David Leroy Nickens
Encyclopedia
Rev. David Leroy Nickens (1794–1838) was a freed slave who was born in Virginia
. Nickens was the first African American
licensed minister in Ohio
in July, 1824. He worked with abolitionists Theodore Weld and Augustus Wattles reforming education for black children in Chillicothe, Ohio
.
Nickens was called as the first pastor of the Union Baptist Church
in Cincinnati, which was established on July 21, 1831.http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2001/02/17/loc_citys_oldest_black.html Nickens died in Cincinnati in 1838 and is buried in the Union Baptist Cemetery in Price Hill
, a Cincinnati neighborhood.
His wife, Serena, and children returned to Chillicothe and finished out their days there.http://www.angelfire.com/oh/chillicothe/people.html
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Nickens was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
licensed minister in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in July, 1824. He worked with abolitionists Theodore Weld and Augustus Wattles reforming education for black children in Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
.
Nickens was called as the first pastor of the Union Baptist Church
Union Baptist Church, Cincinnati
The Union Baptist Church is Cincinnati's oldest black church. The church was founded on July 14, 1821. They had their first meeting in a building on Third Street, between Elm and Plum Streets, downtown. The members built a church on Central Avenue and called Rev...
in Cincinnati, which was established on July 21, 1831.http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2001/02/17/loc_citys_oldest_black.html Nickens died in Cincinnati in 1838 and is buried in the Union Baptist Cemetery in Price Hill
Price Hill, Cincinnati
Price Hill is a neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, located north of Sedamsville and Riverside, south of Westwood and South Fairmount, and west of Queensgate. It is one of the oldest outlying settlements of Cincinnati, and includes parts of the zip codes 45205, 45238, and 45204.-Geography:Price Hill...
, a Cincinnati neighborhood.
His wife, Serena, and children returned to Chillicothe and finished out their days there.http://www.angelfire.com/oh/chillicothe/people.html