Lincoln County, SD Biographies.....Nash, N. C. 1843 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 29, 2007, 10:09 pm Author: Geo. A. Ogle & Co. (1897) N. C. NASH. It will be unnecessary to inform any citizen of Canton, or any newspaper reader of Lincoln county, and the surrounding country, that this gentleman is the editor and proprietor of the Sioux Valley News, one of the pioneer publications of the state. He is a native of Orleans county, N. Y., born February 15, 1843, and a son of Francis and Catherine V. (Curtis) Nash, the former also a native of the Empire state, born in Genesee county, of English and Holland-Dutch descent, and by occupation a farmer. Mrs. Nash, the mother of our subject, first saw the light in Berkshire, Mass., and was of Holland-Dutch ancestry on her father's side, her mother being a direct descendant of early New England families. Of nine children born to the above couple, the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was the eldest son and second child, his sister, the only daughter, being the first-born. He passed his early childhood in the place of his nativity, and at the age of seven years he accompanied his parents to Rock county, Wis., where he was educated and grew up a sturdy youth. He was still a member of the parental household when the Civil war began, and was one of the first to offer his services to the cause, enlisting when but seventeen years of age as a private in company A, Thirteenth Wisconsin regiment, infantry. He served his country faithfully a period of four years and three months, and participated with his regiment in all their service during that time, receiving an honorable discharge December 28, 1865. As soon as he was mustered out of the army, Mr. Nash returned to Janesville, Wis., near where he engaged in general farming until 1871, at which time he made his appearance in the territory of Dakota. His first location was in Lincoln county, in Canton township, of which he entered a homestead of 160 acres, and this property he improved and made his home on until the fall of 1876, when he removed to the city of Canton. In January following, he began his career in "the art preservative of all arts," purchasing a half interest in the Sioux Valley News, and in April he became the sole proprietor of the newspaper which he now edits and publishes. The journal is neatly printed, discrimination is displayed in the news columns, and those devoted to general reading, while the editorial work is seen at a glance to be under the control of a man who keeps himself well informed regarding matters of public moment, and speaks readily and to the point regarding them. The sheet has a circulation of 1,100 copies, and is a welcome guest in many households of the county, containing much valuable information for its readers. Our subject was married June 26, 1865, while home on a furlough, to Miss Jennie E. Williston, a native of Janesville, Wis., and this union has proved a mutually felicitous and happy one. Of the five children born to this couple, we note the following: Nina M. is a teacher in the Elk Point public schools; George W. is a professor in Yankton college; Clara W. is a graduate of the same institution; Marion, deceased; and Francis F. is a student at Yankton college. Mr. and Mrs. Nash belong to the Congregational church, in which Mr. Nash has been one of the trustees for sixteen years. As a valuable acquisition to the citizenship of Canton, our subject has done good service in various official capacities. He served as postmaster from April, 1890, to June, 1894, and has been a member of the board of education for the past three years, of which body he is now president. He is prominent among the G. A. R. men, having served them as commander of the department of Sonth Dakota from June, 1893, to June, 1894, and is past grand master of the I. O. O. F., also holding membership in the Masonic fraternity, as well as the Modern Woodmen of America. As a newspaper man he belongs to the South Dakota Press association, two years of his membership therein being as president, and politically he advocates the platform and the principles of the Republican party, using his elective franchise regularly in supporting its candidates. It is with pleasure that we present the portrait of Mr. Nash as that of a representative citizen of Lincoln county. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties, SOUTH DAKOTA. Containing Biographical Sketches of Hundreds of Prominent Old Settlers and Representative Citizens, with a Review of their Life Work; their Identity with the Growth and Development of these Counties; Reminiscences of Personal History and Pioneer Life; and other Interesting and Valuable Matter which should be Preserved in History. ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO. GEO. A. OGLE & CO. Publishers, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. 1897. Biography is the only true history.—EMERSON. A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote generations.—MACAULAY. 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