The Recollections of Charles A. Nash of Charles Mix County, South Dakota

In the 1973 Charles Nash wrote his recollections - a sixty-four page document that included information about his Nash, Blodgett, Brush, and Morse ancestry; about the Nash homesteading in Carroll Township in Charles Mix County; about his education at Ward Academy; about the Depression and its impacts on his family; and about he and his wife’s family and career in education - and much more. Included in the text is a hand-drawn map of Carroll Township showing where each family homesteaded there in the 1880’s. Given the first-hand accounts of these and other subjects - such as the travails of the Depression in Charles Mix County - this is a valuable tool for anyone researching early Charles Mix County history or Charles Nash’s family and ancestors.

This copy was provided to me by a grandson of Charles in the 1990’s. Charles Nash’s Nash Genealogy - featuring the Dakota Nashes and an inscription to me from him in 1966 - is posted on another web page on this website. Charles indicates he will not repeat that information in the Recollections. I should also note that Charles’ wife Ella Hendrickson (Nash) wrote her own very valuable recollections as a companion piece, which - while including many references to Charles’ mother and their life and family - begins with a focus on her ancestry and does not add much to the Nash family ancestry.

This web page posts each page of the Charles Nash Recollections, with a summary just above each page. A few pages have an attachment posted below of something referred to on that page. The summaries from each page are posted chronologically just below this introduction, as a table of contents, so the reader can decide how to get to the information they are most interested in.

Charles was a prolific writer. He authored the Nash Genealogy in 1960, as described above; these recollections written in 1973; a directory of teachers and students at Ward Academy, published in mimeographed form that appears to have been done in the 1950’s - but is undated; and a brief history of the Academy Congregational Church in celebration of their 75th Anniversary in 1963. He also penned a history of the Doric Lodge and of the Olive Presbyterian Church, which I do not have. He transcribed the civil war journal of his grandfather Alcander Morse. He was a force behind the publication of the history of Ward Academy and the Camfield family - '“This One Thing I do” - published in 1952.

The colorized photo above is the Orley Nash family - with his wife Amy Morse Nash, and their sons Charles and Frank. The photo was probably taken ca 1892 - if it is the same photo referred to on page eight of the recollections below. Orley was born in 1858 in Illinois, homesteaded with his family in Carroll Township in 1883, and died in 1937. Amy was the daughter of Civil War veteran Alcander Morse, also a homesteader in Carroll Township. She was born in 1857 in Boone County, Illinois - right by where the Nashes lived - and died in Charles Mix County in 1959. Orley and Amy were married in 1884. Charles was born in 1888 and died in 1977; and Frank was born in 1889 and died in 1969.

Orley’s brother Orson married Amy’s sister Eva. My great-grandfather Jim Nash, Orson and Orley’s brother, is the subject of two pages on this web site along with his wife Ida Kate Christensen. Those pages include the description of the Nash arrival in the township from these recollections, along with the actual homestead logs from the Bureau of Land Management. Jim, Orley, and Orson’s sister Ella, married Ida Kate Christensen’s brother Fred Christensen, also a pioneer of Carroll Township. The Nashes, Morses, and Christensens, along with the extended family members from Phebe (Blodgett) Nash’s family, were among the pioneers of southeast Carroll Township in Charles Mix County during the Dakota Boom in the 1880’s - before North and South Dakota were created from Dakota Territory in 1889. The stories of these family members is prominently featured in the recollections below.

A few of the pages were very light in the copying that was done many years ago. I did my best to bring out those sections, but a few - like part of the table of contents on the very first page - I couldn’t fully restore. I centered each of the pages, gave them a background color that brought out the text, and did my best to give them the best presentation. I can only imagine what Charles would have done if he had been able to compose these recollections on a computer.

It is the story of founding a community in Charles Mix County, and in our family’s case, Carroll Township. Families came from all over, built houses and farms, established post offices and schools, and - as shown above - married people within the community from adjoining farms. It is an exciting story.

The Summary of Information Contained on Each Page of the Recollections - An Informal Table of Contents

Charles Nash Recollections - Page i: Part of this copy was faded or not copied clearly. I did my best to bring it out, but was not successful. The page contains a table of contents for “Charles’ Section” [indicating that Charles and Ella’s recollections were meant to go together]. After the table is an introduction to the recollections.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page ii: The top half of this page is a map of the southern sections of Carroll Township, showing where the Nashes, Morses, and Christensens homesteaded. The bottom half of the page lists the age of the Nashes at the time of homesteading in 1883, and has a brief table of who had what property into the 1930’s.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page iii: A hand-drawn map of all of Carroll Township, with a listing of who lived in what sections. It appears to be original land owners with some amendments as people lived on certain sections. Schools, the cemetery and such locations are noted. Charles and Ella Nash are listed in one section. [NOTE: Below page iii is a posting of the 1912 Carroll Township Map from the Charles Mix County Atlas of that year. The comparison to Charles’ hand-drawn map is clear.]

