Dr. Harvey Black (1827-1888) was the great grandson of Samuel Black and grandson of John Black who were among the original settlers of Blacksburg, Virginia. He was born to Alexander and Elizabeth McDowell Black in 1827. He served as a private in the Mexican War. Following his discharge in 1848, he attended medical school at the University of Virginia, then set up a private practice in Blacksburg in 1850. In 1852, he married Mary Irby Kent (b. 1836), who he called "Mollie." They had four children: Kent (b.1853), Elizabeth (b.1855), Alexander (b.1957), and Charles (b.1859).

During the American Civil War, Black was a surgeon with the 4^th Regiment, Virginia Infantry of the Confederate Army, and ran the field hospital of the 2^nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Black assisted in the operation on General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson after Jackson had been wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

After the Civil War, Harvey Black resumed his medical practice in Blacksburg. He was elected president of the Medical Society of Virginia in 1872. He played an instrumental role in the founding of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College in Blacksburg in 1872. He was the first rector of the Board of Visitors.

From 1876 to 1882, Harvey Black was Superintendent of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum in Williamsburg. In 1884, he was appointed to the board of a proposed state mental hospital for southwestern Virginia. In 1885, he was elected to represent Montgomery County in the House of Delegates and served two sessions. In the House, he influenced the decision to locate the new hospital in Marion. In 1887, Black became the first superintendent of the new Southwestern State Lunatic Asylum in Marion. He appointed John S. Apperson (who later married Black's daughter Elizabeth in 1889) assistant physician there. Harvey Black died in Richmond in October 1888 and was buried in Westview Cemetery in Blacksburg.

William A. Wade was born in Virginia about 1827. He was a Methodist Episcopal minister. Some time around 1850, he married Charlotte (Charlette) Louisa (b. abt. 1830). They had three children: Elizabeth (b. abt.1851), Willie (b. abt.1862), and Allice (b. abt. 1864). In 1860, the family lived in Blacksburg, possibly with Charlotte's extended family. In 1880, they were in Opequon, Frederick County, Virginia.