Evans Wilson Black 1853-1932  
"The North Loup Loyalist", North Loup, Nebraska, Friday, Feb 26, 1932, p1.
  The death of E. W. Black on Sunday at 1 p.m. came as a surprise to many people, who knew that he was ill, but did not know that the end was near.   Anemia sapped his strength and day by day, left him weaker, until last Saturday when he began to sink quite rapidly.
  Mr. Black's death deprives North Loup of its most interesting and one of its most esteemed citizens.   Since his confinement to his home the past few months, his cheery greetings have been missed on the streets and in business houses and it is with sincere regret that The Loyalist, of which he was the founder, must now report the passing of its good friend.
  Evans Wilson Black, youngest of five children of Henry and Orpha Brown Black, was born at Fort Necessity, Pa., December 27, 1853. Reared in a country where schools were at a distance and roads blocked in winter, his school days were limited to a few months each year while he was young, then ceased.   Yet, Mr. Black was probably without exception, the best educated man in this part of the state, for he was a natural student.   He was almost an authority in many lines of study, was more conversant with the Bible than many a church member, but his favorite study from a boy was geology.   From the Atlantic to the Rocky Mts. by way of Nebraska and the Black hills, he was a regular textbook of knowledge at first hand.   While still a young man in the hills of Pennsylvania, he decided where he was sure there was a layer of coal.   The engineers laughed at him, but later found it, just as he said.
  He helped blast a way for the Baltimore and Ohio R. R., worked on the boats on the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, and in the Spring of 1880 came to Valley Co. with two older brothers, James and Alex.   Her he worked at the carpenter trade with the late N. G. Clement, both at Ord and at North Loup.   He spent one summer as post carpenter at Fort Bridger, Wyoming.   Before leaving he walked 80 miles to climb and explore Mt. Gregory.   He made the trip there through wild rough county in two days to the amazement of the soldiers.   Years afterward he was post carpenter at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, where he made trips into the Black Hills and the Bad Lands, and was three years in a similar position at the National Soldier's Home at Washington, D. C.   From all of these places he collected specimens until he had one of the finest private museums in this part of the country.
  Years ago he prepared a chalk talk on the geology of Nebraska for the benefit of the Woman's Missionary Society of the S. D. B. church, and lately gave a similar interesting talk to the No Lo club.
  December 28, 1884, he married Miss Nellie Chase, of this place. In October, 1887, he founded, and for several years edited The Loyalist.   In this paper he began a vigorous campaign for irrigation which resulted in the building of the North Loup ditch.
  In 1923 his wife's health failed and he gave up everything to be her sole and devoted nurse until her death October 18, 1828.
  Four children were born to him and his wife, a daughter who died in infancy; Georgia, Mrs. L. O. Greene of North Loup; Lora, Mrs. A. G. Fisher, who died at Edinburg, Texas, in October, 1930; and Henry Chase, of Detroit, Michigan.   There are also ten grandchildren.
  Mr. Black had the poetic temperament and many of his poems have been published.   He was a man of strong opinions and always stood decidedly for everything for the betterment of the community, yet his views were always expressed kindly and courteously, and he was universally liked and respected.   He was a friend to all but many of his deeds of kindness were unknown, sometimes even to the recipient.   He had a profound belief in the Eternal Rightness of things.   His interests were wide enough to include the remotest star.   In the depths of the earth and the waters of the sea he could read the thoughts of his Creator.
  About six months ago his health began to fail, gradually, until, in October, he had to give up his place in the Sabbath morning worship.   Since November he has not left his home and for several weeks has been confined to his room.   He did not suffer except from extreme weakness and fatigue.   He was a model of patience and never failed to voice his gratitude for the least service.   Many besides his family feel they have lost a dear friend and the world one of its finest gentlemen.
  Funeral services were held at the S. D. B. church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 following a short service at the house.   Rev. Hurley S. Warren was in charge of the services.   Music was furnished by a mixed quartette consisting of Mrs. Clara Holmes, Mrs. Ava Johnson, A. D. Moulton and Del Barber, who sang 'Crossing the Bar,' 'Abide With Me,' and 'Jesus Savior Pilot Me,' with Mrs. Warren at the piano. Pallbearers were, Edgar Davis, James Johnson, Glen Barber, Tom Hamer, Beecher Van Horn, and Glen Johnson.   Interment was made in the North Loup cemetery.

Nellie Eugenia (Chase) Black 1863-1928  
"The North Loup Loyalist", North Loup, Nebraska, Friday, Oct. 26, 1928, p 1.
  Nellie Eugenia Chase was born at Dakota, Waushara county, Wisconsin, on July 31, 1863, and was the daughter of Henry A. and Delia Babcock Chase, both of whom were born in New York and had come west to Wisconsin.   When Nellie was very young, her parents moved to Brookfield, Missouri, where she grew to young womanhood.   Among the Brookfield neighbors were the Thorngate, Crandall, Bruce and Larkin families, several of whom later settled in this vicinity.   At the age of sixteen, she moved with her parents to North Loup, Nebraska, which has ever since been her home.
  On December 28, 1884, she was married to E. W. Black to which union were born four children, the first dying in early infancy.   The others are Georgia, now Mrs. L. O. Greene of North Loup, Lora, now Mrs. A. G. Fisher, of Edinburg, Texas, and Henry Chase Black of Detroit, Michigan.   There are also ten grandchildren.   She qualified as a teacher and taught a number of terms.   The last term before the North Loup school was divided she was the teacher and had charge of more than eighty pupils, and after the division took place had charge of the upper room.   She attended Doane College at Crete, Nebraska one year and graduated from the normal course.
  She has been a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church since early womanhood and became a charter member of the Woman's Missionary Society, which was organized in April, 1882, of whom there are now but three remaining.   In every way she was one of its most faithful members, was its treasurer for many years and served in other official capacities and attended its meetings as long as her health permitted her to do so.   While able to come, she was a regular attendant and often a teacher in the Sabbath school.   She was also one of the charter members of the No Lo Study club, where her studious ways and keen mind made her a leader.   She has been an honorary member of the club for the past three years.
  After the death of her father she cared for her aged mother for over four years.   She has been a faithful and patient and loving mother.   With all her many outside interests, her home with its duties and responsibilities, took first place in her plans.   For over five years she has been in failing health and has been lovingly cared for by her husband and her daughter Georgia.   She passed away very suddenly on Thursday morning, October 18, 1928, in the sixty-sixth year of her age.
  Funeral services were held at the Seventh Day Baptist Church Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock conducted by Rev. H. L. Polan.   A mixed quartette consisting of Ava Johnson, Clara Holmes, Archie Moulton and Dell Barber sang several selections accompanied by Louise Hutchins at the piano.   The pall bearers were old time friends, A. L. Crandall, E. E. Lewis, L. E. Green, Devillo Crandall, John Cruzan and Merrill McClellan.
  Burial was made at the North Loup Cemetery.
  Mr. Black and family have the sympathy of the community, particularly Mr. Black who is left alone after the years of faithful care of Mrs. Black during her long invalidism.

Census: 1880 North Loup, Valley Co., Nebraska: age 16