The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II pg. 143 WILLIAM P. BLACK, M. D. A physician and surgeon whose home and practice have been in Charleston for half a dozen years, Doctor Black is filling the office of county coroner of Kanawha County. A native of West Virginia, he was born in Meadow Bluff District, Greenbrier County, in 1883, son of S. T. and Laura (Bivens) Black, natives of the state and members of old families in Greenbrier County. Doctor Black's uncle, Rev. Sam Black, was one of the prominent men in his section of the state, a Methodist minister, known and revered in many localities. Doctor Black spent his early life on the farm. He had indifferent school advantages while there, and after leav- ing home at the age of eighteen he earned the money for his better education. He attended the Smoot Normal School and graduated from the Dunsmore Business College 1906, at Staunton, Virginia. He studied medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, now the medical department of the University of Maryland, where he graduated in 1914. For the first two years he practiced at Blakely, and in 1916 removed to Charleston. Doctor Black is skillful and noted for the thoroughness of his work and consequently has a high standing in the medical profession. Particularly he has won general approval by the judg- ment and consideration with which he has discharged his duties as coroner, an office to which he was qualified in January, 1920. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations, is a York and Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, and a member of the Methodist Epis- cipal Church. Doctor Black married Miss Grace Royston, of Baltimore. their two children are Iva D. and William P., Jr.