Tulare County
Biographies
THOMAS J. BLACK
Thomas J. Black, who is the proprietor of the Jack & Jeff Transfer Company of Visalia, California, was born on a farm in the state of Ohio, August 1, 1873. His parents, Francis and Clara (Dysert) Black, have both joined the silent majority. The mother passed the closing days of her life in the city of Los Angeles.
Thomas J. Black received his education in the grade schools. Upon leaving school he took up the occupation of miner, which he followed for fourteen years at various places in California, with two years in the Nevada mines. He was then for six years employed in the oil fields at Taft and in 1914 came to Visalia. His first business venture here was in the ice and fuel business, in which he was measurably successful. In 1916 he saw an opportunity to engage in the trucking and transfer business and then established his present company. He has a fleet of seven trucks and constantly employs five men on “long and short hauls.” In addition he conducts a storage warehouse and has won a reputation for promptness and reliability.
Some years ago Miss Josephine Hurst became the wife of Mr. Black and they have two sons: Claude and Thomas J., Jr. Mr. Black is a republican in his political affiliations, but has never been especially active in public affairs in the sense of being a candidate for public preferment. His fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is a member in good standing. Although his business interests require his entire time and attention, he maintains an interest in the general welfare of Visalia and Tulare county.
History of Tulare County and Kings County, California – Kathleen Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. I, Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1926, Page 368
Transcribed by Jeannie Miyama