From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 200
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
J. T. NASH
The safety of the republic depends not so much upon methods and measures as upon that manhood from whose deep sources all that is precious and permanent in life must at last proceed. Macaulay has said that the history of the nation is best told in the lives of its individual citizens and it is the men of prominence in a community by which that community is judged. Among the representative and highly respected residents of Rice county is J T Nash, who is now occupying the position of register of deeds, to which office he was elected in November, 1897, on the Republican ticket. He has served continuously in the position since that time and his marked fidelity to duty, his ability and his faithfulness have won him the commendation of all concerned. He has been a resident of the county since 1887 and his identity with the Sunflower state dates from 1869.
Mr Nash is a native of Kentucky, his birth having occurred at Concord, on the Ohio river in Lewis county, July 5, 1841. His father, Jesse Nash, was also a native of Kentucky, but the family was of German lineage and was founded in America by James Nash, the grandfather of our subject, who was born in Germany and spent his last days in Evansville, Indiana. He was a farmer by occupation and upon the family homestead Jesse Nash grew to manhood. After arriving at years of maturity he married Miss Cynthia Sparks, who was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, and was a representative of one of the old and worthy families of that state. The young people began their domestic life in Kentucky, where they remained until 1866, when the removed to Jasper county, Indiana. For many years of his active business career Mr Nash engaged in dealing in lumber. He eventually returned to his native state, where his death occurred in 1884, but his wife passed away in Franklin county, Kansas, when sixty-eight years of age. She was a member of the Christian church, and in his political views Mr Nash was a Republican. They became the parents of the following children: G W, Eliza, Elizabeth, James H, John T, Jesse, Sarah, Mary B, Adolphus S and Theophilus. The last named died in Sterling, Kansas, aged fifty-five years. He had followed merchandising in Rice county, had served as a county official and was well known in that portion of the state, being an active factor in business and public affairs.
J T Nash, whose name introduces this record, was reared in Kentucky and acquired his education in the subscription schools. In his youth he became connected with the lumber business. At the time of the Civil war he offered his services to the government, enlisting in June, 1861, for three years as a member of Company A, Third Ohio Infantry. He remained at the front for two years, serving in West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. At Murfreesboro he was wounded, after which he received an honorable discharge. Later he raised a company, which became Company A, of the Forty-fifth Mounted Infantry of Kentucky, and was its orderly sergeant. Later he was commissioned first lieutenant of Company I, but refused the lieutenancy, preferring to remain with his old comrades of Company A. With that command he participated in the engagement at King’s Salt Works against the forces of General Morgan. He was also in the battle of Lexington and Cynthiana, Kentucky, and in other engagements. Wherever duty called he was found at his post and was always faithful to the starry banner of the nation. When the war was over he received an honorable discharge and gladly returned to his home.
Mr Nash afterward went to Lafayette, Indiana, where he resided from 1865 until 1869, his time and attention being devoted to carpentering and contracting. In the latter year he emigrated to Kansas, taking up his abode in Franklin county. He lived in Ottawa until 1887, when he came to Lyons, Kansas, becoming an active factor in the building interests of the city. Here as a carpenter and contractor he carried on operations until elected to public office, and erected many of the substantial structures of the city, which still stand as monuments of his thrift and enterprise. He lived most faithfully up to the terms of his contracts and the reputation which he enjoys in the business circles is an unassailable one.
Mr Nash was united in marriage in Franklin county, Kansas, in 1872, to Miss Mary A Alford, of that county, who was born in Woodsfield, Monroe county, Ohio, and was reared and educated there. She had one brother who was a soldier in the Civil war and died of wounds received in battle. Three children grace their union: Warren; Ella, who is assisting her father as deputy register of deeds in the office at Lyons; and Daniel, who is a student in the high school. The family is one widely and favorably known in this community and the members of the household occupy prominent positions in social circles. Mr Nash is an advocate of Republican principles and does all in his power to promote the growth and secure the success of the party. His fitness for office, his reliability and his devotion to the general good led to his selection for the position of register of deeds, in which incumbency he is now serving, by re-election in the fall of 1899. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belongs to the Masonic fraternity; the Royal Arch degree of Sterling Chapter, No. 50. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. A man of intelligence, straightforward in business, genial and approachable in manner, J T Nash ranks among the popular and valued citizens of Lyons.