Martha was born in on February 24 , 1866 in Chicago , Illinois to George and Susan Munger . Of the five children her mother had over four years , Martha was the only one to survive . She was followed by two younger siblings , George Jr. and Belle . Her father lost his laundry business in Great Chicago Fire , but started over with great success , affording Black a comfortable , upper-class childhood . She was educated at Saint Mary 's College in Indiana , a school operated by the Sisters of the Holy Cross
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Martha Black