Anna Lewis Black

Mrs. Anna Lewis Black, Resident of This State for Half a Century, Is Dead; Funeral Held on Monday

Information courtesy of the Wyoming Newspaper Project. The following articles were published in the Lusk Free Lance.

Death last Saturday, April 14th, reached out its hand and claimed Mrs. Anna Lewis Black, widow of the late Thompson Black, and who for half a century was a resident of this state - a real pioneer of the West. Mrs. Black passed away at the Lusk hospital at 6:00 p.m., following serious illness which lasted a little more than two weeks. She had been a sufferer of chronic myocarditis, and had been in failing health for some time past. At the time of her passing, Mrs. Black was 69 years, 5 months and 4 days of age.

Mrs. Black was a native of Sweden, coming to the United States when but 16 years of age. She located with relatives at Onawa, Ia., and later moved to Council Bluffs. In 1884 she came to Wyoming, and for some two years lived with Mr. and Mrs. Russell Thorp, Sr., at the Rawhide Buttes ranch.

On November 7, 1886, she was united in marriage to Thompson Black, and shortly after they homesteaded on Willow creek. Later they moved to the present ranch site, which has been the family home for almost 50 years.

Mr. Black passed away February 6, 1932, and since that time Mrs. Black had resided on the ranch with her only surviving daughter Mrs. Adele Black - Winkler. Another daughter, Mary J., also preceded Mrs. Black in death. A sister, Mrs. J. O. Lind and a brother, L. D. Erickson, both of Hawarden, Ia., survive, and were here to attend the final services.

Funeral services were held at the Congregational church Monday afternoon, April 16th, at 2:30 o'clock, Rev. Edwin F. Irwin, pastor, officiating. A number of selections were rendered by the mixed quartette, composed of Mrs. H. J. Templeton, Mrs. Edna Howard DeCastro, J. M. Hungate and R. A. Faulk; Miss Alice Fowler, accompanist.

Reverend Irwin painted a vivid picture of the life of Mrs. Black, citing her as one of those fine-charactered, staunch and brave women who pioneered the West, and who contributed an unselfish share to its upbuilding.

He also elaborated on the hospitality of the Black ranch, known to so large a circle of men and women over the period of almost half a century. A welcome always awaited the visitor and wayfarer there, and it was Mrs. Black's kindness and true western spirit that made it one of the most prominent places in this part of the state.

The remains of the deceased were interred in the Lusk cemetery, beside those of her husband, and were conveyed to their last resting place by long-time friends of the family - Granville Tinnin, Hans Gautschi, Edw. M. Arnold, A. A. Spaugh, W. C. Reed and Harry Sager.

The heartfelt sympathy of a host of friends is extended to the bereaved in their sorrow.

Lusk Free Lance
April 19, 1934
Obituary - Anna Lewis Black

Anna Lewis was born in Sweden, on November 10, 1864, daughter of John and Christine Lewis, and passed away in Lusk, Wyoming, April 14th, 1934, at the age of 70 years. She came to America when 16 years of age, going to Onawa, Iowa, where she made her home with relatives for some time. Later she lived in Council Bluffs, Ia.

She came to Wyoming in the year 1884, coming to Cheyenne over the Union Pacific, and from there to this section of the state over the Cheyenne and Deadwood stage line, at that time driven by Fred Sullivan. She made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Russell Thorp, Sr., at the Rawhide Buttes ranch, now owned by John Agnew.

On November 7, 1886, she was united in marriage to Tom Black, who at that time was a cowboy in the employ of the Luke Voorhees Cattle company. Shortly after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Black homesteaded on Willow Creek, later moving to the present location of the Black ranch at the head waters of Willow creek, where Mrs. Black has made her home for almost 50 years. Mr. Black preceded her in death, he passing away on February 6th, 1932.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Black - Mary J., who became the wife of Paul S. Richards, nephew of ex-Governor DeForest Richards; Mr. and Mrs. Richards are now deceased, the remains of both being interred in the Black family plot in the Lusk cemetery; the other daughter, Mrs. Adele Black-Winkler, surviving. She was with her mother when the end came.

The deceased is also survived by her sister, Mrs. J. O. Lind, and a brother, L. D. Erickson, both of Hawarden, Ia., and who came to this city to attend the last rites.

Mrs. Black is a typical example of the pioneer woman of this Western country, who are fast passing over the Divide. Coming to Wyoming only a few years after the Indians left, she literally carved a home out of the wilderness, raised a family and did her part toward settling up the country. She loved the ranch life and the great out doors. With few opportunities for close friendship and neighborhood activities, she made the best of everything. Her friends were few, but staunch. Her home has always been open to the wayfarer, and literally breathed genuine Western hospitality. No one ever came to her home and went away cold or unfed. She ministered to the cowboys in the early days, when there were few women here, and there are many still living who love to recount her many acts of kindness and generous hospitality.

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