Dr. Robert J. Black
Doctor, Mayor of McKeesport, PA
(from McKeesport Daily News,4/27/1918)
Robert Jere Black was the youngest of three sons of Samuel L. Black and Maria Hare Black.
Death of Dr. Black is Shock
Former Mayor Passes Away at Hospital Today After Brief Attack of Heart Trouble
Hospital Patient Since Wednesday
Dr. Robert J. Black, former mayor of McKeesport, one of the best known and highly respected residents of the city, and a man of prominence throughout the state, died this morning at 1:45 o’clock at the McKeesport hospital, after a brief illness from heart trouble.
His death was a severe shock to practically every resident of the dity, and particularly to a large circle of very intimate acquaintances, as it was quite unexpected. While it was known that he was seriously ill, his condition was very favorable late last night. Some time after midnight, however, he took a turn for the worse and declined rapidly.
A man of sterling integrity, of pleasing personality, Dr. Black was beloved by all who knew him, and his death will be a severe loss to the entire community. Dr. Black had not been well for some time and on Christmas day left for Florida to spend the winter. He returned home in rather good condition about six weeks ago since which time he made his home with his uncle F. H. Coursin, of 502 Arlington avenue, Coursin Heights. He ws taken ill with a heart attack about nine days ago, and last Wednesday morning he was removed to the hospital.
Sr. Black was born in Tarentum, Pa., the son of the late Maria Hare and Samuel Black, and was the last member of his family. He received his early education in the public schools at Tarentum, and then entered the Physicians and Surgeons hospital at Baltimore, Md., from which he was graduated 38 years ago. Upon graduation, he returned this city and began his medical practice, having an office on Fifth avenue, on the site of The Famous store. He continued in active practice, and was one of the city’s leading physicians and surgeons, until he was elected mayor, at which time he retired.
Prior to the incorporation of McKeesport as a city, Dr. Black was a member of the old Borough of McKeesport council. When the city was incorporated, he was elected as a member of select council from the Fourth ward, in membership in the first city council. That was in 1891. he was chosen as the first chairman of the Select branch. He also served as a member of the second, fifth, sixth and seventh coucils, in the Select branch.
In 1900, Dr. Black was elected as mayor of the city, serving for a term of three years. He succeeded the late R. T. Carothers, and was in turn succeeded by George J. F. Falkenstein, the present city treasurer. It was during his term of mayor that he gave up the practice of medicine.
While mayor, Dr. Black gained nation-wide recognition and prominence for his activities in behalf of the workingmen when the big strike developed at the tube company. While he never held any public elective office outside the city, he was widely known in politics all over the state.
Dr. Black was the postmaster at the Pan-American Exposition held in San Francisco several years ago, and also took the soldier vote on the Mexican border and in the south within the past couple of years. All thses appointments were made by Gov. Martin G. Brumbaugh. He also was a Roosevelt delegate to the last Republican national convention, held in Chicago, and was personally known, perhaps, to more voters in the state than any other McKeesporter and could call thousands by name.
One of Dr. Black’s famous sayings was “The signature that made the $10,000,000 tube works a reality.” made after he had signed an ordinance, as mayor vacating garbage furnace property in the old Third ward, just before the new mills were built several years ago. He was a frequent caller at city hall, and was generally able to predict the result of elections, both local and sate, with uncanny accuracy. When the commission form of government became effective in this city, Dr. Black was a candidate for the first council, but was defeated. He also was defeated some years ago for congress from his district.
Dr. Black was a familiar figure about city hall, which he visited almost daily, and general regret ws expressed there this morning over his death, Mayor Lysle said: “McKeesport has lost a very good citizen in ex-Mayor Black and his fam (portion cut off)
hundreds of newspapermen and during his term as mayor was what is known to the profession as “good copy.” He had a great respect for the boys of the press and only recently said that his confidence with reporters had been broken but once, and that time by an out-of-town reporter.
He was a member of McKeesport council No. 109, Jr. O.U.A.M. McKeesport Acric No. 285, Fraternal Order of Eagles, McKeesport Tent No. 93, Macabees and the Woodmen of the World. The body is to be removed to the home of his uncle, F. H. Coursin, 502 Arlington avenue, this afternoon, and the funeral services will be held there on Monday evening at 8 o’clock, in charge of the Rev. Edward Babcock, pastor of the First Baptist church. Interment will be in Versailles cemetery on Tuesday. It is likely that city officials will attend the services in a body.
Dr. Black is survived by his widow, Mrs. M. Blanche Coursin-Black, whom he married in June, 1889, and two sons, Robert J. Black Jr., who is in the national army at Camp Lee, Va., and B. Coursin Black, at home.
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Mayoral history from same newspaper:
Next to be ushered into the office of Mayor was Dr. Robert J. Black, whose term was probably the most turbulent of all. Trouble began immediately when his opponent, A. B. O’Neil charged fraud and his election was contested.
Dr. Black had been elected by a single vote in more than 5000 ballots cast. Election returns were late in being reported, especially from the first district of the Third Ward. The polls were in the office of Alderman B. L. Coursin, brother-in-law of Dr. Black.
Mr. O’Neil charged that returns there were “held back” and that intentionally or otherwise, the count was incorrect. It ws claimed that some figures of totals, after the Third Ward district had been tabulated, showed Black a winner by 101 votes, but when the Return board reported he was a single vote ahead.
The contest dragged along. Toward the end of Mr. Black’s term it fizzled out. He finished the term and the contest was forgotten.
Mayor Black was a great news source. During his term, several strikes took place. I recall one incident in which a worker raced into a Locust St. butcher shop, snatched a large knife and, warning the crowd, walked several blocks to his home with a mob giving him plenty of room.
At this time, the National Tube Co. announced the intention to rebuild the mills at a cost of $10,000,000. Everybody was interested. Real estate prices jumped and the company threatened to leave the city unless old Bowery district land prices came down.
Citizens subscribed to a fund and raised a large sum and fimally the land was bought and new mill apparently assured, but mayor Black still held a trump card.
The mayor, much in the limelight during strikes, one of which brought reporters from New York and other cities here, disliked some of the visiting newsmen after one sent out a story naming a cocktail after the Mayor.
However, though he and mill managers were not good friends, he had the last say about the new mills. The city councils (dual system) noted to give acres of streets and alleys and city-owned land in the Bowery district for the new plant. Mayor Black held back his signature to the gift bills until the last moment, but signed in the end.
News to the last, the Mayor said:
“Here goes with the signature that makes the $10,000,000 Tube Works a reality.”
Mayor Black ran for many offices, once for Congress, and he served as a postmaster at a big exposition in San Francisco.