My Genealogy Hound

JAMES NAY, of Holden, is an active Republican, and was elected City Marshal in December, 1894, on the Republican ticket, to fill out an unexpired term. In April, 1895, he was re-elected for one year. In 1892 he was honored with the position of Constable, serving in that capacity until the fall of 1894. He took the census of Jackson Township, Johnson County, in 1890, and in these various offices has given entire satisfaction to all concerned. Oftentimes he has been sent as a delegate to county conventions of his party, and was present at the congressional convention which convened at Greenfield, Dade County, Mo.

James Nay, Sr., was a native of Marion County, Va., and was a farmer and trader in the town of Worthington during the ‘40s. With his only brother, Enoch, he enlisted in the Southern army, and in 1863 was taken prisoner. On being paroled at Camp Chase, Ohio, he returned home and resumed his former pursuits. His brother, who was in the same company, was three times wounded, twice in the right arm and once in the chest. In 1864 he fell into the hands of the Federals and was held a prisoner at Camp Chase. He is now living in Calhoun County, W. Va. The wife of James Nay, Sr., bore the maiden name of Abigail Ashcraft, and she, too, was a native of Marion County, Va.

James Nay, of this sketch, was born March 20, 1846, in the same county as were his parents before him. He remained under the parental roof until shortly before the war. In 1862 he became a member of Company K, Ninth West Virginia Infantry, of the Federal army, joining his regiment first at Guyandotte, W. Va. Among the engagements in which he took part were those of Winchester, Charleston, Fisher Hill, Cedar Creek and Cloyd Mountain. At the latter battle his regiment lost more men than at any other encounter. In 1866, though the war was over, he enlisted in Troop B, First United States Cavalry, at Cincinnati, and was sent to San Francisco, Cal. For two months he camped at the Presidio Barracks, thence was transferred to Sacramento, later to Ft. Churchill, and at the end of four months was ordered to Smoke Creek to escort a train from California to Idaho as protection from the Indians. Next he went to Camp McGary, Nev., and was discharged at Camp Warner, in Oregon, in January, 1869. In his three years’ western service he was employed much of the time fighting the Indians.

In August, 1877, Mr. Nay married Donie M. Fortney, of this county. She was born in West Virginia, and had been acquainted with Mr. Nay in former years. By their union there have been born two children, Francis Bertram and Ethel A. In 1876 Mr. Nay located in Portsmouth, Ohio, and for a year engaged in teaching vocal music in that state and also across the river in Kentucky. In 1877 he came to this county and followed the same pursuit with success for two years. From 1879 until 1890 he engaged in the cultivation of a farm of thirty acres. This he improved, and when a good opportunity offered sold out, since which time he has dwelt in Holden. For some three years he was engaged in the manufacture of metal polish.

A member of the Odd Fellows’ society, Mr. Nay has filled several of the chairs, and is also Adjutant of Winfield Scott Post No. 63, G. A. R., Department of the Missouri. In 1894 he had the pleasure of attending the National Encampment at Pittsburg. He is also connected with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. For about a quarter of a century he has been a faithful member of the Christian Church, and has served as a teacher in the Sunday-school.