BIO: John A. NASH, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lana Clark 
<myclarkhistory@hotmail.com>

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 27
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  JOHN A. NASH, former editor and publisher of the Huntingdon Journal, was born 
in Huntingdon November 15, 1827.  He learned the printing business in that place 
and founded the Huntingdon American in 1855, which he continued to publish until 
1859.  The American and the Journal were then consolidated under the name of the 
Journal and American and Mr. Nash and Samuel G. Whittaker formed a partnership, 
which continued until December 13, 1865, when Mr. Whittaker sold his interest to 
Robert McDivitt.  The latter remained in the firm until May 1, 1867, when Mr. 
Nash became the sole proprietor and continued as such until January 1, 1871.  He 
formed on that date a partnership with Joseph R. Durborrow, of Bedford, who 
remained until May 24, 1878.  Mr. Nash was sole proprietor of the Journal from 
that time until July 31, 1896, when he sold the office to Dr. Z. B. Taylor, and 
retired from business because of declining health. 
  Mr. Nash began his career as a poor boy, the devil of a country printing 
office.  By his extreme love and aptitude for the profession, he gradually rose 
to higher positions in the office, and at the age of twenty-eight years founded 
the Huntingdon American as its editor.  He would sometimes, when resting from 
his editorial labors, take his place at the case and distance his employees in 
type setting. 
  Mr. Nash was elected treasurer of Huntingdon county in 1860, and was 
postmaster of the borough from 1890 to 1894.  He was a member of the town 
council, but public office was not his aim.  He allowed no position to interfere 
with his editorial work; his unfailing ambition was to make his paper and his 
printing office rank among the best.  His wish as expressed to his friends was 
to die in the harness, and the retirement forced upon him by ill-health was a 
most severe trial.  
  Mr. Nash was a thorough Republican and assiduously advocated the principles of 
the party.  In his editorial capacity during forty-one years of exciting 
political campaigns, he commanded the respect of his opponents and the esteem of 
his friends.  He was of a kindly disposition, and it was foreign to his nature 
to wound the feelings of any person. 
  John A. Nash died December 1, 1896, leaving a wife and the following children 
Mrs. John McCahan, of Smithfield township; Mrs. John L. Rohland, Mrs. Charles 
DeWalt and Mrs. Thomas R. Walton, all of Huntingdon, Pa.