William Valentine Black (1832 – 1927)

William Valentine Black, born 21 Feb 1832 in Lisburn, Antrim, Ireland; died 1 Apr 1927 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States, son of William Young Black and Jane Johnston.  He married Almira Murray Ayers on 28 Feb 1854 in Springdale, Utah. She was born 23 Jun 1834 in Branchville, Sussex, New Jersey, United States; died 14 Sep 1872 in Kanosh, Millard, Utah, United States.  Married Victoria Ayer on 1857 in Spring City, Sanpete, Utah, United States Victoria Ayers, born 8 Nov 1839 in Stanhope, Sussex, New Jersey, United States; died 27 Mar 1923 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States.

Children of William Valentine Black and Almira Murray Ayers were as follows:

1.  Jane Lucinda Black, born 16 Nov 1856 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States; died 29 Dec 1948 in Provo, Utah, Utah, United States; buried 1 Jan 1949 in Provo, Utah, Utah, United States.  She married on 1 Jan 1871 in Kanosh, Millard, Utah, United States Ezra Tunis Rappleye, born 23 Nov 1851 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States; died 16 Sep 1917, son of Tunis Rappleye and Louisa Elizabeth Cutler.
2. Almira Murray Black, born 24 Jun 1857 in Manti, Sanpete, Utah, United States; died 12 Feb 1938.  She married on 18 Aug 1884 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States.
3. William Valentine Black Jr, born 8 Feb 1860 in Spring City, Sanpete, Utah, United States; died 16 Oct 1944.  He married on 18 Aug 1884 Ann Rotherham.
4. Lucinda Catherine Black, born 19 May 1861 in Spring City, Sanpete, Utah, United States; died 9 Oct 1950.  She married on 11 Nov 1882 in Spring City, Sanpete, Utah, United States Euria Erastice Curtis
5. Elizabeth Black, born 19 Feb 1863; died 12 Jun 1937.
6. Annie Eldona Black, born 28 Nov 1864 in Springdale, Washington, Utah, United States; died 4 Feb 1952 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States; buried in Richfield, Sevier, Utah, United States.  She married on 3 Jun 1881 Homer Chancy Hyatt.
7. Fannie Vienna Black, born 24 Aug 1866 in Rockville, Washington, Utah, United States; died 22 Jul 1919.  She married in 1885 in Oasis, Millard, Utah, United States Alfred Miksell.
8. Eleanor Black, born 17 Jul 1868 in Rockville, Washington, Utah, United States; died 25 Apr 1952.  She married on 14 Sep 1889 in Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Hyrum James Walton.
9. Heber Marcellas Black, born 17 Sep 1870 in Kanosh, Millard, Utah, United States; died 28 Jan 1952.  He married on 22 Feb 1897 in Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, United States Harriett Melvina Simmons.
10. Child Black, born 14 Sep 1872; died 14 Sep 1872.

Children of William Valentine Black and Victoria Ayers were as follows:

1. Mary Black, born 25 Nov 1858 in Spring City, Sanpete, Utah, United States; died 25 Nov 1858.
2. George Ayers Black, born 3 Mar 1862 in Spring City, Sanpete, Utah, United States; died 30 May 1908 in Guadalupe, Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico; buried 31 May 1908 in Colonia Dublan, Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico.  He married on 31 Dec 1885 in Saint George, Washington, Utah, United States Emily Partridge.
3. Agnes Black, born 11 Feb 1863 in Springdale, Washington, Utah, United States; died 9 Apr 1964.  She married on 15 Sep 1881 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States William McLeod.
4. Minerva Black, born 25 Nov 1865 in Springdale, Washington, Utah, United States.
5. Ira Adlebert Black, born 10 Feb 1868 in Springdale, Washington, Utah, United States; died 11 Apr 1878.
6. Justin Black, born 20 Sep 1870 in Kanosh, Millard, Utah, United States; died 14 Jan 1875.
7. Joseph Valentine Black, born 14 Sep 1872.  He married on 24 Jun 1903 Jane Cahoon.
8. Clara Black, born 27 Sep 1874 in Kanosh, Millard, Utah, United States; died 25 Feb 1958.  She married on 3 Jan 1900 in Kanosh, Millard, Utah, United States Fred Gilbert Warnick.
9. Victoria Black, born 27 Jan 1877 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States; died 24 Jul 1933 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States; buried 27 Jul 1933 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.  She married on 5 Jul 1902 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States George Marius Christensen.  Marriage Source: Ibid., “VICTORIA BLACK; Female; Spouse: GEO M CHRISTENSEN; Marriage: 05 JUL 1902 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah;
10. Albert Caleb Black, born 12 Oct 1878 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States; died 28 Jul 1967.  He married on 8 Jun 1910 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Elizabeth Helen Powell.
11. Marion Black, born 14 Jan 1881 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States; died 24 May 1973.  He married on 18 Aug 1905 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States Stella Dameron.
12. Marietta Black, born 14 Jan 1881 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States; died 6 Jul 1967.  She married on 29 May 1901 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States Joseph Walton
13. Delores Black, born 26 Apr 1883 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States; died 31 Jul 1915.  She married on 13 Jun 1910 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Frank Ewuing.
14. William Alonzo Black, born 16 May 1886 in Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States; died 18 May 1953.  He married on 25 Dec 1911 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

William Valentine Black by Agnes McLeod and Joseph S. Black

William Valentine Black was born in Lisburn, Antrim, Ireland on 21 Feb. 1832. He was the second son and third child of William Young Black and Jane Johnston Black. At the age of six years with his parents he left his native country and immigrated to Manchester England.

