Established by Land Grant in 1821
BLACK HOMESTEAD FARM
BLACK HOMESTEAD FARM
To contact us with questions or comments: mailbox@blackhomesteadfarm.com
BICENTENNIAL REUNION
1823 ~ 2023
1823 ~ 2023
In 2023, the Black Homestead house located two miles west of Carrollton, Illinois will be 200 years old. From the time it was built by Margaret Hobson Black in 1823 to the present, ownership of the house has remained in the Black family. The Black Homestead is among the oldest continually-occupied houses in Illinois.
We are planning a reunion of the descendants of Margaret Hobson Black as well as those of three of her brothers, James Hobson, William Hobson and Robert Hobson to celebrate the bicentennial of the house. Margaret, James and Robert, their families and their brother William's son, immigrated from England and settled in Greene County, Illinois in 1822. The Bicentennial Reunion will be held at the Black Homestead Farm during the summer or fall of 2023.
Reunions of the Black and Hobson families are a tradition that go way back. In 1874, one such occasion was hosted by Thomas Black and his wife Martha at the Black Homestead to mark 50 years (a smidge late) since the families immigrated from England and settled in Greene County, Illinois. In attendance were all the surviving members of that party.
A similiar get-together was held in 1923 to commemorate 100 years. It was hosted by Margaret's grandson Robert Thomas Black and his wife Eva.
We are planning a reunion of the descendants of Margaret Hobson Black as well as those of three of her brothers, James Hobson, William Hobson and Robert Hobson to celebrate the bicentennial of the house. Margaret, James and Robert, their families and their brother William's son, immigrated from England and settled in Greene County, Illinois in 1822. The Bicentennial Reunion will be held at the Black Homestead Farm during the summer or fall of 2023.
Reunions of the Black and Hobson families are a tradition that go way back. In 1874, one such occasion was hosted by Thomas Black and his wife Martha at the Black Homestead to mark 50 years (a smidge late) since the families immigrated from England and settled in Greene County, Illinois. In attendance were all the surviving members of that party.
A similiar get-together was held in 1923 to commemorate 100 years. It was hosted by Margaret's grandson Robert Thomas Black and his wife Eva.
Attendees of the Bicentennial Reunion in 2023 will get to tour the house and farm where Margaret Hobson Black and her children lived after coming to America in 1822. The reunion will also serve as an opportunity to network and share genealogical information. You could meet some distant cousins! If you are a descendant of Margaret Hobson Black, or a descendant of Margaret's brothers James Hobson, William Hobson or Robert Hobson (or if you know someone who is), please send your contact information to Steve Black at steve.black531@gmail.com so we can build a descendants database.
First and foremost, the date of the Bicentennial Reunion must be set. We're thinking it will take place in the summer or fall of 2023. There are pros and cons for both summer and fall pertaining to weather conditions, school schedules, holidays, etc., so please help us decide on the exact date by sharing your thoughts and preferences. We want the yard to be packed with Black/Hobson relatives! Contact Steve Black at steve.black531@gmail.com.
This is a working list of other logistics:
This is a working list of other logistics:
- Publicity (TV coverage?)
- Involve the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and the local historical society
- Speaker
- People in period attire and old-time music
- Tours of the house
- Group photo
- Handout on history of farm and house
- Tents in yard for activities or special demonstrations
- Facebook page
- Governor's proclamation
- Time capsule
To help you determine if you are related to the Blacks and/or Hobsons who settled in Greene County, Illinois in 1822, please refer to the following list of the known children and grandchildren of Margaret Hobson Black, James Hobson, William Hobson and Robert Hobson.
