The oldest of 4 children born to Robert Miller Black & Laura Catherine Moore, Bob lost his father at the age of 9. His single mother, Laura, raised Bob and 3 younger children alone but with the help of a very large extended family.
Bob was very bright & well-read but had difficulty "staying on task," often resulting in challenges in rearing him. He was educated locally and went to the University of Illinois as did his sister, Lois.
In 1917 he joined the armed service & was stationed at Park Field, later to become the Millington Naval Air Station (outside of Memphis). Park Field was one of the few flight-training bases in the country at the time. WWI ended shortly (1918). He met Margaret Hinson at a party in Memphis. They married and returned to Illinois where his large family lived. Bobby, Jr. was born in 1920 in Oakland, Illinois in the company of Robert's mother and sister, Lois.
Robert described himself as having the "wanderlust" and endeavored in many occupations. None were successful; the family moved frequently (California) and, taking a toll on the young family, they divorced when Bobby was 12 years old. Margaret & Bobby returned to Memphis to her family.
Bob visited his Memphis family annually and brought his granddaughter, Brenda, to the family home in Illinois in 1964 after the death of Bob, Jr. Since she & her sisters would later inherit everything in the house, he & Uncle George meticulously took me through the house, explained the significance of all the belongings, kept from the mid 18th century. He stressed that we were "Scotch-Irish" and shared the family lineage.
He lived his last years in the Soldier's Home in Wood, Wisconsin. His last visit to Memphis was in 1969. He died in 1970.
The "Black grandchildren" inherited all the family possessions in 1977 (death of Uncle George) and, because of the foreknowledge of the heirlooms, brought many items from the house which included both Black (Greencastle) and Moore (Coles / Douglas Counties) heirlooms. Hundreds of pictures, images from family Bibles, antiques, and lineage have since been put onto the Internet since. How proud Grandad Black would have been!
Bob was very bright & well-read but had difficulty "staying on task," often resulting in challenges in rearing him. He was educated locally and went to the University of Illinois as did his sister, Lois.
In 1917 he joined the armed service & was stationed at Park Field, later to become the Millington Naval Air Station (outside of Memphis). Park Field was one of the few flight-training bases in the country at the time. WWI ended shortly (1918). He met Margaret Hinson at a party in Memphis. They married and returned to Illinois where his large family lived. Bobby, Jr. was born in 1920 in Oakland, Illinois in the company of Robert's mother and sister, Lois.
Robert described himself as having the "wanderlust" and endeavored in many occupations. None were successful; the family moved frequently (California) and, taking a toll on the young family, they divorced when Bobby was 12 years old. Margaret & Bobby returned to Memphis to her family.
Bob visited his Memphis family annually and brought his granddaughter, Brenda, to the family home in Illinois in 1964 after the death of Bob, Jr. Since she & her sisters would later inherit everything in the house, he & Uncle George meticulously took me through the house, explained the significance of all the belongings, kept from the mid 18th century. He stressed that we were "Scotch-Irish" and shared the family lineage.
He lived his last years in the Soldier's Home in Wood, Wisconsin. His last visit to Memphis was in 1969. He died in 1970.
The "Black grandchildren" inherited all the family possessions in 1977 (death of Uncle George) and, because of the foreknowledge of the heirlooms, brought many items from the house which included both Black (Greencastle) and Moore (Coles / Douglas Counties) heirlooms. Hundreds of pictures, images from family Bibles, antiques, and lineage have since been put onto the Internet since. How proud Grandad Black would have been!
The oldest of 4 children born to Robert Miller Black & Laura Catherine Moore, Bob lost his father at the age of 9. His single mother, Laura, raised Bob and 3 younger children alone but with the help of a very large extended family.
Bob was very bright & well-read but had difficulty "staying on task," often resulting in challenges in rearing him. He was educated locally and went to the University of Illinois as did his sister, Lois.
In 1917 he joined the armed service & was stationed at Park Field, later to become the Millington Naval Air Station (outside of Memphis). Park Field was one of the few flight-training bases in the country at the time. WWI ended shortly (1918). He met Margaret Hinson at a party in Memphis. They married and returned to Illinois where his large family lived. Bobby, Jr. was born in 1920 in Oakland, Illinois in the company of Robert's mother and sister, Lois.
Robert described himself as having the "wanderlust" and endeavored in many occupations. None were successful; the family moved frequently (California) and, taking a toll on the young family, they divorced when Bobby was 12 years old. Margaret & Bobby returned to Memphis to her family.
Bob visited his Memphis family annually and brought his granddaughter, Brenda, to the family home in Illinois in 1964 after the death of Bob, Jr. Since she & her sisters would later inherit everything in the house, he & Uncle George meticulously took me through the house, explained the significance of all the belongings, kept from the mid 18th century. He stressed that we were "Scotch-Irish" and shared the family lineage.
He lived his last years in the Soldier's Home in Wood, Wisconsin. His last visit to Memphis was in 1969. He died in 1970.
The "Black grandchildren" inherited all the family possessions in 1977 (death of Uncle George) and, because of the foreknowledge of the heirlooms, brought many items from the house which included both Black (Greencastle) and Moore (Coles / Douglas Counties) heirlooms. Hundreds of pictures, images from family Bibles, antiques, and lineage have since been put onto the Internet since. How proud Grandad Black would have been!
Bob was very bright & well-read but had difficulty "staying on task," often resulting in challenges in rearing him. He was educated locally and went to the University of Illinois as did his sister, Lois.
In 1917 he joined the armed service & was stationed at Park Field, later to become the Millington Naval Air Station (outside of Memphis). Park Field was one of the few flight-training bases in the country at the time. WWI ended shortly (1918). He met Margaret Hinson at a party in Memphis. They married and returned to Illinois where his large family lived. Bobby, Jr. was born in 1920 in Oakland, Illinois in the company of Robert's mother and sister, Lois.
Robert described himself as having the "wanderlust" and endeavored in many occupations. None were successful; the family moved frequently (California) and, taking a toll on the young family, they divorced when Bobby was 12 years old. Margaret & Bobby returned to Memphis to her family.
Bob visited his Memphis family annually and brought his granddaughter, Brenda, to the family home in Illinois in 1964 after the death of Bob, Jr. Since she & her sisters would later inherit everything in the house, he & Uncle George meticulously took me through the house, explained the significance of all the belongings, kept from the mid 18th century. He stressed that we were "Scotch-Irish" and shared the family lineage.
He lived his last years in the Soldier's Home in Wood, Wisconsin. His last visit to Memphis was in 1969. He died in 1970.
The "Black grandchildren" inherited all the family possessions in 1977 (death of Uncle George) and, because of the foreknowledge of the heirlooms, brought many items from the house which included both Black (Greencastle) and Moore (Coles / Douglas Counties) heirlooms. Hundreds of pictures, images from family Bibles, antiques, and lineage have since been put onto the Internet since. How proud Grandad Black would have been!
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