 IOGRAPHIESLenawee County, Michigan |
Joseph Nash, deceased, whose latter days were spent in Palmyra township, where he was prominent and prosperous, and whose early years were spent in commercial pursuits throughout this and foreign countries, was born in London, England, May 24, 1830. His parents were Joseph, Sr., and Nancy Nash, both natives of England. Joseph Nash, Sr., spent all his life in the employment of a large ship-building company, whose ship-yards were in London, and his last days were brightened with the satisfaction of life’s work well done and the gift of a pension which his employers allotted to him as a reward for his faithfulness. His death occurred in London in his seventy-seventh year. Ten children were born to Joseph, Sr., and Nancy Nash – eight girls and two boys. Joseph, Jr., was the youngest of this family and two of the sisters came to America, one of whom is living in Cleveland, Ohio, and the other in Buffalo, N. Y. Joseph Nash, who is the subject of this review, was educated at Updyke’s School in London, where he acted as clerk. In 1849, in his twentieth year, he came to America and went to Joliet, Ill., where he obtained a position as clerk in a store and kept the accounts. His next position was in Lockport, with a firm of attorneys, and later he accepted a clerkship in Chicago with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad. His work with the railway company was in the freight department, but the climate of Chicago did not agree with him and his rheumatism demanded a change. We next find him in Cuba for his health, and from there he went to Knoxville, Tenn., and acted as clerk to Captain Whitman, who was quartermaster of the Union army in that city. Remaining in this place till the close of the war, his next location was Nashville, in the same state, and finally in Memphis, where he became agent of the C. V. railroad, and remained there for twenty years. In 1877 he purchased a farm in Palmyra township and for the next ten years rented it, but in 1887, desiring to quit railway service, he came to his farm and spent the remainder of his days. As a farm owner he was successful and owned one of the finest farms in this section. The buildings were large and fitted with all appliances for the successful handling of his produce and feeding large numbers of stock, and his reputation as one of the successful and affluent farmers of the county was always maintained. Some time was given to his township, and for several years he served as treasurer of the local school board. His death took place Jan. 10, 1907, and he is mourned by a host of friends. On Feb. 8, 1860 Mr. Nash was united in marriage to Miss Rachel, daughter of William and Jeannette (Miller) Pennman, of Toledo, Ohio. Both the father and mother of Mrs. Nash were natives of Scotland, from which country they came to Quebec, Canada, and located for a short time. From that city they journeyed to Toronto, or near there, where Mr. Pennman worked at his trade of mill-wright. Toronto was ever after the home of Mr. Pennman and in 1845 he passed away. After his death, his widow became the wife of Henry Snider, and her death occurred in Toledo, Ohio, in 1873. To Mr. and Mrs. Pennman were born five children, as follows: Agnes (Cavoe), now living in Adrian; Andrew, who served the Union during the Civil war, and died shortly after its close from disease contracted in the service; Marguerite (Riddle), who makes her home in Adrian; Thomas, who died in 1873, in Toledo and Rachel who was born in Canada, July 15, 1840, and educated in that country and at Monroe, Mich. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nash, but two children of Mr. Nash’s sister were taken and reared by them. These children were Susan W. Skellett, now living in Memphis, Tenn., and Sinclair Skettett. The latter was given a good education and became an opera singer, but was taken sick at Cleveland, Ohio, while touring with one of his companies, and died in December, 1908. Mrs. Nash is a member of the Free Methodist church, and resides in Adrian.
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