Established by Land Grant in 1821
BLACK HOMESTEAD FARM
BLACK HOMESTEAD FARM
To contact us with questions or comments: mailbox@blackhomesteadfarm.com
CELEBRATING 200 YEARS
September 9, 2023
A celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Black Homestead Farm took place on Saturday, September 9, 2023. The event was hosted by current owner/manager Stephen F. Black as well as numerous members of the Black family.

Throughout the day, the house (built in 1823) and farm out-buildings were open to the public to tour where Margaret Hobson Black and her children lived after coming to America in 1822. Then at 4pm, there was a special gathering of the descendants of Margaret Hobson Black and those of her brothers James Hobson, William Hobson and Robert Hobson. Between 1820 and 1822, Margaret and her children, James Hobson and his family, Robert Hobson and his family, and their brother William's son, immigrated from England and settled in Greene County, Illinois. The gathering of descendants served as an opportunity to network, share genealogical information and to have a commemorative photo taken (below).

If you are a descendant of Margaret Hobson Black, or a descendant of her brothers James Hobson, William Hobson or Robert Hobson, please send your contact information to Steve Black at steve.black531@gmail.com so we can continue to build a database of descendants.
Front L to R: Esther Black, Ruth Carwile, Ruth Keeley, Kenneth W. Black, Donald Angle, Marcia Secor Klamm, Helen Klamm, Ella Lavina Black, Mary Carwile, Blanche Secor, Alma Robinson Secor, Clay Secor, Cora Fitzgerald Black, Ina Secor, Albert Klamm, Lois Keeley, Martha Angle, Myrle Keeley, Edith Secor. Middle L to R: Alice Black Clark, Grace Cullimore, Mrs. Carwile, Belle Clark, August Klamm, Alice Short Keeley, Idaho Keeley Black, Charles W. Keeley, Harriet Black Keeley, Richard Ward, Charles A. Black, Ella Black Angle, Ella Borer Keeley. Back L to R: Della Short Keeley, Rev. J.A. Carwile,  Roy C. Keeley, Russell G.B. Black, Elizabeth Hobson Ward, Eva Barnett Black, Robert T. Black, Kermit Keeley, Edmund C. Secor, Meade D. Keeley, Jennie Weller, Kent W. Black, Richard Angle, Charles T. Keeley.

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
1923
A similar get-together was held in 1923 to commemorate 100 years. It was hosted by Margaret Hobson Black's grandson Robert Thomas Black and his wife Eva, who were the current occupants of the house. See the commemorative photo below.
REUNIONS
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
1874
Reunions of the Black and Hobson families are a tradition that go way back. In 1874, the first such occasion was hosted by Margaret Hobson Black's son Thomas Black and his wife Martha to commemorate 50 years since the families immigrated from England and settled in Greene County, Illinois. In attendance were all the surviving members of that party.

Front Row (sitting on ground): Thomas Roberts, Duncan Roberts, Damien Black, Stephanie Zurligen Roberts, Arwen Roberts, Bindi Zurligen, Jeremy Zurligen, Cooper Hobson, Jake Hobson, Jamie Corliss, Erin Corliss. Middle Row (sitting on chairs): Elizabeth Black Haas, Stephanie Black, Laura Despain Zurligen, Kaitlin Zurligen, Rebecca Hobson, Steve Hobson, Suzanne Zurligen Strauss, Jean Secor Corliss, Nancy Secor Taylor, David Longman, Jennifer Angle Graham, Jill Angle. Back Row (standing): Nick Haas, Lee Zurligen, Chris Lesicko, Brandt Lesicko, Kent Black, Licia Barthi Black, Michael Lesicko, Stephen Black, Catherine Black Odelehr, Kenneth Hobson, Christine Black Grabner, Christopher Logan, Robert Black, Alexis Hogan-Hobson, Edmund Secor, David Tannahill, Andrew Price, Larry Angle, Judy Kennedy, Sean Kennedy.

Margaret
Hobson Black
BOOK
See Reunions Page
THE LEGACY OF MARGARET HOBSON BLACK
"The Legacy of Margaret Hobson Black" was compiled and published by Elizabeth Black Haas to have on hand for the celebration of the bicentennial of the Black Homestead Farm, the house that was built by Margaret Hobson Black and the farm she established. The book is the story of Margaret, her children and her descendants who still own her house and farm 200 years later. Margaret's siblings are included, with emphasis on her brothers James Hobson and Robert Hobson who also immigrated from England to settle in Greene County, Illinois.
$15 plus postage (if applicable)
Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society
PO Box 137, Carrollton, IL 62016
217-942-6013
greenecohistsoc@irtc.net