Greenbrier County, West Virginia - Newspaper Article about Rev. Sam BLACK, 1946 ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** This article was transcribed by Al Zopp 6/19/1998 from an original newpaper copy that was partially damaged. Our thanks to Richard Zopp of Cape Coral, FL for providing the missing text from the article. BECKLEY POST-HERALD, BECKLEY, W.V., MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 8, 1946 Sam Black, Famed Methodist Circuit Rider, Left a Landmark' He Had Trouble With The Yankee Soldiers And A Few Drunks At 'Hells Half Acre' by EUGENE L. SCOTT SAM BLACK CHURCH, April 7.-It seems odd to dateline a story from a church, but if you look on all the modern maps of West Virginia you will see Sam Black Church listed as a highway landmark, about midway between Rainelle and Lewisburg, on the coast-to-coast Midland Trail. Things have changed a lot around this part of Greenbrier County since the Rev. Samuel Black "rode the circuit", but the spiritual torch he lighted years ago in Greenbrier, Webster, Braxton, Nicholas, Fayette, and other West Virginia counties continues to burn brightly-and the church he founded on Otter Creek nearly a century ago is as strong today as any rural church you'll find in the country. Probably no West Virginia minister has exerted a greater influence in the spiritual lives of the Mountaineers than this Methodist circuit rider who was known from one end of the state to the other. The name Sam Black still rings familiar to the ear of many an oldster who, as a boy, listened to the calm, plain-spoken sermons of the black-bearded minister who rode up and down the hills, along the hollows and into the byways where strangers were seldom seen. Native of Greenbrier Sam Black was a native of Greenbrier County, the son of a hardy pioneer, who followed William McClung, the first white settler on Meadow River, across the Alleghanies to the mouth of Big Clear Creek. Joseph Black, the preacher's father, came to Rupert about 1780. He purchased 320 acres from the "Tommyhawk entry" of 100,000 acres which William McClung "notched out" along Meadow River and its tributaries. Later, in 1804, the pioneer Black took one of McClung's daughters, Abagail Dickson McClung, to the altar. She was the ninth of a family of 15 children. And there on the Black farm, which is still owned by the Rev. Samuel Black's daughter, Mrs. Ella J. Rupert, Joseph Black raised the following children: Rev. Samuel Black, Henderson Black, Isa Black Moses, and Rebecca Black, who lived out their lives at Rupert. William and John Black, who moved west as young men, Abagail Black Martin and Margaret Black Gwinn, who lived most of their lives in Fayette County. Operated Farm Sam Black early turned to the ministry. Yet, despite the amount of time he spent "circuit riding" over vast areas, he operated one of the finest farms of his day along Meadow River, at Rupert. His farm was known far and wide for its "high stake and rider fences. He also fathered a remarkably successful family. A son, Dr. Charles Alban Black, graduated from the medical department of Vanderbilt University, practicing at Nashville, Tenn., all his life. Another son, Dr. William Gibson Black, graduated in medicine from the Medical College, Baltimore, Md, also practiced at Nashville and for a time was physician at the Tennessee state prison. Jemima Ellen Black married Dr. Lurizo Rupert, and Miss Addie Belle Black, who never married, lived on at the old home place until she died in 1943. Another daughter Emma Susan Black, died at the age of four. Had Trouble with Yankees During the Civil War the Yankees had little liking for Rev. Sam Black. The Methodist minister was a strong Southern sympathizer-and during most of the war years he constantly kept his faithful horse saddled and hitched at the gate in order to make a quick get-away when the Union soldiers came. On one occasion, his daughter recalls, the Yankees caught up with him, but he made his escape on horseback, up the hollow above his home. The Yankees gave chase but lost their prey when the minister circled back quickly on top of a knoll overlooking the home. There he sat and watched the Yankee soldiers ransack the house. He often related afterwards that "my horse showed good sense on that occasion." Had the animal neighed he would have been trapped. But things did not fare so well down at the Black farm house. Mrs. Black saw the Union soldiers coming and quickly hid the maple sugar in the fire place. She pretended to be making a fire when the soldiers entered her home. While they were there the embers in the grate ignited the sugar and the whole supply was burned. The family had hidden all their canned fruit in a board-and-sod covered trench in the yard. one of the soldiers accidentally stepped on the trench, a board tilted and the family larder was uncovered and confiscated. The old log house which Rev. Black built when a young man burned in 1908. Left Many Legends The fine old minister left many legends and landmarks behind the religious trail he blazed through the rural areas. Once, when he was holding a protracted meeting at the Givens Chapel near Lookout, some inebriates came in and broke up the services. Rev. Black promptly named the place "Hell's Half Acre." In a later meeting at the same church, a lone drunk came in and disturbed the service. This time Rev. Black referred to the community simply as "hell's whole acre." And that community, while bearing no semblance of those raucous times, is still referred to as "The Acre." Given Buckskin Gloves Born on March 3, 1813, Rev. Black's life covered most of the nineteenth century. He