Richard DeBaptiste facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard DeBaptiste
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Image of DeBaptiste from 1887
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| Born | November 11, 1831 Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S.
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| Died | April 21, 1901 (aged 69) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Occupation | minister |
| Religion | Baptist |
Richard DeBaptiste (born November 11, 1831 – died April 21, 1901) was an important Baptist minister who lived in Chicago, Illinois. He was a strong supporter of ending slavery, known as an abolitionist, before slavery was made illegal. He worked with his relative, George DeBaptiste, to help enslaved people escape to freedom using the Underground Railroad, especially in Detroit, Michigan.
In 1863, he became a pastor at Olivet Baptist Church in Chicago. He was a major leader in the Baptist community, both locally and across the country. Richard DeBaptiste was also a journalist, writing for and editing different newspapers and journals.
Contents
Richard DeBaptiste's Early Life
Richard DeBaptiste was born free in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on November 11, 1831. His parents, William and Eliza DeBaptiste, were free people of color. He received his education in secret. First, a Black man taught him, and later, a Scots-Irish teacher from Scotland helped him learn.
His grandfather, John DeBaptiste, fought in the American Revolutionary War. He was born on the island of St. Kitt's. Richard's uncle, George DeBaptiste, fought for the U.S. in the War of 1812. Richard also had two brothers, George and Benjamin, who both served in the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Moving to Detroit and Helping Others
In 1846, Richard's family moved from Virginia to Detroit, Michigan. They were part of a group of free Black people led by William DeBaptiste and Marie Louis More. In Detroit, Richard continued his education. He learned from Richard Dillingham, a Quaker, and Reverend Samuel H. Davis. Reverend Davis was the pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Detroit.
Richard's father and uncle were builders. Richard learned skills like making bricks, building with bricks, and plastering. In the west, his father started a grocery business, and Richard helped him. When the grocery business failed, they went back to building. Richard became a partner in the business. In Detroit, and later in Ohio and Chicago, Richard DeBaptiste helped enslaved people escape to Canada. He worked with George DeBaptiste, who was famous for helping people on the Underground Railroad in Detroit.
After moving to Chicago, DeBaptiste also worked with other well-known abolitionists. These included John and Mary Jones.
Starting His Ministry and Family Life
Richard DeBaptiste became a Baptist in 1852. This happened at the Second Baptist Church in Detroit. He quickly became active there, teaching Sunday School. Later, he became an ordained Baptist preacher.
DeBaptiste married Georgiana Brische in October 1855. She was from Cincinnati, Ohio. They lived in Detroit until 1858, then moved to Mount Pleasant, Hamilton County, Ohio. They had three children together. Sadly, Georgiana died on November 2, 1872. Their daughter, Georgia Mabel DeBaptiste (born in 1867), grew up to be a well-known journalist.
DeBaptiste married again on July 13, 1885, to Mary E. Grant. She died in April 1886 from tuberculosis, a serious illness at the time. They did not have any children. His last marriage was to Nellie Williams on November 11, 1890. She was from Galesburg, Illinois.
Leading the Way in Chicago
In Mount Pleasant, Ohio, Richard DeBaptiste received his license to preach. He started a Sunday School there. He also preached at the Union Baptist Church in Cincinnati. In April 1860, he officially became a minister in Mount Pleasant. This was done by a group of five Baptist churches from Cincinnati and Lockland, Ohio. Besides his church work, he taught at public schools for Black children for three years. He also started and led a Black Baptist church there from 1860 to 1863.
In August 1863, DeBaptiste was asked to become the pastor of Olivet Baptist Church in Chicago. He took over from Jesse Freeman Boulden. DeBaptiste served there for almost 20 years, until February 1882. During his time, he baptized over 1,700 people. He also helped start several new churches in Illinois. These included the Second Baptist Church of Elgin, the Third Baptist Church of Aurora, the Baptist Church at St. Charles, and the Second Baptist Church of Evanston. While in Chicago, he also studied at the Morgan Park Theological Seminary, which was part of the University of Chicago.
In 1869, he organized Illinois' first Colored Convention. This meeting aimed to fight for civil rights for Black people.
Richard DeBaptiste's Leadership and Activism
DeBaptiste held many important leadership roles in Baptist groups. He worked at both local and national levels. He was elected secretary of the Wood River Association for many years. In 1865, he became the recording secretary of the Northwestern and Southern Baptist convention. The next year, he became its corresponding secretary.
He was elected president of the American Baptist Missionary convention in 1867. He was reelected for the next four years. In 1870, he was also elected president of the Baptist Free Mission Society, a white organization. He also became the corresponding secretary of the American Baptist National Convention in 1870.
From 1872 to 1876, DeBaptiste was elected president of the national convention every year. In 1877, he became the corresponding secretary for the Foreign Mission department for two years.
Around this time, DeBaptiste also served as a trustee at Leland University. He held positions as corresponding secretary and treasurer for the Baptist General Association of the Western States and Territories. In 1886 and 1887, he was again elected corresponding secretary of the American National Baptist Convention. He also served as the convention's statistician many times.
In all his roles, DeBaptiste worked hard for equality and Black rights. He called for an end to "black laws". These laws limited the freedom of Black people. His efforts helped to get these unfair laws removed in Illinois.
In 1886, DeBaptiste was a key leader at the American National Baptist Convention. This meeting was called by William J. Simmons. A main goal was to unite Black Baptists. Important speakers at this event included James T. White and Solomon T. Clanton.
DeBaptiste worked closely with John W. E. Thomas. Thomas was the first Black state legislator in Illinois. DeBaptiste was also president of the Cook County Building and Loan Association of Chicago. This was an African-American group that helped Black businesses grow.
Richard DeBaptiste as a Journalist
Richard DeBaptiste also wrote articles for many journals. He was a co-editor with Reverend G. C. Booth at the Chicago Conservator. This was after the founder, Ferdinand Lee Barnett. From September 1884 to December 1885, DeBaptiste was the editor of the Western Herald. He also wrote for Reverend H. H. White's Monitor in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a writer for Reverend R. L. Perry's National Monitor from Brooklyn.
Honors and Passing
On May 17, 1887, the University of Louisville gave Richard DeBaptiste an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. This is a special title given for great achievements in theology. In 1887, he also received an honorary doctorate from Simmons College of Kentucky.
Richard DeBaptiste passed away on April 21, 1901, in Chicago.
