Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Black

Mr. W. A. Black, chief engineer on the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co.'s steamer Hamilton, is a widely experienced man. He was born in the year 1843. in the County of Beauharnois. Province of Quebec, Canada, his father being a Scotchman and a farmer at that place. Mr. W. A. Black worked on his father's place until he was almost of age.

Having determined to become an engineer, Mr. Black went to Montreal in 1864, where he served an apprenticeship to the machinist business in the St. Lawrence Engine Works. Afterwards he entered the employ of E. E. Gilbert, the famous engine-builder, in which position he remained for some years. His early steamboat life was put in as second engineer on board the steamer Athenian, and later on the Passport. Going out of the latter vessel, Mr. Black was appointed as chief engineer of the propeller Bruno, a lake trader. Afterwards he became chief engineer on the steamer Passport belonging to the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company, where he remained for four years. Succeeding that he was made chief engineer of the steamer Corsican of the same line, plying between Montreal and Toronto. There he remained two years.

Wishing to get some experience on salt water. Mr. Black went to New York, and shipped from there as second engineer on the steamship Bermuda, then running from New York to the West Indies. Not liking such a hot climate, he returned to Montreal, Canada, and accepted a situation as foreman of a machine shop belonging to the Montreal Rolling Mills Company, being subsequently appointed chief engineer, which occupation he retained for seven years. The confinement, however, not agreeing with his health, he was advised by his doctors to abandon his position and return to the water. This he did. and became chief engineer on the steamer Hamilton, belonging to the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company and running between Hamilton.Toronto.Kingston, and Montreal. His health was rapidly restored, and he is at present as hale and hearty as ever he was.

Mr. Black is an intelligent man, and has a good education, the substantial basis of which he secured in the Common Schools in the County of Beauharnois. Province of Quebec. Canada. He has been twice married -- first in 1867 to Miss Barbara Conley, daughter of a prominent farmer in Beauharnois County, and again in 1872, having lost his first wife early, to Miss Jeanie Glenn, a farmer's daughter of the County of Chateauguay. He has four children, three daughters and one son. His son is 23 years of age, and is a blacksmith in Huntingdon, Province of Quebec. Engineer Black's residence is at Westmount, a suburb of Montreal. The picture here given of Engineer Black and Mrs. Black is from a photograph taken last year on the occasion of their silver wedding.

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