Biography - B. R. Nash

B. R. NASH, a highly respected and well-known planter of Bossier Parish, La., is a native of the State of Alabama, his birth occurring in 1842, and was the second of eight children, three sons and one daughter now living, born to the marriage of J. Nash and D. M. Horn, the former of whom was born in North Carolina, about 1810, and the latter in Alabama, in 1817. Mr. Nash's ancestors were French Huguenots. His early education was received in South Carolina, but in 1833 he removed to Alabama, in which State he afterward followed the occupation of a merchant. He was married in that State about 1838, but in 1844 removed to Mississippi, where he took up farming, and also operated a saw and grist mill. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M., the Methodist Church, and passed from life in Mississippi in 1862, his wife's death having occurred in Alabama, in 1853. The subject of this sketch was given common school advantages in Alabama, and being a youth of good judgment he improved his opportunities to the utmost and became an intelligent and well-informed young man. At the opening of the war he was in the drug business, but gave up this calling to become a volunteer in Company A, Tenth Mississippi Rifles, his company being the first to tender its services to the Confederate government, and he being the first one of his company to volunteer. He operated in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky, the battles which he took part in being: Shiloh, Murfreesboro and the first battle of Jackson, Miss. At Shiloh he was shot in his left shoulder, which necessitated his retirement from the service from April to December 1862, and at Murfreesboro he was wounded in the right leg, the small bone being broken. He was then discharged from the service on account of permanent disability, but afterward when the governor called for three months' volunteers, he once more offered his services, and entered a cavalry company of State Militia, composed of disabled soldiers and boys too young for regular service. After being disbanded, Mr. Nash went to Texas and entered the cavalry service of the Rio Grande, under Col. Ford, in which he was afterward elected first lieutenant, and still later captain to fill the vacancy caused by the disablement of the regular captain. He was in the last engagement of the war, Palmetto Ranche, and on May 31, 1865, his company was disbanded and he returned to his former pursuit, that of a druggist, following the calling in New Orleans and Shreveport, La. His marriage, which took place in 1877, was to Miss Minnie, daughter of Maj. W. H. and Elizabeth (Adger) Ellison, both born in South Carolina, the former in 1810, and the latter in 1820, their deaths occurring in 1876 and 1873, respectively. Mr. Ellison was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and his wife, as well as himself, was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Since his marriage, Mr. Nash has resided on a farm in Ward No. 5, Bossier Parish. From 1883 to 1888 he served as assessor and registrar of this parish, and was a very efficient official. He is a member of the K. of P., Rocky Mount Lodge No. 21, and is also a member of the Farmers' Union. His wife belongs to the Presbyterian Church, which church their children, who number three, also attend. Three children are deceased.

Contributed 29 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass, extracted from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, published in 1890, pages 139-140.