On the morning of the 6th of July, 1840, I commenced to carry the mail from Cambridge via Liberty and Jacobsport to Coshocton.  Being a small boy, too young to legally carry the United States mail, the undertaking appeared to me to be a huge one.  There was no bridge over Wills Creek at Liberty at that time; just above the mill there was a flatboat, with a rope and pulleys attached, in which I crossed, pulling myself and horse over.  The rope and pulleys would sometimes get out of order, when I had either to ford the creek below the mill or hunt some one to ferry me over.  I have often been poled over in a flatboat by a young lady, a Miss Gibson, I think; she could pole a boat equal to most men.  Never having had an opportunity of thanking  her, I will do so now most heartily, although I sometimes thought that she kept me waiting a little longer than was necessary.  She is the only woman I ever "called on" with tears in my eyes.  Two miles below Liberty, at the residence of Alexander Mitchell, Esq., I stopped each day to feed my horse; I fed in a trough under a large apple tree, and a half mile farther on I deposited weekly a package of the Guernsey Times in a box made for the purpose, nailed to "Ike" Miskimmin's gate post.  I crossed Wills Creek again on my route, at Joseph Hazlett's, now Linton Mills.  Here we had neither bridge nor boat; it was a soft, muddy fording on one side and rocky on the other, and always reminded me of the fording where Wetzel lay in ambush for the Indians.  I several times ventured in when I had to swim my horse to reach the opposite shore, getting myself and mail completely wet, for which the postmaster never failed to scold me.  If the creek was too deep to ride I would go down to Mr. Miskimmin's where there was a sort of draw-bridge; but when the water got too high for the bridge I was compelled to get some one to row me, with saddle and mail-bags, in a skiff, and lead my horse, swimming behind.  One of my hardest trips was in the last of January, 1842.  Going down on Tuesday, the roads were very muddy and the creek high, but that night it turned suddenly cold, and the roads were as rough as it was possible for them to be.  In got up in the morning, fed my horse and waited until after sunrise, but there was no stir or appearance of breakfast so I started homeward without breakfast.  It was very cold; I came on to Jacobsport, ten miles; there was no fire in the post-office.  I got the mail changed, and turned northward around the great bend of Wills Creek and over the largest hill I ever crossed in Ohio, on the Evansburg road, south of Malatt's Run.  I reached Squire Mitchell's at one o'clock, both cold and hungry; I fed my horse, as usual, under the apple tree, and amused myself by stamping, pounding my knees, and, like the "little philosopher," trying "not to think about."  At this stage Miss Mitchell came out to me with a great, large doughnut, smoking hot.  It was as large as a dinner-plate.  I ate it ferociously; I had eaten doughnuts before, and have eaten a great many since, but that of Miss Mitchell's was the doughnut of my life.  I reached home about nine o'clock at night, with my feet so badly frozen that the nail came off one of my great toes.  I had many rough trips, but this one was the severest.
     When the weather was pleasant and the roads good I enjoyed the business.  The first dollar that I could ever call my own I made by carrying packages, bundles, etc., for persons along the road.  During the time I carried the mail, Jacob Ferguson, A. J. Dunlap and Isaiah McIlyar were postmasters at Cambridge, Jesse Smith at Liberty, and Dr. Williams and John Johnson at Jacobsport, all kind and obliging gentlemen.  I can recollect some of the frequenters of the post-office when the mail would reach Jacobsport; Judge Johnson, Dr. Anderson and Dr. Ferguson; at Liberty, John Gibson, N. Luccock and Dr. Milligan.  A generation has passed away since that time, and doubtless many of those men are gone.
                                                                                                                H. C. BLACK.

     Freeport, Ohio, December 1, 1873.
     Not satisfied with the limited advantages of the common schools of that day, our subject, in 1846, attended a select school taught by Prof. McKelvey, a graduate of Edinburgh, Scotland.  Here he pursued a course of higher mathematics, intending at that time to become an engineer.  During the years 1847 and 1848 he taught school in the vicinity of Cambridge.  He was all his life been a close reader and a deep thinker, pursuing a course of private study, making a specialty of mathematics, as is exemplified by the many choice works contained in his library on this science.  He subsequently determined to enter one of the professions, and accordingly chose that of physician, entering the office of Dr. S. F. Marquis, one of the leading practitioners of his section.  His progress was rapid and highly satisfactory to his preceptor, and after a two years' course he passed a satisfactory examination, and was given a diploma, entitling him to practice anywhere in the State.  He located in Antrim, where he resided until 1852, when he came to Freeport, and has here since remained, where his ability is recognized and appreciated.  As an obstetrician he has remarkable success, losing only one case in 1,600.  Republican in principle, he has always supported that party, and he has given to its aid much time from his professional duties.  He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church at Freeport, and are among the leading citizens of that town.  Mr. Black has been twice married: Dec. 14, 1848, he was united to Rebecca McCarty, sister of Prof. H. d. McCarty, late State superintendent of Kansas schools.  The issue of this marriage was four children: Clelia DeFrance (Mrs. James C. Carver), in Cambridge and R. M., B. H. and Ottis K., in Freeport.  On Nov. 25, 1881, Mrs. Black, died, and Dec. 31, 1885, the Doctor was married to Mrs. Jennie L. Hayes, a graduate of Lebanon College, and successful teacher of Tuscarawas and other counties.  Mrs. Black is an only sister of W. H. Lanning of the well-known banking firm of McKinley & Lanning, of Hastings, Neb.  Dr. Black, has, on account of his advanced age, ceased wholly from making night calls, and, although often summoned, does not respond.  Since his duties began he has faithfully discharged them, and has the satisfaction of knowing that he has the respect of all.
Source:  Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Harrison and Carroll, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. - 1891 - Page 632