Biography of A. S. Nash - Craighead Co, AR

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Submitted by: Unknown < >
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1889.

page 347

A. S. Nash, merchant at Jonesboro, was born in Bedford County, Tenn.,
July 23, 1829, and is a son of Travis and Joanna (Miller) Nash who came
from Virginia to Tennessee early in the history of that State. The Nash
family are of Irish and the Miller family of French descent. Travis Nash
was a farmer by occupation, and in the War of 1812, was a captain. He was
a successful farmer and a brave and gallant soldier, and died at
Shelbyville, Tenn., April 7, 1844. The mother moved with her family to
Texas, where she died in 1862. Of the family of fifteen children, only
two are now living, Mary, widow of John McGimsey, and Augustus S. Two
brothers, Thomas and Franklin, who went from Texas, were killed in the
war, and two others, Lafayette and Granderson M. died in Texas at the
close of the war. Augustus S. Nash was reared in Shelbyville, Tenn.,
remained on the farm until fourteen years of age, when he was apprenticed
to learn the saddler's trade. He followed saddlery for several years,
then engaged for several years in farming, and in 1860 moved to Jackson
County, Ala. While living in Tennessee, he was lieutenant of militia
under the old muster law, and in 1861, at the outbreaking of the Civil
War, he enlisted in Company G, Fourth Alabama Cavalry, and during the war
saw much active service. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson,
Murfreesboro, Resaca, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, Franklin, Knoxville,
Tenn., and several others. He was with Gen. Wilson from Alabama to
Columbus, Ga., where they surrendered. He was not seriously wounded, but
had his left ear shot off at Chickamauga. At the close of the war, he
returned to Nashville, where he took the oath, and then returned to his
farm in Alabama. In 1870 he moved to Jonesboro, Ark., where for six years
he engaged very successfully in farming, and in 1876, he began
merchandising, which he has since followed. He was married in 1849 to
Margara Atkins, and they are the parents of seven living children:
Thomas, William, Charles, Leander, Richard, Wiley and Victoria. The
father and mother are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
Nash belongs to the Masonic fraternity; he owns a great deal of property
in Jonesboro, and as a business man has been very successful. In 1880 he
was elected county treasurer, which office he filled satisfactorily to
his constituents. He is one of the leading business men of the town.