Harry A. Black (November 22, 1879 – April 9, 1923) was a Vermont attorney and public official. He served as Secretary of State of Vermont from 1919 until his death.

Biography

Harry Alonzo Black was born in

Coventry, Vermont Coventry is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,100 at the 2020 census. History Etymology Coventry was named for the birthplace of one of the founders, Major Elias Buel, who was born in Coventry, Connectic ...

on November 22, 1879, the son of Melvina Brooks and farmer Henry F. Black. He was educated in the public schools of Orleans County, and graduated from Derby Academy in 1899. Black then studied law in

St. Johnsbury St. Johnsbury (known locally as "St. J") is the shire town ( county seat) of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,364. St. Johnsbury is situated on the Passumpsic River and is located approximatel ...

and

Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay Europe Ireland *Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...

. He was admitted to the bar in 1903, and practiced in Newport. A Republican, he served as second assistant clerk of the

Vermont House of Representatives The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members, with each member representing around 4,100 citizens. Representatives ar ...

in 1906, and first assistant clerk in 1908 and 1910. During the legislative sessions from 1912 to 1918, Black was the Clerk of the House. From 1918 to 1920 he also served as a member of Newport's city council. In 1918, Black was elected Secretary of State. He was reelected in 1920 and 1922, and served from January 1918 until his death.

Death

Black died in

Wells River Wells River is a village in the town of Newbury in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 431 at the 2020 census. The village center is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 5 and 302. The village center (the portion near t ...

on April 9, 1923 as the result of injuries he sustained when he was struck by a train as he was en route from Newport to Montpelier. According to news accounts, Black had been ill at his home for a month before beginning his trip, and appeared to faint as he was changing trains. Witnesses indicated that he stepped out of the Wells River station and walked across several tracks to board the train for Montpelier. He fell onto one track, and a moving train hit him before onlookers could take action to rescue him. Orlando L. Martin, the

Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives The Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives is the Speaker or presiding officer of the Vermont House of Representatives, the lower house of the Vermont Legislature. The Speaker presides over sessions of the Houses, recognizes members so t ...

, was with Black at the time of the accident, but was not injured. Black was buried at East Main Street Cemetery in Newport.

Family

In 1905, Black married Jennie Gates of Newport. Their children included: Henry, Raymond, Gordon, Gerald, and Kenneth.

References

Sources

Books

Newspapers

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Black, Harry A. 1879 births 1923 deaths Vermont lawyers Vermont Republicans Secretaries of state of Vermont People from Newport (city), Vermont Burials in Vermont 19th-century American lawyers Railway accident deaths in the United States