Charles Nash Recollections - Page One: Introduction - Charles past eighty-five years of age; not repeating items in the Nash Genealogy authored by him in 1960; reference to 1853 Sylvester Nash Genealogy copied in long-hand by Orson Nash [NOTE: Actual copy of Orson’s hand-copied pages containing Oliver Nash Jr., whose listing included George M. Nash - is just below this page one.]; recounting of his great-grandfather Oliver Nash coming from New York to Illinois by way of the Great Lakes; his father’s memory of Cynthia Pierce Nash, Oliver’s wife; Oliver Nash son getting receipts from New York property and going to Iowa and not sharing with other family members; Orley’s Aunt Mary marrying a first cousin Samuel Nash and not having children; and the beginning of the story of the extended family members homesteading in Dakota Territory in 1883.

Above on page one is a reference to Orson Nash’s hand-copied book of the Sylvester Nash 1853 Genealogy of the Descendants of the original immigrant to Connecticut, Thomas Nash. As I recall the story, a copy of the genealogy was in a library, and Orson spent the time to copy the entire thing into a bound journal. In the 1960’s when I made contact with Charles Nash, he sent the journal to me in California. We made a complete “xerox” copy at the time - which I still have - and then shipped the journal back to Charles in South Dakota. Upon reflection, what a risk to just sent it through the mail. But he did and it worked. I still have the copy. I have also reflected on what a Herculean task it was to copy the genealogy in its entirety. It appears to be almost two hundred pages in the journal. There’s a reprint of the 1853 genealogy that is in hard copy, and I ordered it on the internet about fifteen years ago. Charles would marvel at that. I pulled out the two copied pages that included Oliver Nash Jr., and posted them below. It makes a reference to George as “see p. 131”, but I cannot find that reference on that or any other page.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Two. This page picks up with the story of the original homesteading in Dakota Territory of the Morses and the Nashes in 1883; Orley’s chest and tools; Aunt Ida Nash and her husband Wesley Hickok come in 1885; the Morse family is described; Alcander Morse’s civil war experiences are described; and the fact that Alcander left a “diary” of his civil war experience is described. [NOTE: Charles sent me a copy of the transcribed diary, probably ca 1966, as a mimeographed document - it had blue “construction paper” around it. I have posted the first page of the diary below this page. The first page is a brief description of the document and then the first entries from the diary.]

As described just above, below is posted the first page of Charles’ transcription of Alcander’s diary:

