Biography of Hon. Nicholas Ensley, pages 868.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Hon. Nicholas Ensley, merchant and banker, Auburn, Ind., was born near 
Bellview, Seneca Co., Ohio, Feb. 28, 1841.  His parents, George and Lydia 
(Noel) Ensley, moved to Indiana the following November and settled in Butler 
Township, De Kalb County, where he was reared on a farm, helping his father 
cut down the forest for three large farms, and received a good education.  
Nov. 1, 1861, he responded to the call for volunteers by the President to 
defend the Union against rebel invasion, enlisting in Company K, Forty-
fourth Indiana Infantry. He served four years, and was mustered out at 
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 14, 1865.  For meritorious service he was detailed 
clerk of the military court at McMinnville, Tenn.  In the spring of 1864, 
after the battle of Chickamauga, he was detailed chief clerk in the Provost 
office at Chattanooga, and remained there six months.  Previous to being 
detailed provost clerk, he had been promoted to Second Sergeant of his 
company.  In the fall of 1864 he was promoted to Quartermaster-Sergeant, 
and in the spring of 1865 was commissioned Second Lieutenant of his company 
K, and from that time till his discharge acted the most of the time as 
Regimental Quartermaster.  After the war he returned De Kalb County and 
took charge of his father’s farm, the old homestead at Butler Center.  In 
1872 he was nominated on the Republican ticket as a candidate for Treasurer 
of De Kalb County.  Although his party was largely in the minority, he was 
elected by a majority of fifty-two votes, and in 1874 was re-elected by 
160 votes.  He became a resident of Auburn in November, 1872, and has 
since been identified with her successful and enterprising business men.  
He has been a member of the Auburn School Board three years, and takes a 
great interest in educational matters.  In the spring of 1877 he engaged 
in the farm-implement business, discontinuing it in 1884.  In January, 
1879, he embarked in the general mercantile business and has met with good 
success.  In February, 1882, he assisted in the organization of the Farmers’ 
Bank of Auburn, and is still one of its members.  He was elected State 
Senator to represent De Kalb and Steuben counties, Nov. 4, 1884, on the 
Republican ticket by a majority of 348.  Mr. Ensley was married to Helen, 
daughter of John A. Ditmars, of De Kalb County.  They have five children---
Oliver P., Eva Adel, Oscar J., Marion E. and Amber L.  He is a member of 
DeLong Post, No. 67, G.A.R., Auburn, Ind., of which he is Senior Vice-
Commander.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com