died on July 16, 1899. Most of the parishoners whom the famed circuit rider served were hardy pioneers, rich in honesty and moral integrity but poor in worldly goods. The story is told that women of Webster County often made buckskin gloves which they gave the circuit rider for their preaching dues. He in turn sold them wherever he found a buyer. The famed preacher is known to have traveled as far west as Jackson County, where he organized a Methodist Church at Ripley. Dozens of Methodist churches were organized by him throughout Nicholas, Webster, Braxton, and other Southern West Virginia counties. The original church at the Sam Black site was known as Otter Creek Church, established more than a century ago. New Church Erected Shortly after Rev. Black's death, the prosperous farmers in the community immediately began plans for the erection of a new church dedicated to the memory of the circuit rider. In 1901 they dedicated the "Sam Black Methodist Memorial Church," which stands at the junction of the Smoot Road and the Midland Trail. It is at this point where the famous old James River and Kanawha Turnpike runs straight ahead over Little Sewell Mountain, while the new highway takes off to the right, down the easy grade of the old Wilderness Road which Rev. Black often traveled into Nicholas County. Although he "carried the Gospel" far and wide, Rev. Black preached his last sermon in the Amwell Baptist Church at Rupert -the same church in which he preached for the first time more than 100 years ago. He was largely responsible for building of the Bascom Methodist Church in Rupert. In addition to the Sam Black Church, Black's Chapel on Muddlety Creek in Nicholas County is also named for him. A Methodist church in Webster County likewise bears his name, and there are perhaps others. Rev. Black preached for sometime in the Kentucky Conference, but most of his long tenure in the ministry was in his native state. He is buried in the family cemetery, on the Black farm. Church of Ministers Probably no other small church in West Virginia has been so productive for the Methodist ministry as the Sam Black Church. Through the years it has sent out through its portals no less than 11 ministers. They include Rev. Sam McClung, Rev. George McClung, Rev. Ned McClung, Rev. A. M. Martin, Rev. O. H. Dorsey, Rev. E. Hampton Barnette, Rev. Charles Burns, Rev. Cecil Burns, Rev. David Ruckman, and Rev. J. Elbert Perkins, now minister of Bascom Church at Rupert. Also, several local preachers have been licensed at the altars of this famous old church, which since the old camp meeting days has stood as a spiritual fortress for the community which stretches far and wide across the rolling hills. The surrounding community, nurtured by this church, goes by the name of Sam Black Community. Gave Land For Church The father of John Burns, resident of the Sam Black Community, gave the property where the Sam Black Church now stands to the church board, free of any incumbrances. For generations this institution has been the spiritual guide of such well known families as the Burns, McClungs, Shawvers, Barnettes, Perkins, Smiths, McCutcheons, Harrahs, Austins, Hedricks, Shepherds, Bivens, Blacks, Thompsons, Richmonds, Osbornes, Bryants and many others in this rich farming section of Greenbrier. Addition Planned Keeping pace with the growing membership, plans are now underway to remodel the Sam Black Church. A basement is being planned for the building, and Sunday school rooms are to be provided. The project will cost between $2,500 and $3,000. There has long been felt in the community a need for a sort of community center, suitable for community gatherings as well as church activities. The improvements now planned will meet this need. This new addition is to be dedicated to the community's veterans of World War II, a large number of whom are listed on the church roll. Present and former members of the Sam Black Church are being asked to assist with the new project. The finance committee named to supervise the work include B. C. Barnett, chairman, Ray Perkins, Ralph Perkins, Ernest Sheppard, D. G. Jeffries, and Mrs. Lillie Dietz. Last of the Lines Mrs. Ella J. Rupert, wife of the late Dr. Lualzo Rupert, and the daughter of Rev. Sam Black, is the last direct descendant of the famed circuit rider. She is going on 87, and resides in Rupert in the large brick house where she started housekeeping more than a half a century ago. A nephew of Rev. Black, Sam Tommy Black, also raised a distinguished family just a few miles east of Rupert, One son, H. A. Black, owns and operates Black's Tourist Court, one of the finest of its kind on the Midland Trail. Another son, Dr. William P. Black, is a prominent Charleston physician, is surgeon for Greyhound Lines, Libby Owens, and other plants. A third son, the late R. D. Black, was also a well know Charleston physician, a former surgeon for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. ------- This article contains 3 photos; 1. a photo captioned "Rev. Samuel Black". 2. a photo captioned "They Named The Church For Him" "This beautiful little church, known as the Sam Black Methodist Memorial Church, has become a landmark on all West Virginia road maps. Located on the Midland Trail, a few miles east of Rupert, it was named for the Rev. Samuel Black, noted Methodist circuit rider who died in 1899." 3. a photo captioned "Last Of Distinguished Line" "Mrs. Ella J. Rupert, going on 87, is the daughter of the Rev. Samuel Black, and the last direct descendant of the famed Methodist circuit rider still living, She resides at Rupert and still owns the Black farm."