Born: Moorefield, Kentucky, 1839.Died: Chicago, Illinois, 1908.
Born: Moorefield, Kentucky, 1839.
Died: Chicago, Illinois, 1908.
Mr. Black's early years were passed in schoolrooms as student and teacher. He graduated at Asbury, now DePauw University, and spent some time at Hiram while J. A. Garfield was there. He entered the ministry at the age of eighteen, and for many years was a very popular and successful preacher. He served as pastor at Terre Haute, Greencastle and Indianapolis, Indiana, and Tuscola and Chicago, Illinois, and was president of the Northwest University, now Butler College, in 1872-74.
He was best known as a great evangelist. His meetings in cities, towns and country were equally successful--the additions were counted by hundreds and by thousands. Many of these were leading and influential citizens of their communities. He did his work without the aid of professional singers or special helpers. His custom was to teach the people the Scriptures and follow this lesson in the same meeting with a great sermon. Illinois owes much to his self-denying and faithful service, for not a few of her feeble congregations were thereby saved from death to large usefulness, and many from all classes of society were led to know and to walk in the better way. He is held in tender memory by a host of grateful friends.