BLACK living near Georgiana was riding a spirited horse which became frightened at something and ran against some object, throwing Mr. BLACK with such force as to cause death. The horse was also killed by the shock. No other details are available.
In 2001 I found a mention of a George Melvin Black in his father Robert Levell Black's 1937 obituary, which said, "George Melvin Black, who preceded him [Robert L.] to the grave at an early age." I thought George was a child who had died very young, so I didn't think too much would be known about him. But for some reason, I asked Uncle Herston about him one day, and he remembered how George was killed by being thrown from a runaway horse.
He said, "Oh, yeah. That's the son that got killed when a horse ran away with him, got spooked by something." I think he said the horse ran into something (a fence?) and threw George, killing him instantly. Uncle Herston explained that this happened before he or my mother were born, but they had heard the story from Papa and their Uncle Bob. I also remember he said that George was supposed to be getting married the very next day to someone whose last name was HICKS. George's bags were already packed for their wedding trip.
Just by happenstance, I was in the courthouse a few weeks later, and Gene Raines was there. He told me he was writing a book about cemeteries and obits for Butler County. He knew I was researching BLACKs and had in his possession an obit of a Mr. Black who had been killed near Georgiana on a runaway horse in 1897, so I was able to connect that Mr. Black to Uncle Herston's story and give Gene Mr. Black's full name and parents' names too. Here is that obit:
Wednesday. 1-13-1897 Greenville Advocate
Last Sunday evening, a Mr. BLACK living near Georgiana was riding a spirited horse which became frightened at something and ran against some object, throwing Mr. BLACK with such force as to cause death. The horse was also killed by the shock. No other details are available.
He said, "Oh, yeah. That's the son that got killed when a horse ran away with him, got spooked by something." I think he said the horse ran into something (a fence?) and threw George, killing him instantly. Uncle Herston explained that this happened before he or my mother were born, but they had heard the story from Papa and their Uncle Bob. I also remember he said that George was supposed to be getting married the very next day to someone whose last name was HICKS. George's bags were already packed for their wedding trip.
Just by happenstance, I was in the courthouse a few weeks later, and Gene Raines was there. He told me he was writing a book about cemeteries and obits for Butler County. He knew I was researching BLACKs and had in his possession an obit of a Mr. Black who had been killed near Georgiana on a runaway horse in 1897, so I was able to connect that Mr. Black to Uncle Herston's story and give Gene Mr. Black's full name and parents' names too. Here is that obit:
Wednesday. 1-13-1897 Greenville Advocate
Last Sunday evening, a Mr. BLACK living near Georgiana was riding a spirited horse which became frightened at something and ran against some object, throwing Mr. BLACK with such force as to cause death. The horse was also killed by the shock. No other details are available.
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