The Black History Makers of Chillicothe: David Nickens was the first Black ordained minister in Ohio
CHILLICOTHE― David Nickens is a cherished religious leader in Ross County who created the First Baptist Church, participated in the Underground Railroad and was the first Black ordained minister in Ohio.
Nickens was born into slavery in Virginia in 1794. After attaining their freedom, his family moved to Chillicothe in 1806.
On July 13, 1824, David Nickens, Elder William White, DD of the Deer Creek Presbyterian Church and Reverand Nathan Cory, a Baptist, met with several African American citizens at the Nickens home with the purpose of organizing a Baptist church, according to the Nickens Center.
More: Meet the Black history makers of Chillicothe
Five days after the organization meeting, Revends Cory and White began preparing Nickens for ordination. He was granted a license in October 1824 and was ordained the following year by the Caucasian Baptist Church of Chillicothe. He was the first man of color to be ordained in Ohio.
According to a historical marker outside of First Baptist Church, the Baptist church was founded under the name First Regular African Baptist Church of Christ of Chillicothe. The name was later changed to the First Anti-Slavery Baptist Church of Chillicothe.
The founders were David Nickens, Ruth Nickens, Naomi Nickens, Serena-Carter Nickens, O.N.J. Nickens, James Wilkerson and Fredman Jackson. The church's by-laws included a strong anti-slavery statement and founding members of the church continued to speak out against slavery and for the rights of African Americans.
On July 5, 1832, Nickens and his congregation joined with the congregation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to protest the inadequacy of the rights for people of color. He charged that "the racial suffering of African Americans was linked to an unjust government," according to the Nickens Center.
Nickens used his status as a minister to help Black people obtain freedom papers in Ohio, said Beverly Gray, director of the Nickens Center. Nickens served as the pastor for 18 years without salary, surviving off of freewill offerings.
Many anti-slavery preachers in Ohio, mostly Baptists, Presbyterians, Quakers and Methodists, had an active role in helping runaway slaves, including Nickens who assisted in the Underground Railroad at his home on Fifth Street, Gray said.
"Rigid state and national laws made the work of these practical emancipators necessarily secret, and therefore dangerous and subject to social disapproval, especially in the southern part of the state, according to the book "Ohio Before 1850" by Robert Chaddock. "They were persecuted, hated, and visited with the penalties of the law."
Nickens moved to Cincinnati in 1836 to help found the African Union Baptist Church, the first African American church in Cincinnati. He served as the pastor of the African Union Baptist Church until his death in 1838.
Gray said that each of Nicken's daughters married an Unground Railroad conductor and continued his work in abolition.
Today, the First Baptist Church is active in Chillicothe. An African American history museum named after David Nickens is attached to the church.
The Black History Makers of Chillicothe is a limited monthly series about people of color who have made an impact in Ross County, whether they are historical figures or people who are actively making a difference in the community.
Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Black History Makers: the first Black ordained minister in Ohio
