Marcellus Black, son of Robert and Mathilda Alexander Black, journeyed farther to reach Arkansas than any other member of the family. The Blacks were a restless family and Marcellus, after leaving Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, probably lived several places before he reached Illinois, near Carthage, where he was an active member of the Masonic Lodge. It was there that the Mormons, under the leadership of Joseph Smith, began practicing polygamy, which aroused the Masons to action to stop it. Marcellus Black found himself in the middle of the fight and with William Vorheas, a young single man, and other Masons went to Carthage for Joseph Smith. There was trouble and William Vorheas always thought his shot was the fatal one to the founder of the Mormon Church (61). Marcellus Black decided soon after this to come to Arkansas and William Vorheas came with him. The members of Marcellus Black's family were his wife, his daughters, Isabella H., Elizabeth, Margarett E., Susan, and his son Marcellus Augustus Black. His children all married and reared families in Union County. William Vorheas married Black's oldest daughter, Isabella, 26 November, 1848 (62). Marcellus Black died March 7, 1849 (63), but in the few years he lived in Union County he was active in public affairs.
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