James Black came to North Dakota from Ontario, Canada in March, 1891, with the Fergusons, John and Kenneth, and several other young men.

He acquired land in Haven Township where he spent a number of years on the Southwest 1/4 of Section 30.

Marie Pratt Beaver, an elderly woman, came in to be both mother and grandmother to his two young daughters, May and Mertie, after their mother died, when Mertie was a small baby.

In March 1912, Mrs. Beaver died leaving the girls then 12 and 10 to take on the housekeeping chores.

James Black died in March 1935 and is buried in Duncan Creek Cemetery at Bloomer, Wisconsin.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 55B