Biography of Charles P. Nash, MD - Monroe Co. WV


The History of West Virginia, Old and New 
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume III, 
pg. 596-597 


CHARLES P. NASH, M. D. Although a physician by 
profession, Dr. Charles P. Nash has been known to the 
citizens of Alderson and the surrounding community for 
the past fifteen years in connection with important busi- 
ness enterprises, his field of endeavor being the handling 
of land and cattle. He was born in Putnam County, West 
Virginia, May 9, 1859, a son of James Monroe Nash.
James Monroe Nash was born at Richmond, Virginia, 
and in the early days of his career went to Kanawha 
County, West Virginia, where he engaged in salt produc- 
tion, later following agricultural pursuits near Buffalo, a 
vocation in which he continued to be occupied until his 
death. He became locally prominent in civic and legisla- 
tive affairs and at one time represented Putnam County 
in the State Legislature. His wife was Missouri Martin, 
whose people were living in Campbell County, Virginia, 
and Mr. and Mrs. Nash were the parents of five sons and 
two daughters. Of these, James H., who died recently, 
was a prominent attorney of Charleston, while with the 
exception of Dr. Charles P. Nash, the other children became 
agriculturists.
Charles P. Nash grew up on the home farm and after 
securing his preliminary educational training followed 
the career of a country school teacher for two years. 
With the money thus obtained he went to a medical 
school, and in 1884 was graduated from the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, with the degree 
of Doctor of Medicine. He took a secondary course at the 
Post-Graduate Medical School of New York City, and 
began practice at Buffalo, subsequently spending one year 
at Richmond, Virginia. In the meantime he had become 
interested in land and cattle deals, and after coming to 
Alderson applied himself to this line of activity, in which 
he has established a recognized position for himself. He 
is now the owner of 2,000 acres of land in different parts 
of Greenbrier and Monroe counties, one of his farms being 
the old Renickk property on which is yet standing a stone 
house built when the country was first invaded by paleface 
settlement. It is of massive construction, a very thick 
door opening into the interior reinforced by a huge padlock 
and key, it requiring two turns of the latter to spring the 
lock. Evidently this house was built as a refuge during 
threatened Indian invasions and in all probability served 
its purpose well in repelling the attacks of the hostile 
savages.
Doctor Nash is a democrat and has taken an active 
interest in local affairs. He was elected to represent Monroe 
County in the State Legislature of 1913, the last session 
which elected a United States senator, and had a good record 
for constructive work. He is a Presbyterian in religious 
belief and fraternally a Royal Arch Mason. In 1893 
Doctor Nash married Mary P. Mann, whose grandfather, 
William T. Mann, was one of the early pioneers of this 
region and the owner of much of the New River lands. 
They have had four sons: James Frank, Charles P., Edwin 
Mann and Ralph Alexander. Of these, Charles P. has had 
a remarkable career. He was a student at the Virginia 
Military Institute when the United States entered the 
World war, and was to have graduated in June, 1917, with 
his class, but with six captains of his school was selected 
for a lieutenancy in the United States Marine Corps, in 
May, and he and the others were permitted to graduate 
before the regular time. Young Nash went overseas to 
Prance as a member of the Marine Corps and for a time 
served as a marine, but was then detached and assigned 
to the aviation section of the marine service as a pilot of 
the Ninety-third Aero Squadron. He secured his flying 
training under the French and developed rapidly into a 
skilled and fearless pilot. In the great St. Mihiel drive he 
was some fifteen miles over the enemy's lines, endeavoring to 
bomb an enemy aerdrome, when he was shot down and 
twice wounded, his left arm being blown off with an ex- 
plosive bullet. Although so horribly wounded he managed 
to make a successful landing and after capture by the Ger- 
mans was treated in a German hospital and eventually re- 
covered. He was held a prisoner by the enemy until the 
signing of the armistice, when he rejoined his comrades, 
was returned among the early troops to the United States, 
in February, 1919, and was retired with the rank of 
captain.


Submitted by Valerie F. Crook <vfcrook@earthlink.net> 

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