David Abner Jr.

David Abner Jr.
Abner in 1887
Born (1860-11-25)November 25, 1860
Upshur County, Texas
Died July 21, 1928(1928-07-21) (aged 67)
Harris County, Texas
Occupation Educator, journalist
Religion Baptist

David Abner Jr. (November 25, 1860 – July 21, 1928) was an educator in Texas. He was the first president of Guadalupe College and then of Conroe College.

Early life

Father, David Abner, Sr.

David Abner Jr. was born November 25, 1860 in Upshur County, Texas, the son of David Abner and Louisa Abner. His family was slaved until emancipation, but his father would become a delegate to the state constitutional convention and state legislature. In 1870 they moved to Marshall, Texas, where Abner attended Wiley University. He then enrolled in Straight University in New Orleans. In 1877 he enrolled at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1881 he enrolled at Bishop College, where he graduate in 1884,[1] becoming the first African American to graduate from a Texas school of higher education.[2] He then became a professor at the school. He was a delegate to the National Convention of Colored men (part of the Colored Conventions Movement) in September 1883, in 1884 he became corresponding secretary of the Baptist State Convention of Texas. He also edited the conventions paper, known as the Baptist Journal and later as the Baptist Pilot.[1]

College president

In 1884, Guadalupe College was founded, primarily through the efforts of William B. Ball, who would later serve as president. The school opened in 1887, and Abner was made the first president of the school, a position he served until 1905,[2] when he was forcibly removed due to opposition within the Baptist church leadership. The denomination opened a new (third) convention in the state, and created a new college, Conroe College.[3] Thereupon, in 1906, Abner was elected the first president of Conroe College.[4]

Personal life

Abner married Ella Wheeler, with whom he had two children. He died on July 21, 1928 in Harris County, Texas.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Simmons, William J., and Henry McNeal Turner. Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising. GM Rewell & Company, 1887. p1119-1121
  2. 1 2 Glasrud, Bruce A. African Americans in South Texas History. Texas A&M University Press, 2011. p1835
  3. ↑ Harmony Among Negro Baptists, The Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas) September 20, 1910, page 9, accessed February 8, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8830393//
  4. ↑ Conroe Negro College, The Houston Post (Houston, Texas) September 29, 1906, page 7, accessed February 8, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8830264/conroe_negro_college_the_houston_post/
  5. ↑ David Abner, Jr. at Find a Grave
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