"Black Snake John" Brewer

"Black Snake John" Brewer

Shared by Karen ➚

The following is an intriguing account of a little girl's observations of Baptist preacher, "Black Snake John" Brewer. Evidently he was a bit of a scary fellow when he got riled up! 

"Lucy rode on the back of the horse behind Joseph to attend the Laurel River Association (of Baptist churches) which met at Silver Creek Baptist Church in Rockcastle County.  There they met "Black Snake John" Brewer. When he found out they were Brewer's, he insisted that they go home with him. (Black Snake John was the oldest son of Joab Brewer, oldest Son of Howell Cobb Brewer, brother of Prettyman Brewer). He lived on top of Peach Orchard Mountain. Joe and Black Snake John got into an argument about religion and Lucy was so frightened that she would have made her father take her home, except that they couldn't see to get down off the mountain in the dark. Lucy was about 15 years old at this time."

Source of this account - Joseph and Dolly Johnson Brewer ➚
(also includes much more about Lucy and her parents)

John C "Black Snake John"⁶ Brewer (Joab⁵, Howell Cobb⁴, Ambrose³, Howell Sr², George¹) was born on 10 Apr 1850 in Owsley County, Kentucky. John married Margaret "Maggie" Pickett. Margaret was born on 16 Aug 1852 in Scott County, Kentucky. John died on 10 Feb 1920 in Whitley County, Kentucky. Maggie died on 12 Jun 1946 in Whitley County, Kentucky and was buried in Perkins Cemetery, near Woodbine, Kentucky.

Lucy Ellen Brewer⁷ (Joseph⁶, Howell T⁵, Prettyman⁴, Ambrose³, Howell Sr², George¹) was born in a one-room cabin at Sand Lick, Jackson (formerly Owsley) County, Kentucky. Her father was a Baptist preacher, and the family attended the Birch Lick Baptist Church.

Therefore, Joseph and "Black Snake John" were 2nd cousins. Both of their families came from Moore County, North Carolina, and both men were Baptist preachers living in Kentucky.