Emmanuel S. Clenlans (born c. 1841) was an American civil rights activist and postal worker in Omaha, Nebraska. Clenlans was born about 1841 in Washington, DC. He married a woman named Ophelia and they had a daughter named Laura (married name of Craig).Prominent Colored Lady Dies. Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Thursday, February 14, 1907. Volume: XLII Issue: 118 Page: 5 In 1876, Clenlans was a part of the Nebraska Convention of Colored Americans, where he was on the committee on resolutions,The Colored Men. A State Convention Held In Omaha Yesterday. The Proceedings--Officers Elected--Addresses. Daily Nebraska Press (Nebraska City, Nebraska). Wednesday, January 19, 1876. Page: 4 and in 1879, Clenlans was a part of a meeting organized by Cyrus D. Bell with Dr. W. H. C. Stephenson, chair and Clenlans, secretary to express the political views of the Omaha black community. H. W. Coesley, Bell, and Gabriel Young played prominent committee roles in the meeting. The meeting passed resolutions against the unilateral support of blacks to the Republican party.Meeting of Colored People. Omaha Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Friday, September 12, 1879. Volume: XIV Issue: 282 Page: 8 In spite of this, he was a delegate to the state Republican convention in 1888.Colored Republicans. Omaha Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Friday, August 20, 1880. Volume: XV Issue: 267 Page: 8 In 1890, he was a part of the forming of the Nebraska branch of the National Afro-American League, and was part of the committee that wrote the constitution of the state branch.Have Too Many Great Men. Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska). Friday, January 10, 1890. Page: 3
Professionally, he was a clerk in the post office from the 1870sCity in General. Enterprise (Omaha, Nebraska). Saturday, October 3, 1896. Page: 3 until at least 1910.The Western Bureau. Freeman (Indianapolis, Indiana). Saturday, August 13, 1910. Volume: XXIII Issue: 33 Page: 2 Along with his postal service work, he owned a business with J. C. Parker, the Coal and Feed store, at 1016 N 24th St.Johnson, Ida Bell. Mechanical. Enterprise (Omaha, Nebraska). Saturday, April 4, 1896. Page: 5
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