BLACK
MARGARET HOBSON (1771-1854), married William Black
1. John Black (1803-1823), unmarried, no children
2. David Black (1805-1875), married Mary Tribble, Mahala Garrison
By 1st Wife
Edward Drew Black (1843-1872), unmarried, no children
By 2nd Wife
Angeline Black (1846-1904), married John Abraham Bowman, 5 children
Orville Edgar Black (1848-1867), unmarried, no children
John Thomas Black (1850- ), married Emeline Woodman, 6 children
James Black (1851), died in infancy
George Washington Black (1853-1866), unmarried, no children
David Meade Black (1856- ), married Maggie Kinsey
Caroline "Carrie" Black (1857-1923), married John Wesley Walker, 9 children
William Henry Black (1858-1902), married Anna Chorn
Charles Clinton Black (1859-1937), married Dora Bradley, 4 children
Emaline Frances Black (1861-1930), married Frank Dugan
Elizabeth Black (1864- )
Albert Lee Black (1866), died in infancy
Mary Etna Black (1869- )
3. William Black (1807-1886), married Catherine Woodman
John Washington Black (1831-1895), married Delihah Early, 5 children
Catherine Margaret Black (1832-1913), married Curtis W. Brace, 1 child
Henry Black (1835-1878), unmarried, no children
Alice Emaline Black (1849-1917), married James Cullimore, 2 children
Oscar Black, died in infancy
James Black, died in infancy
Charles Black, died in infancy
Orville Black, died in infancy
4. Thomas Black (1810-1895), married Adela E. Russell, Cornelia Porter Wood, Martha Ellen Robinson
By 1st Wife
William Armstrong Black (1835-1916), married Katherine "Kate" Bowman, 5 children
Helen Myrtilla Black (1836), died in infancy
Edwin Russell Black (1839), died in infancy
By 2nd Wife
Henry Clay Black (1844-1865)
George Edwin Black (1846- ), married Mrs. Mary E. Wonnell Maxwell, no children
Charles Albert Black (1848-1931), married Mrs. Maggie Rowe
Harriet "Hattie" Russell Black (1849-1936), married Charles W. Keeley, 2 children
Adela Myrtilla "Addie" Black (1858-1919), married Arthur Thomas Secor, 5 children
Kent Wood Black (1862-1933), married Idaho May Keeley, no children
By 3rd Wife
Russell Gregory Black (1872-1932), married Cora Fitzgerald, no children
Ella Louisa Black (1874-1949), married Richard Newton Angle, 3 children
Robert Thomas Black (1876-1961), married Lucy Eva Barnett, 4 children
5. Elizabeth Black (1810-1881), married John Ward, John Hobson
By 1st Husband
William John Ward (1834-1860), married Fannie Greene
By 2nd Husband
Edward Bower Hobson (1843-1923), married Emma Elliot, 3 children
HOBSON
JAMES HOBSON (1765-1839), married Elizabeth Goldsmith
1. Peter Hobson (1804-1884), married Mary Chorn
James Edward Hobson (1850-1857)
John Thomas Hobson (1853-1921), married Mary E. Black, Mary Belle Wood, 4 children
William Goldsmith Hobson (1855-1857)
Robert Hodson (1858-1893), unmarried, no children
George Hobson (1861-1952), married Mary Jane Jarman
Charles P. Hobson (1866-1915), married Maggie Bradley, 2 children
William S. Hobson (1868-1939), married Jessie Mungall
2. John Hobson (1807-1855), married Mrs. Elizabeth Black Ward
Edward Bower Hobson (1843-1923), married Emma Elliot, Dora Davis, 3 children (1st wife)
3. Thomas Hobson (1809-1881), married Catherine Chorn, Elizabeth Ann Tribble
By 1st Wife
James E. Hobson (1842-1890)
Peter John Hobson (1845-1881), married Effie C. Cannaday, 2 children
By 2nd Wife
Elizabeth Goldsmith Hobson (1858-1940), married Richard E. Ward
Mary Oliver Hobson (1875), died in infancy
4. Robert Hobson (1814-1882), married Mary Crane
Jennie M. Hobson (1848-1928), married Charles Scott Smith, 3 children
Charles R. Hobson (1852- )
Anna Hobson (1858-1907), married Leslie Cross
5. Mary Hobson (1815- )
6. Jane Hobson (1816-1863), married William Sowerby
WILLIAM HOBSON (1767- ), married ?, stayed in England
1. Charles F. Hobson ( - ), came to America with Margaret in 1822
2. Peter John Hobson (ca.1790- ), married Eliza Denny, came to America with uncle Robert Hobson
ROBERT HOBSON (1785-1823), married ?, came to America in 1820 to buy land
1. John T. Hobson (1816-1894), married Jane Ann Hastings
Florence Jane Hobson (1856-1939), married Edmund Kells
Mary Hobson (1854- )
John Barnfather Hobson (1859-1930)
Walter Edmund Hobson (1867-1950), married ?, 4 children
2. Jane Hobson ( - ), married George Nichol
Other siblings of Margaret Hobson Black, James Hobson, William Hobson and Robert Hobson:
(all stayed in England)
John Hobson (1768- )
Mary Hobson (1769-1851), married John Graham
Peter Hobson (1773), died in infancy
Thomas Hobson (1774), died in infancy
Nathan Hobson (1776), died in infancy
Jane Hobson (1778- )
Nancy Hobson (1780), stillborn
Nancy Hobson (1782), stillborn
Nancy Hobson (1784), died in infancy
As plans for the Bicentennial Reunion progress and are finalized, the details will be posted on this page. Be sure to check back often!
