233 The only land owned by him found in the records of Union County was in Section Three, Township Seventeen South, Range Seventeen West (47). When William Russell Black returned to Alabama, he related that Arkansas was the richest land he had ever seen. Land was to be had for the asking, wild game of all kinds was plentiful and the sweetest water he had ever tasted came from the wells. His enthusiasm was contagious and soon Robert Johnson Black, his brother born May 20, 1800 (48), was thinking about Arkansas. He consulted members of the family and they decided to take their slaves and move. The zeal of the Black family for coming to Arkansas interested many others in the venture and before the wagon train left there was assembled for the journey to Arkansas not only the Black clan, but the Perrys, the Wallaces, the Connors, the Rayfords, the Munfords and the Davises. Dr. Thomas Reed Williams, William Carter, and Sanders Norris were three of the young men who joined the wagon train. The Blacks who made this journey were Robert Johnson Black, the oldest man in the family and leader of the group; Isabella Johnson Black, his mother; Araminta Mathilda and Oliver Hazard Perry Black, his two children; William Russell and Samuel Frank Black, his only two brothers; Catherine S., Rebecca, Isabella, and Martha Black, his sisters; William S. Black, James M. Black, John C. Black, J. F. Black and Francis P. Black, all relatives. Among the Connors were Charles Frank and Jane (Black) Connor with their children, Simon F. Connor and perhaps the babies of the family Narcissa L. Connor, born April 22, 1835, and Charles S. Connor born March 7, 1838 (49). It has been impossible to determine the exact year they came. They were in Alabama in 1833 (50) and they were in Arkansas in 1839 (51). ______________________ 47. Union County Land Entry Book "2" p. 419, El Dorado, Ark., 1952. 48. Robert Johnson Black Papers, c1840. Owned (1939) by Dr. O. H. Thompson. Marion, Louisiana. 49. Robert Johnson Black Papers, c1840. Owned (1939) by O. H. Thompson, Marion, Louisiana. 50. Land Certificate No. 1167, Dated September 16, 1833, issued to Robert J. Black of Wilcox County, Alabama. 51. Union County Court Book "A", p. 88, El Dorado, Ark., 1952. Hereafter the abbreviation UCCB will be used.           Contents  Words  Study Questions  Related Sites Next