Woman of the Century/Fannie De Grasse Black

FANNIE DE GRASSE BLACK. BLACK, Mrs. Fannie De Grasse, singer and pianist, born in Nisouri, Canada, 21st November, 1856. Her maiden name was De Grasse. She moved with her parents to the United States and made her home in Milwaukee, Wis., where she was educated in the high and normal schools, graduating in 1874. At ten years of age she began the study of piano and sight singing, continuing until her sixteenth year, when she became a pupil of Prof. William Mickler, formerly director in court to the Duke of Hesse, Germany, studying with him for four years. She sang in public when she was only six years old, and made her debut in classic music at the age of eighteen, under the direction of Professor Mickler, in the concerts of the Milwaukee German Musical Society, and has since sung successfully in opera and oratorio. Later on she took up the study of the pipe organ and is now {1892) organist of the Presbyterian church, El Dorado. In 1S81 she was married to Judge S. K. Black, of El Dorado, Kan. Mrs. Black is a thorough scholar, and she believes that only a thorough scholar and student can become a fine musician. She sings equally well in English, German and Italian, and her pleasant El Dorado home is a center of music and refinement.