BLACK
MARGARET HOBSON (1771-1854), married William Black
1. John Black (1803-1823), unmarried, no children
2. David Black (1805-1875), married Mary Tribble, Mahala Garrison
By 1st Wife
Edward Drew Black (1843-1872), unmarried, no children
By 2nd Wife
Angeline Black (1846-1904), married John Abraham Bowman, 5 children
Orville Edgar Black (1848-1867), unmarried, no children
John Thomas Black (1850- ), married Emeline Woodman, 6 children
James Black (1851), died in infancy
George Washington Black (1853-1866), unmarried, no children
David Meade Black (1856- ), married Maggie Kinsey
Caroline "Carrie" Black (1857-1923), married John Wesley Walker, 9 children
William Henry Black (1858-1902), married Anna Chorn
Charles Clinton Black (1859-1937), married Dora Bradley, 4 children
Emaline Frances Black (1861-1930), married Frank Dugan
Elizabeth Black (1864- )
Albert Lee Black (1866), died in infancy
Mary Etna Black (1869- )
3. William Black (1807-1886), married Catherine Woodman
John Washington Black (1831-1895), married Delihah Early, 5 children
Catherine Margaret Black (1832-1913), married Curtis W. Brace, 1 child
Henry Black (1835-1878), unmarried, no children
Alice Emaline Black (1849-1917), married James Cullimore, 2 children
Oscar Black, died in infancy
James Black, died in infancy
Charles Black, died in infancy
Orville Black, died in infancy
4. Thomas Black (1810-1895), married Adela E. Russell, Cornelia Porter Wood, Martha Ellen Robinson
By 1st Wife
William Armstrong Black (1835-1916), married Katherine "Kate" Bowman, 5 children
Helen Myrtilla Black (1836), died in infancy
Edwin Russell Black (1839), died in infancy
By 2nd Wife
Henry Clay Black (1844-1865)
George Edwin Black (1846- ), married Mrs. Mary E. Wonnell Maxwell, no children
Charles Albert Black (1848-1931), married Mrs. Maggie Rowe
Harriet "Hattie" Russell Black (1849-1936), married Charles W. Keeley, 2 children
Adela Myrtilla "Addie" Black (1858-1919), married Arthur Thomas Secor, 5 children
Kent Wood Black (1862-1933), married Idaho May Keeley, no children
By 3rd Wife
Russell Gregory Black (1872-1932), married Cora Fitzgerald, no children
Ella Louisa Black (1874-1949), married Richard Newton Angle, 3 children
Robert Thomas Black (1876-1961), married Lucy Eva Barnett, 4 children
5. Elizabeth Black (1810-1881), married John Ward, John Hobson
By 1st Husband
William John Ward (1834-1860), married Fannie Greene
By 2nd Husband
Edward Bower Hobson (1843-1923), married Emma Elliot, 3 children
HOBSON
JAMES HOBSON (1765-1839), married Elizabeth Goldsmith
1. Peter Hobson (1804-1884), married Mary Chorn
James Edward Hobson (1850-1857)
John Thomas Hobson (1853-1921), married Mary E. Black, Mary Belle Wood, 4 children
William Goldsmith Hobson (1855-1857)
Robert Hodson (1858-1893), unmarried, no children
George Hobson (1861-1952), married Mary Jane Jarman
Charles P. Hobson (1866-1915), married Maggie Bradley, 2 children
William S. Hobson (1868-1939), married Jessie Mungall
2. John Hobson (1807-1855), married Mrs. Elizabeth Black Ward
Edward Bower Hobson (1843-1923), married Emma Elliot, Dora Davis, 3 children (1st wife)
3. Thomas Hobson (1809-1881), married Catherine Chorn, Elizabeth Ann Tribble
By 1st Wife
James E. Hobson (1842-1890)
Peter John Hobson (1845-1881), married Effie C. Cannaday, 2 children
By 2nd Wife
Elizabeth Goldsmith Hobson (1858-1940), married Richard E. Ward
Mary Oliver Hobson (1875), died in infancy
4. Robert Hobson (1814-1882), married Mary Crane
Jennie M. Hobson (1848-1928), married Charles Scott Smith, 3 children
Charles R. Hobson (1852- )
Anna Hobson (1858-1907), married Leslie Cross
5. Mary Hobson (1815- )
6. Jane Hobson (1816-1863), married William Sowerby
WILLIAM HOBSON (1767- ), married ?, stayed in England
1. Charles F. Hobson ( - ), came to America with Margaret in 1822
2. Peter John Hobson (ca.1790- ), married Eliza Denny, came to America with uncle Robert Hobson
ROBERT HOBSON (1785-1823), married ?, came to America in 1820 to buy land
1. John T. Hobson (1816-1894), married Jane Ann Hastings
Florence Jane Hobson (1856-1939), married Edmund Kells
Mary Hobson (1854- )
John Barnfather Hobson (1859-1930)
Walter Edmund Hobson (1867-1950), married ?, 4 children
2. Jane Hobson ( - ), married George Nichol
Other siblings of Margaret Hobson Black, James Hobson, William Hobson and Robert Hobson:
(all stayed in England)
John Hobson (1768- )
Mary Hobson (1769-1851), married John Graham
Peter Hobson (1773), died in infancy
Thomas Hobson (1774), died in infancy
Nathan Hobson (1776), died in infancy
Jane Hobson (1778- )
Nancy Hobson (1780), stillborn
Nancy Hobson (1782), stillborn
Nancy Hobson (1784), died in infancy
As plans for the Bicentennial Reunion progress and are finalized, the details will be posted on this page. Be sure to check back often!
Robert is the tall man in the center, back row. Eva is standing to Robert's right.
