Family:Charles Black and Charlotte Becker (2)

Facts and Events
Marriage[1] 17 Oct 1925 Crown Point, Lake, Indiana
Other[2] 1930 Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Children
BirthDeath
1.
2.
3.
4.

Marriage

Charles and Charlotte met in 1924 at the Viking hall at 69th and Lowe in Chicago. They eloped to Crown Point, Indiana and were married the 17th of October 1925S1. Charles was 26, Charlotte was 19. During the years of 1915 to 1940, Crown Point was a well-known marriage mill. An estimated 175,000 couples flocked to the Lake County Courthouse to be wed, since it became associated as a "quick and painless" marriage site. (from Crown Point Marriage Mill) It broke her father's heart because he wanted to have a big wedding for her.S4

Life

Two years later they lost their first child, daughter, Agnes, who was stillborn. A year after in 1928, they went on a trip to Glasgow, Scotland returning to where Charles was born to introduce Charlotte to his family. After spending time with relatives, Charles and Charlotte returned 8 Sep 1928 on the S.S. CameroniaS3. Charlotte was four months pregnant at the time. Five months later, in Feb 1929 her oldest son Charles (known as Mick) was born. Daughter Marilynn joined the family in 1930. Tragically, she would die as a young child, of Leukemia. She died in 1934, just after her fourth birthday. Finally, several years later her youngest son William, known as Bill (Living) completed the family.

Charles and Charlotte raised their children and spent most of their life in Chicago, in the same general area of Charlotte’s parents. Charlotte was never far from family. She and her parents would all spend their lives on the south side of Chicago. Her two sons also lived on the south side for many years. During the 1960s they lived in the same apartment building as older sister Olga.

Both sons raised their families nearby until the early 1970s. Elder son Mick moved his family to Paw Paw in southwestern Michigan near Kalamazoo. His three children still live in the Kalamazoo area. Son Bill moved his family to Oak Forest a southern suburb of Chicago. Charles and Charlotte lived with them for a year before retiring to Tarpon Springs Florida around 1973. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1975.

After several years in Florida Charlotte tragically developed Alzheimer’s. They moved to Paw Paw where they were cared for by their son Mick. In 1980, Charlotte died of complications of Alzheimer's. After her death Charles returned to Florida where he died four years later in June 1984 at the age of 85.

Census

Charles Black & Charlotte Becker Census
Year Source Image
1930 1930 US Federal Population Census: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Image Gallery
References
  1. Black Becker Marriage Data. (Lake County Circuit Court)
    1925.
    Marriage License
  2. 1930 US Federal Population Census: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
    1930 Census
  3.   New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 (database on-line). (Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah, 2005)
    1928.
    Cameronia Charles Register Charlotte Register
  4.   William (Bill) Black. William (Bill) Black Interview. (Interviews, 1998-2002).