Newell Houston Ensley

Newell Houston Ensley (August 23, 1852 – May 23, 1888) was an American Baptist minister and civil rights activist. He was a professor at Shaw University, Howard University, and Alcorn University.

Early life

Newell Houston Ensley was born a slave in Nashville, Tennessee on August 23, 1852 to George and Clara Ensley. His family was owned by his mother's father and Ensley was allowed to play with the white children on the farm and was taught to read and write. Both of his parents were also literate. He was a buggy boy, servant, and rent collector to his grandfather. While still a child during the American Civil War (1861–1865), Ensley ran away and hid in Union Army camps that were nearby until the Army moved on and he returned to the farm where he received a whipping. In spite of this, Ensley remained on the farm after the war was over and the abolition of slavery.

After the Civil War, he was a paid worker for his grandfather, until the grandfather's death in 1866. His mother was established in a cabin on 30 acres in that year.

Newell worked and attended a school near his mother's cabin and became a schoolteacher and Sunday school teacher, desiring to become a preacher.

During his studies at Roger Williams, he attended the six-year classical course Nashville Baptist Institute, receiving a diploma in May 1877.

Career

After graduating from Newton, Ensley took a position of professor of theology and Latin

One year later, he moved to Howard University in Washington, DC, serving as a professor of rhetoric, Hebrew, and science. About this time he married. He then moved to Alcorn University in Lorman, Mississippi where he held the title of professor of rhetoric, natural sciences, and vocal music In 1886, he traveled to St. Louis for the First National Convention of Colored Baptists. At that meeting, he spoke out against the poor behavior of certain leaders of the Colored Conventions Movement

Personal life and death

Ensley married Elizabeth Piper Ensley on September 4, 1882, in Boston. They had three children: Roger (b. 1883), Charlotte (b. 1885), and Jean (March 1888–June 1888).

In 1887, Ensley was in ill health and was travelling and speaking throughout the country. He died in Denver, Colorado on May 23, 1888.