Born in Alabama, Rev. Isaac N. Daniels arrived in Mahaska County, Iowa to work as a coal miner and is listed as an AME educator by 1886. He married his wife Emma in the same year. Before 1900 he served in Iowa in Clarinda, Council Bluffs, and Sioux City. Rev. Daniels was in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1892; and served in Illinois in Macomb (1894), Aurora (1896), Chicago (1900), and Evanston (1903).

On May 15, 1903 his Evanston church made national news when it was dynamited. Chicago newspapers speculated the attack was orchestrated by gambling interests or the result of racism. Rev. Daniels continued to minister in Evanston until going to Aurora again by 1908.

He returned to Iowa and was in Des Moines at St. Paul AME Church in 1909 until being named a presiding elder of the Keokuk District in 1911. He held that position through October 1915, until again serving as a church pastor. Rev. Daniels returned again to Illinois and held positions in Evanston, Englewood, Glencoe and Hyde Park. He became presiding elder of the Evanston District in October 1926. He lived in Evanston until his death in 1929.