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Three. This page contains a poem in the section on Alcander Morse. Charles says he has reduced Alcandar’s thirty-six page civil war diary to four pages. Alcander joins the 37th Illinois infantry shortly after the Battle of Bull Run. Charles details his Morse ancestry, he interviewed his elderly aunt Ruth in Illinois in 1919 and 1925. He has the family going back to John Morse (1761-1846), enlisted in Revolutionary War at young age. John’s family is listed, which includes William, Alcander’s father.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Four. This page picks up with William Morse’s family, and talks of their covered wagon move from New York to Boone County, Illinois. He then talks of great-grandmother Louisa Cushing Morse and the Massachusetts Cushings. Mentions studying the “Defense of New England” by Caleb Cushing at Ward Academy and then realizing he was a distant relative. Mentions Cushing Genealogy. Alcandar comes home and goes back to the front - he meets Sarah Brush and they marry in 1866. The Brushes also came from Cortland County, New York. Both great-grandfathers Morse and Brush are buried in Capron, Illinois.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Five. A description of Alcan Morse and his family; the establishment of the post office at Flora; daughters Eva and Amy marry Nash brothers; sad parting of Morse’s going to Iowa; Charles questions his memory of a parting at two years of age; but details a memory of his son Alan at age two; and his wife at age three.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Six. Amy, Charles, and Frank visited grandparents Morses in Iowa in 1892. Grandpa Morse had malaria from Civil War. Alcan visited South Dakota in 1894. Visited Ben Fulwider. Alcan’s brother sent canned fruit, which inspired Charles to start Nash Orchard in South west Platte in 1944. Alcan died of his stomach ailment at age 55, and was buried in Rock Hill Cemetery. Great Uncle Arthur lived in Kansas, and had a family.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Seven. This page was also one of those that was faded and hard to bring out. I have tried and most of the page is legible. Amy and Orley drove to Kansas to visit Uncle Art about 1920. Descriptions of other relatives - Morse and Brush. Guy Nash did work on the Brush ancestry, but after his death his widow Claire turned the notebooks on this to Charles - and Charles hopes to pass them back to Guy and Claire’s children, Keith or Shirley. This page starts the Brush ancestry with Thomas Brush, born in 1610.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Eight. Traces the Brush ancestry to Joseph, Joseph Jr., Israel, and Sarah (Alcan’s wife). Description of Sarah Brush Morse’s life after Alcan’s death in Iowa and Belvidere, Illinois. She died in 1927, having lived for many years on her husband’s civil war pension. Uncle Charlie and Aunt Lottie visit South Dakota. Charles describes photo taken when he was four and Frank two - quite likely the photo at the top of this page.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Nine. More Uncle Charlie and Aunt Lottie. Cousin Edwin Brush, magician. “Brush Round Robin” letters in the 1930’s, Belvidere and Dakota branches. Edwin and Henry Brush past eighty. Frank Brush and George Brush and their families. Effie Brush and Herman Tanner. Uncle William “Willie” Brush and family.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Ten. More on Uncle William Brush, including gifts to Charles as a teenager. World War I changes reading habits of the younger generation. Uncle William marries Nellie Frost and they have five children. William came to his mother’s funeral, Orley and Amy’s golden wedding anniversary, and to Orley’s funeral. Visited Uncle Charley, 1929 Nash reunion in Belvidere, and Uncle Charlie’s funeral in 1929 and Uncle William’s funeral in 1951.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Eleven. Stories of Uncle William Brush’s family, his widow Nellie, and William and Nellie’s children and their families. Then, on this page, Charles switches to describing his Nash family members. He describes and tells stories of his grandfather George Nash, known as “Uncle George” to everyone outside the family. Charles tells of chasing one of the last buffalo twenty miles.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twelve. George shot geese with his rifle, Charles did as well. George Nash had one of the first artesian wells in the region - Peter Norbeck drilled it and Charles describes Peter. Artesian wells faded by the 1920’s and windmills were used to pump water. Charles writes of Lake Andes being dry and then filled - and the altitude compared to Platte. Talks of the altitude of the corner of the state. Begins a discussion of his grandmother’s family, the Blodgetts, starting with writing Metta Olson Stock.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirteen. Aunt Climena (Menie) sister to Grandma Nash. Squire Blodgett born in Albany New York, married Joanna Carpenter. Squire and Johanna’s children listed. Sidney Nash married Johanna’s sister Caroline. Phebe, Ida May and Menie died within a year. Henry Carroll and family described at length. Ray Carroll marries Flora Latham, Ward Academy school mate.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fourteen. Description of Henry Carroll and his children. Describes Henry in the hardware business in Platte and with his ferry boat for crossing the Missouri at Wheeler. Description of Maud Olson. Description of Quincy Gates and Caroline Blodgett and their children of Miner County, South Dakota. Mention of a Blodgett sister that married a Schermerhorn and another who married a Snook.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifteen. Hugh Snook in Florida. Uncle Russell “Bub” Blodgett and his children. Squire sells his property in 1873 and moves across the state line to Sharon, Wisconsin. Caroline Carpenter, Johanna’s sister, married Sidney Nash, George’s brother and their family is described. Aunt Ida Nash babysat Charles and Frank. Orley in the Blizzard of 1888. How old grandparents were when Charles, Frank, Ray, and Guy were born.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Sixteen. This page contains childhood stories of Charles and Frank pursuing animals on their property - gophers, badgers, hogs, coyotes, and more.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Seventeen. This page describes ciphering, walking across the fields. Dorothy and Bob walked two and a half miles to school in the 1930’s. Alan did the same walk a few years later. Charles describes the rural school - likely a Carroll Township School - that he attended. Alton Parish, the teacher, is described. An award of merit from him in 1900 to George Nash is posted in the Jim and Ida Nash web page. Talks of students who were immigrants from Holland and also of Dutch immigrants in the region. [NOTE: A 1969 book “On the Reservation Border: Hollanders in Douglas and Charles Mix County”, describes the Dutch immigration to the region.] Right at the end of this page starts Charles’ description of his time at Ward Academy.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Eighteen. Charles’ time at Ward Academy - his studies, Della Jorgensen, and sports.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Nineteen. More of Charles’ time at Ward Academy - Della Grimes, Den Urguhart, and others. Time on the farm. Minnie Grimes, now Minnie McCartney. Regulations at Ward Academy. Dr. Camfield’s failing health and school closure in 1931. Class of 1909 close to each other, Charles particularly close to Clair Carpenter.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty. Charles brought Ella to meet his parents. Clair Carpenter’s family moves to Montana, Clair died of diabetes in 1916 before insulin developed. Visited Lloyd Truesdale, Ward Academy classmate. Mentions the Exon family. Frank and Charles walked and rode on the eighteen mile trip home from Ward Academy to pass the time. Classmate Lee Miller lived to the north of the Nash’s, married Grace Streeter and died young. Classmate Chester Rosencrance had a filling station at Presho. Classmate Dean Urquhart developed Parkinson’s disease. Della Grimes was the youngest person to go to Yankton College.