Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-26
ANOTHER USEFUL MAN.
sketch of n Former Resident


In our issue of yesterday, we published
from the Memphis Fair Record, compli
mentary reference to a former resident Of
Nashville now prominent citizen of Mem.
| phis, and in the same paper we find a notice
of E. Ensley, Esq, raised in this city, but
now also of Memphis, and the same gen.
tlemen who is now erecting the magnificent
block of buildings on the old CITY Hotel
site in this city. That paper says:
He was born in 1888 on the HAYWOOD
farm, in Davidson county, Tenn, near
Nashville. His father was North Caro-
linian, born near Wilmington in 1892, and
when six years of age was brought to Da-
wilson county by widowed mother. He
was the architect of his fortunes, and died
near Nashville in 1866 at the age of "A.
The writer of this sketch knew him well as
one of the pioneers Of Davidson county,
and learned to appreciate him as one pos
sessing those sterling qualities which make
the name of Tennesseean respected wher-
ever the man who claims it belongs to that
class who have adorned and illustrated the
frugal virtues and heightened characteristics
of our early settlers.
In boyhood the subject of our sketch was
said by his associates to have been untam-
able; but like many of the best men of our
times and some of the great men of other
ages, he has been subdued to be one of the
most cultivated gentlemen, both as to in.
telligence and Christian charity, that may
be met in any part of the world. He was
educated at Cumberland University, Leba-
non, completing there his literary course in
1850. He thereafter entered the Law
School and graduated in 1855, but delicate
health prevented him from practicing
his chosen profession. He com
menced stock farming on the Hay
wood place, where he was born, in 1856
In 1857 he commenced cotton planting on
the Jackson plantation, Coahoma county,
Miss, where he pursued that occupation
till 1860, when he removed to the planta-
ton which he now owns and manages in
Shelby county, Tenn, five miles below the
city. This is one of the largest planta-
tons on the Mississippi river, presenting a
front upon the river of about nine miles.
and being of unsurpassed fertility. Mr..
Ensley has never aspired to political dis
tinction or entered into the arena of ambit-
ious life.
He has been compelled, from his position
in life, to devote himself to the salvation of
the private fortune which he inherited from
his ancestors. Yet in every public capasty
in which he has acted he has displayed a
strong common sense, an administrative
ability, and a high sense of duty, which
would mark him as man qualified to fill
any position to which he might be called.
There is no man in Memphis whose active
influence is more potent to call forth the
aid of the capitalists and the energies of
the leading citizens in behalf of any enter
prise. His exertions, when exercised ear
nestly for a good cause, are ALWAYS re-
spOnded to by those who are best able to
build it up. This is peculiarly the case with
the Agricultural and Mechanical Society.
Mr.. Ensley was two years its President, and
now occupies the position of its first Vice
President, having retired from the Presi-
dency when it was pressed on him, by
reason of the overwhelming private engage
ments that crowded upon him. Yet he has
not tagged in his devotion to the interests
of the Society. Whenever there was a neces-
sity for his exertion, he has put forth every
energy to redeem its fortunes and his coun-
sells have displayed wisdom and foresight in
every emergency. THERE'S no man in our
midst who has more Jacksonian persistency
in pursuing cause or an enterprise, which
he believes to be good or useful. 1t is hard
to deny such man anything, because his
ground is well taken and his persistence in
accomplishing his just ends is most extra
ordinary. He has always heretofore stood
by the Agricultural and Mechanical Society
with strong arm and potent viii, and it
would be hard for him to see it fail, when its
success can be accomplished by his agency
and that fits present able and influential
President and Directors,