Biography - John H. Nattin

Capt. JOHN H. NATTIN is one of the most extensive planters of Bossier Parish, and since his residence in this parish he has been noted for honorable, upright dealing and intelligence. His birth occurred in Claiborne Parish, La., February 23, 1840, and his literary education was received in Minden, Shreveport and Cottage Grove, La. He lived in Minden and Shreveport about twelve years, after that time labored upon a farm five years. He left his parents on March 25, 1858, to clerk for G. W. Sentell, a merchant of Collinsburg (now a large commission merchant of New Orleans, La.), and later for W. M. Sentell & Co., and then for N. W. Sentell & Co. In 1866 he was admitted as a partner of the last named firm. In 1875 he bought out his partner's interest, and for the past fifteen years he has been on eof the leading business men in Collinsburg. He still remains at the first place, where he was taught to use the yard stick, which is more than most boys can say. In 1861, he was one of the first to leave his parish to go to the war and served as a private the first year. In 1862, at the reorganization of the army in Virginia, he was made second lieutenant, and took part in the engagements at Port Royal, Stausburg, Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill, also three days' engagement at second battle of Manassas, and many other skirmishes. He was in more engagements than any officer of his company or as many as any one of the regiment up to the time he was wounded; was shot through the left lung and left arm, and reported mortally wounded in the fight; on the second day he commanded a brigade of skirmishers; Gen. Gordon, with body guard, rode up and was saluted by Lieut. Nattin. An engagement was going on at the time between a rebel and a Yankee battery. It was nip and tuck which would win; first one and then the other had the advantage. Gen. Gordon rode out in the open field, when the grapeshot began to fall. One struck Lieut. Nattin's sword and one his foot; the one that struck his foot he picked up and was passing it from one hand to the other to keep it from burning when Gen. Gordon rode up. Lieut. Nattin saluted him, which was his last salute to Gen. Gordon. As the latter rode off he remarked to Lieut. Nattin that "it is not so pleasant, now, Lieutenant." The skirmishers were called back and Lieut. Nattin commanded his company the balance of the day. In 1863 he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department. That fall he raised Cavalry Company D, Sixth Louisiana Regiment, and was made captain of same. His regiment was dismounted afterward, but he was allowed to keep his horse as he was incapacitated for infantry service. He continued in active service most of the time until the close. He was a member of the general court-martial band at Monroe, La., with many able lawyers. He disbanded his company in Louisiana, his record as a soldier from the beginning to the close of the war being excellent. He is a Democrat, and has been a delegate to several conventions of note, and has always worked faithfully and well for the success of his party. Since 1880 he has been postmaster of Collinsburg, and in 1887 he was married to Miss Mollie Barnes, a native of North Carolina, but moved to Bossier Parish in 18570. They have three children-one girl, Clio, and two boys, N. Harry and George W. Nattin. One son, J. Hall Nattin, fifteen years old, was by the former marriage, his mother's maiden name being Fannie Hall. Mr. Nattin is a member of the K. of P., and by good management and industry has accumulated a good deal of property in Bossier and Caddo Parish, La., and Lafayette County, Ark. He is the owner of 900 acres of good farming land along the Red River, also owns several hundred acres of good farming and timbered land in Arkansas and Louisiana. His mercantile establishments are valuable ones: he has one store at Wild Lucia, on Red River, Caddo Parish, La.; and the other in Collinsburg, Bossier Parish, La.; the last named he makes his home. Both stores bring him a good annual profit. His father, George W. Nattin, was born in Kentucky or Tennessee, and removed to Port Hudson or Port Gibson, Miss., when a boy, but at an early date settled in Claiborne Parish, La., and opened a mercantile establishment north of Minden, afterward moved to Minden and ran a saloon and grocery store. In 1852 removed to Shreveport, La., and in 1853 removed to Bossier Parish and engaged in farming on Red River, where he died, in 1859, at the age of forty-nine years.

Contributed 29 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass, extracted from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, published in 1890, pages 140-141.