It was there they heard of people called Latter Day Saints and then they were invited to go hear them speak they met in a room called Paul Harris cellar. It was there they met Elders William Clayton and Joseph Fielding and listened to them tell of the glad tidings of great joy. The little family believed what they heard and within a year they were baptized The father was ordained a teacher then a priest and was sent back to Ireland on a mission with John Taylor one of the Twelve Apostles where he spent one year, among his own Irish people. Then he was assigned a two year mission for the church in England.

In the year l841 he arranged for his family to join the Saints in America. The mother and her children embarked on the ship Kaas an old time sailing vessel which would require twomonths to make the voyage. The father remained in England and to finish his two year mission and labor in the two branches of the church there.

The port of embarkation of the ship Kaas was at Belfast. Soon after leaving the harbor a terrific storm developed. A ship was sunk in sight of the Kaas before they got out of the harbor and all aboard were lost. The little family realized their ship could only narrowly escape destruction. The Mother took her children to secluded place in the birth and on their knees they asked the Lord to deliver them in safety to America, then a strange and impressive experience came to them. William was only a twelve year old boy who had been deeply impressed by the gospel and was ever valiant in its defense, after that pra.yer on the ship he being impressed spoke in tongues, his mother interpreted. He said that within three days the ship would be blown back into the harbor that some of their members would desert the ship and would not make the voyage, but others would remain and have a prosperous voyage to America. They did arrive safely in America.

After their father joined them they acquired a city lot in Nauvoo and built a house. There they remained until the saints were driven from Nauvoo. The many hardships, exposures and discouragements they endured were surely a test for the most faithful. Sickness, stormy weather, shortage of food was common ill. It was there the quail by the thousand came to their camp and food was then abundantly supplied and the Lord sent honey dew,which they gathered from the bushes unti1 they had all the sweets they wanted.

About two months after entering the Salt Lake Valley in the Pace Company, President Brigham young requested William Black and family to go with a company already organized to San Pete. They settled in Manti. It was there the Indian troubles broke out and in July 1853 the Walker Indian began. William V now twenty one years of age served as a cavalry soldier in this war and was under arms two years. He learned to speak the Indian language and did much to bring about peace with them. Many years later he told his little granddaughter that at one time he with several men were in the mountains cutting down trees for Lumber when he was injured by a falling tree and was lying on a litter in a helpless condition when a band of Indians approached. All of the man scattered and hid among the trees leaving him there alone but he talked with the Indians, pacifying and calming them until they rode away. The granddaughter remembers going with him and other family members to the annual Black Hawk reunion held in Springville where those war veterans were honored.

In 1855 he was married to Allira Ayers daughter of Caleb and Lucinda Catherine Haggerty Ayers and two years later he married her sister Victoria Ayers.

In 1861 Elder Hyde called him to go to Dixie. The hardship of this mission is a volume of its own as many stories have been told but only those that have endured through them will ever know what a strenuous life it was.

In about 1866 he bought a saw mill on North Creek above Virgin City and proceeded very successfully in the lumber business, however when his children became of school age he realized his duty to them and abandoned his venture and moved to Kanosh in Millard County remaining there about three years. His wife Almira died when they were living in Kanosh. In 1875 he moved his family to Deseret. There he remained and assisted in the development of that valley.

He was a mainstay in the construction of the old dam which was the initial step in the great irrigation project. Many are the times the old dam has gone out and many are the times these sturdy pioneers have put it back. Year after year their crops burned up for want of water and they were only able to remain and try again by catching fish which were abundant, in the old Sevier River and in the Lake s which it fed. In 1877 the church organized a branch in Deseret; Brother William Valentine was sustained as presiding Elder. When the Deseret Ward was organized his brother Joseph was made bishop of the ward. William V. was loyal and loyal to his brother, serving as president of the Seventies and High Priests for many years.

When the Denver and Rio Grand Railroad was being constructed into this state William V. and Joseph took contracts for grading the road to the extent of about $100,000.00 which was a blessing to the people to whom they gave employment. William V. also did construction on the Park City railroad.  He had contracts for construction of the grade on the line which runs between Salt Lake and Los Angeles through those parts , During his work on the construction of the D. & R. G. railway he developed what is known the Thomson Springs and was the first man to place the Stars and Stripes on Castle rock at Castle gate, Utah.

Always ready to help his brother Joseph when the U.S. Marshalls commenced to make raids upon those who had more than one wife William V waited outside town with a horse and buggy for Joseph when he was secretly going to Mexico with one of his wives. They parted with a handshake and he presented Joseph with his gloves and handkerchief .Then I turned away unable to speak for deep emotion and sympathy.  Joseph returned in 1886 then took an extended tour to the East with Andrew Jensen and Edward Stevenson but he had  not been home long from that tour when he was arrested by the U.S. Marshals and was sentenced to seventy five days in the penitentiary in Salt Lake City. William V. made frequent trips to Sal t Lake with other members of the family to cheer and comfort his brother.

William Valentine Black has been one of the sturdy Land marks which have gone hand in hand with the development of the west. During world war one he had one daughter and 10 grand sons serving their country. He left a large posterity. He lived to be ninety five years of age. He passed away at his home in Deseret, Millard County, Utah on April 1st, 1927.