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-One. More on Della Grimes, retired to Santa Ana, California. Goldie married Academy sweetheart Fred Burton. Frederick Burton was killed in World War II in Italy. Reta Young married Will Sly. Ruth Lydy not heard of since graduation. Mentions other graduates. Recounts that his father built an eight by sixteen foot shack at Academy where Charles and Frank lived one year until they returned to the dormitory the next year. Charles passed the teachers examination and started teaching - Chilman School and Campbell School. Bob born in 1920 and Charles taught the next day.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Two. While riding horseback four and a half miles to the Chilman School, witnesses Haley’s comet. Takes the examination for census taker and was assigned Rhoda and Signal Townships [NOTE: One of the pages of Signal Township in the 1910 census was downloaded and the top part of the page posted just below Page Twenty-Two, showing Chas A Nash as the enumerator.]. Charles goes to agricultural college in Brookings. In 1912 he’s mad at Teddy Roosevelt for running against Taft, votes for Woodrow Wilson, and then has voted Republican in the next twelve presidential elections. Charles leaves Brookings College behind, works to raise money in Academy and goes to Yankton College. He takes a train to Platte and is met by his parents where his father had his first car, a new Hudson.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Three. Charles and Frank ran a taxi with a Dodge to the Fairgrounds - his father was president of the Fair Association. In 1911, it was Frank’s turn to go to college and he chose Vermillion. Charles taught at Campbell school. A classmate, Lulu, had a baby Fola Fay - who visited sixty years later as her husband George Holland was a leader with the Boy Scouts of America. Charles starts at Yankton College and gets a job four miles north at the State Hospital. He eventually found work at a custodian at the college.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Four. More on Charles work at college. Wooing Ella by taking her to an operetta, and to a picnic, among other things. A fire at Dakin Hall, where Ella lived.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Five. Crane Gymnasium served as college dining hall and kitchen until a new dormitory could be built after the fire. Rooms with Cleve Moore, who served in World War I, moved to New Mexico, came to Academy Church’s 75th anniversary, and passed away just before their fiftieth Ward Academy celebration. [NOTE: Charles Nash wrote the history of the Academy Church for the 75th Anniversary that he refers to here - the church is clearly the church where Ward Academy was. The cover of that history is posted below.] Charles describes who came to the 50th anniversary and what happened there.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Six. Finishes 50th graduation anniversary from Yankton. Elmer Bussey, Class of 1914 scared woman in furs while practicing for track. Ivan Lothrop and Charles took their fiancee’s to a picnic on the Missouri River. The Y Club at Yankton College was the center of male society. Visited Granite Falls and met Ella’s family in 1915. He was sorry to not have met Ella’s father, who he describes and who died at a very young age. Her brother John died of tuberculosis.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Seven. Charles teaches Math and History at Ward Academy. Ella had successful surgery. One of three male teachers at Ward Academy. Didn’t enjoy chaperoning skating parties. Recounts Ward Academy graduates who taught for a year before moving on. Ella was recovered enough to visit Platte and stayed with the Alton Parish’s. Jessie Parish, Alton’s wife, was the only person at the Academy Church anniversary who was there when Rev. Camfield started at the church.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Eight. Ella remained a few days in Platte, Charles and Ella planning a Thanksgiving wedding. Frank and Leila were married in the Black Hills, and returned to take over Orley’s homestead. Guy took over his father’s farm. Charles was working on the house he and Ella would move in to. They were married in Montivideo, Minnesota. Charles describes World War I and states he appeared in front of the draft board, but was not called because he was a married man producing grains.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Nine. Charles appointed Chair of the Liberty Loan Drive, with Jim Dermody as his deputy. Charles believes loan rates were higher in Platte and tried to get that changed. Crops were good and prices high until the war was over. Charles is superintendent at Lesterville and then at Herrick. Charles took a civil service exam and was offered a position in Washington, D.C., which he did not take.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty. Charles gets elected schools superintendent in Davison County. Ella is his deputy. Ella helps deliver babies. State spelling contest.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-One. Charles does well at spelling. Ella as school deputy had responsibility for the school paper “The Young Citizen”. Went to the state young citizen’s league, visited large ranch with buffalo. Charles challenged state curriculum and made an enemy of the state superintendent. A bill was passed that prohibited a county superintendent from having his spouse as a deputy. Ella was going to run for superintendent - but had young children and couldn’t have done it without Charles as her deputy. They returned to the farm.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Two. The Depression was hard on the Charles Nash family. They lost the farm to taxes and abandoned payments on their Mitchell home. Charles worked for the WPA and then accepted a job as educational advisor to the Civilian Conservation Corps. Charles experienced a massive flood on the Republican River and there was a big impact.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Three. Charles taught at the conservation corps camp. Ella and the children visited. Caught in heavy snow. Returned to farm in 1935. Rough year, but just made it with enough food through the winter for the animals. Alton Beckman was a neighbor boy working on the farm. Charles gets a saddle horse for Bob. Rural teacher comments on good manners of his kids compared to other students.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Four. Mitchell Republic prints Charles’ articles on state course of study. Orley and Amy celebrate 50th wedding anniversary in 1934. Charles counts other locals who have reached their fiftieth anniversary. The depression, the state of the farm, debt on farm, Orley offers Charles farm, company that reneges on debt agreement. Frank Sheriff at the time.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Five. Charles takes on dairying at the farm. Cows get disease. Charles plants fruit trees in 1944 (Nash Orchard?) and enters fruit in the state fair. Orley plays music.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Six. Orley plays music. Orley and Amy move to town in 1916. Orley beats Dr. Brooks for Mayor in the 1920’s. Orley buys a threshing machine. Tenant moves to farm until Charles moves in. Orley and Amy have 50th anniversary, Orley gets prostate problems and is bedridden. Orley passes away and survives all his siblings except Aunt Mate. Amy lives in their house for another twenty-one years.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Seven. Amy kept a “diary” and a file of clippings and obituaries. Charles recounts copying of Sylvester Nash Genealogy. Charles and Ella support Amy who was still living alone. Orley only had a fifth grade education, but he and family members educated themselves and loved history. After graduating from Platte High School, Bob joins the conservation corps.

