History of the American Negro: West Virginia Edition

Isaac Rucker Hill

west virginia edition 93 On completion of his course, he began the practice in Mc­ Dowell County, W. Va. Later he moved to North Fork, where he has built a splendid practice. He enters heartily into the professional, business and social life of his people. He is a Republican and is active in the councils of his party. He belongs to the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder. Among the secret and benevolent orders he holds membership in the Odd Fellows and the Masons. He is a member of the Flat Top Medical Association, the W. Va. State Medical Society and the National Medical Association . Apart from his medical books his preferred reading is history. He believes that permanent progress will follow unity of action, cooperation , the practice of common brotherhood and better education. He has property interests at North Fork, where he owns a beautiful modern home, and at Bluefield. On September 2, 1914, Dr. Hereford married Miss Goldy Faucett, of Durhman, N. C. She was educated at Durham, and at Estey Seminary , Shaw University, and was before her marriage an accomplished teacher. They have three children; James E., Jr., Henry C. and Clarence W. Hereford. Isaac Rucker Hill The Rev. Isaac Rucker Hill, now (1922) stationed at Princeton, the beautiful county seat of Mercer County, W.Va., is one of the substantial and successful men of the M. E. Connection in the state. He goes back in his origin to Georgia, having been born in Elbert County, Ga., on June 18, 1857. So it will be seen that he was a boy of four years of age at the outbreak of the war and was nine years old when it closed and brought freedom from slavery and opportunity to the boy and to his race in America.His father,Sim Hill,was a farmer and moved with his family to Tennessee in 1867, where Isaac Hill grew to manhood. Sim Hill was the son of Joe and Mary Hill. Joe Hill being an Indian, followed his people isaac rucker hill west virginia edition 95 to Indian Territory when they left Georgia. The mother of our subject was, before her marriage, Miss Eveline Deadwiler. After the family moved to Tennessee, young Hill went to the public schools of Bradley County,Tenn.Later he went to the Morristown Normal and Industrial College for three years. He remained and worked on the Tennessee farm till he was grown to manhood at twenty-one. It was after this that he went to school at Morristown, where he was under the necessity of making his own way in school. When a boy between the plow handles he had felt the call to preach the Gospel, and had never been able to get away from that early impression. When he had reached mature manhood, at about the age of 26, he gave his heart to God and yielded himself to the call to preach which had been upon him since boyhood. He was licensed and ordained in 1889, and joined the Conference at Bristol under Bishop Joyce. On September 2, 1883, Mr. Hill married Miss Sarah Elizabeth Henderson, daughter of Washington and Margaret Henderson. Five children were born to them. Their names are Paralee Greittiann, Leander , Ramon, Inez and James Ackerman Hill. Mr. Hill has had an active fruitful ministry and has served various charges in Tennessee,Virginia and West Virginia. Among the places where he has preached must be mentioned two years supply work at Athens before his ordination, Dayton Station two years, Chattanooga two years, North Chattanooga Circuit, Marion, Va., one year, Abingdon two years, Wytheville two years, Christiansburg one year, Bristol two years, and Tazewell two years. He was then promoted to the district and presided over the Bristol District for six years. On returning to the pastorate he served the Greenville charge two years, Big Stone Gap one year, Cleveland two years, Freeman three years and is now in his fourth year at the Princeton Station. In addition to his work as a preacher, Mr. Hill taught school for a number of years. As a preacher, pastor or superintendent, he goes about his work with energy and enthusiasm, and at the same time with wisdom and discretion. He is the counselor of his people 96 history american negro and seeks to lead them along lines of right thinking and action not only from the pulpit on...