LAFAYETTE P. NASH
Arizona, The Youngest State, 1913, pg 616

One cannot carry investigation far into the history of 
Arizona's pioneer settlement without enter countering the 
name of Lafayette P. Nash, who in 1870 made his first 
settlement in Phoenix.  With the exception of short periods 
spent in Alaska and Mexico he remained a continuous resident 
of this state until his death, which occurred March 17, 1914 
at his home in Miami.  His activities affected phases of 
development for he was interested in mining, prospecting, 
merchandising and ranching and he also left the impress of 
his work and personality upon political history.  He served 
as Justice of the Peace in Miami and in that capacity did 
good work.

Mr. Nash was born in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1842 and made 
his home in that section of the state until the outbreak of 
the Civil War in 1861, when he went to St. Louis, Missouri, 
where he joined the First Missouri Cavalry, serving for more 
than three years and taking part in may engagements.  He was 
twice wounded, once at Pea Ridge and again at Prairie Grove, 
Arkansas and in 1864 was mustered out at Little Rock, 
receiving his honorable discharge as a private. He went 
immediately to St. Louis and thence to Indiana, making his 
way back from there to Delaware, Ohio where for a short time 
he attended school.  Laying aside his text books, he entered 
the government employ as a bridge builder and followed that 
occupation until 1865, when he went to New Orleans, 
Louisiana.  Shortly afterward he was seized with yellow 
fever and upon his recovery started on a journey through 
the western states, his travels eventually bringing him to 
Eldorado, Arizona, where he joined three others and went 
on a raft down the Colorado River to La Paz, Mexico.

In 1870 Mr. Nash came to Arizona, settling in Phoenix and 
for a short time he worked on a canal in that city, later 
coming across the country to Gila County in order to prospect 
for gold.  This journey was made with a company of soldiers 
and after several encounters with hostile Indians the party 
landed on Pinto Creek, where Mr. Nash prospected, engaging 
in that work in various parts of Gila County.  Eventually, 
however, he abandoned it and went to Ehrenberg, where he 
obtained a position as a clerk in a mercantile establishment 
operated by the United State Government and this he held for 
a number of years.  At the end of that time he accepted a 
wood contract which it took two years to fill and when his 
work was completed he returned to Phoenix, taking charge 
of a freighting outfit which he later purchased and operated 
for some time. When he sold it he removed to Mesa City and 
came from there to the north end of Gila County, where he 
located the Golden Wonder Mine, operating this property for 
three years. He sold it at the end of that time and turned 
his attention to ranching, engaging in stock raising until 
1893.

During that time Mr. Nash became very well known and 
prominent throughout Gila County, winning recognition as 
a man of superior business ability. He was honored by his 
fellow citizens by election to the Territorial Legislature, 
in which he served one term.  When he sold his stock business 
in 1893 he again went to Phoenix, where he opened a general 
store, which was destroyed by fire in the following year.  
After this disaster, Mr. Nash went to Alaska, where  he mined 
and prospected until 1898, returning in that year to Arizona 
and continuing his mining operations in Yavapai County.  
After a short time he went to Cananea, Mexico where he 
operated a mine in the interests of the Cananea Mining 
Company and where he also served as chief clerk of that 
organization, spending nine years in their employ.  In 
1909 he went to Goldfield, Nevada and in the following 
year to Globe, where he was appointed jailer by Sheriff 
Thompson, serving in that capacity for one year. He resigned 
that position on his removal to Miami, where he became an 
honored and respected citizen. For a time he served as 
deputy sheriff but on the 16th of March, 191 was made 
Justice of the Peace, a capacity in which he served in a 
capable manner.

In 1878 Mr. Nash was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. 
Birdsall, a native of San Francisco, California, who died 
in Phoenix in 1901, leaving the following children: Herbert, 
who died March 18, 1913; Nina, now Mrs. John Burger of Los 
Angeles, W.B., supervisor of Gila County, residing at Hayden; 
Louis, who is engaged in mining at Cananea, Mexico; Lucy, a 
graduate of a normal school and now engaged in teaching in 
Miami and Will, a resident of Miami.

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