My Genealogy Hound

A. S. Nash, merchant at Jonesboro, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., July 23, 1829, and is a son of Travis and Joanna (Miller) Nash who came from Virginia to Tennessee early in the history of that State. The Nash family are of Irish and the Miller family of French descent. Travis Nash was a farmer by occupation, and in the War of 1812, was a captain. He was a successful farmer and a brave and gallant soldier, and died at Shelbyville, Tenn., April 7, 1844. The mother moved with her family to Texas, where she died in 1862. Of the family of fifteen children, only two are now living, Mary, widow of John McGimsey, and Augustus S. Two brothers, Thomas and Franklin, who went from Texas, were killed in the war, and two others, Lafayette and Granderson M. died in Texas at the close of the war. Augustus S. Nash was reared in Shelbyville, Tenn., remained on the farm until fourteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the saddler’s trade. He followed saddlery for several years, then engaged for several years in farming, and in 1860 moved to Jackson County, Ala. While living in Tennessee, he was lieutenant of militia under the old muster law, and in 1861, at the outbreaking of the Civil War, he enlisted in Company G, Fourth Alabama Cavalry, and during the war saw much active service. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Murfreesboro, Resaca, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, Franklin, Knoxville, Tenn., and several others. He was with Gen. Wilson from Alabama to Columbus, Ga., where they surrendered. He was not seriously wounded, but had his left ear shot off at Chickamauga. At the close of the war, he returned to Nashville, where he took the oath, and then returned to his farm in Alabama. In 1870 he moved to Jonesboro, Ark., where for six years he engaged very successfully in farming, and in 1876, he began merchandising, which he has since followed. He was married in 1849 to Margara Atkins, and they are the parents of seven living children: Thomas, William, Charles, Leander, Richard, Wiley and Victoria. The father and mother are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Nash belongs to the Masonic fraternity; he owns a great deal of property in Jonesboro, and as a business man has been very successful. In 1880 he was elected county treasurer, which office he filled satisfactorily to his constituents. He is one of the leading business men of the town.