William "Will" Black (1857-1921)

Died from Sunstroke

William Black, brother of James Black and Alexander Black, of Lowell, died from the effects of a sunstroke near Fair Oaks Wednesday, July 14th.* He was working in the hay field and had started out after dinner and had only made a round trip or two when he was overcome and passed away. His body lay in the field all the afternoon before it was discovered. Mr. Black was well known here, having made his home for several years with his brother, James. He was a man who was of a jovial disposition and the possession of this characteristic made him a host of friends. He was an honest and industrious man and will be sadly missed by a large number of people outside of the immediate family.

William Black, the fifth child of Thomas and Anna Black, was born in Scotland on April 27, 1857, and departed this life July 13,* 1921, aged 63 years, two months and 15 days.

At the age of eleven years he moved with his parents and nine brothers and sisters to Chicago Heights, Ill., later to Crete, Ill., and then to Monee, Ill.

In 1894 the family moved to a farm near Morocco, where the children all married and William remained at home. The father died in 1900 and William stayed with his mother until she too was called away. For a while he lived with his brothers and sisters, and in August 1914 was married to Mrs. Henrietta Puett, who survives him.

Mr. Black was a genial friend to little children and grown-ups as well, and in every gathering of his friends Uncle Will's humorous stories and original sayings were repeated. He is one that will long be remembered and whose trite saying will live after him. Besides the widow he leaves three brothers, three sisters, twenty-seven nieces and nephews and a host of friends to mourn his sudden death.

* NOTE -- In this article, the death date is listed as both July 13, 1921 and July 14, 1921.