NOTE: Robert Nash, Charles grandson, provided a copy of Amy Nash’s Journal, which he transcribed, sometime in the 1990’s. It is in text format and he explains it in the introduction. I have pasted the beginning of his transcription below this page.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Eight. Bob enlists in the army in 1942. Bob marries Loretta Gamblin in January 1944. Bob goes overseas to the Philippines and Loretta and baby Robert stay with Charles and Ella. Charles describes Bob’s growing family, and his jobs and where they moved.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Nine. Charles describes their daughter Dorothy’s life and marriage to Dick Ellingson in 1949. Dick passes away and Dorothy marries Ora Elfes’ widowed husband Jack Olston. In 1972 all Charles and Ella’s children and grandchildren (with one exception) were home for Thanksgiving. Son Alan joins the Navy and marries Loretta Hiltz.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty. More on son Alan. Children do chores so Charles and Ella can travel. They visit many friends and relatives. Charles had prostate operation.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-One. Visited Ella’s relatives in Winnipeg. Alan and his family moves from Florida to Littleton CO to New Orleans. Charles visits Dorothy in Bismarck after Dick passes away. Chores around the house and orchard. Teaching grandkids to hunt pheasants.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Two. Bob and Loretta and their children. Charles and Ella’s role in their family.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Three. Charles and Ella travel to Yankton and stay with the Elsbrees for their 50th reunion. Florence Camfield Bussey was one of the classmates. Great grandson of founder Joseph Ward joined them. Visited Mae Gregg Love a Ward Academy classmate. Charles and Ella visited Ella’s cousin Leo Larsen in Sioux Falls, as well as Torg Olson. Drove to Gary, South Dakota to visit Cecil Dunn. Charles writes of his children’s schooling in Charles Mix County. He and Ella celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a few months early to get everyone in the family to be able to visit.

NOTE: My grandmother still had her copy of the invitation to Charles and Ella’s 50th anniversary - she and Charles were first cousins - and the inside page is posted just below this page.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Four. Stories about daughter Dorothy growing up. Charles comments on the typing and preparation of “Recollections”.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Five. Further description of their house. A description of their first car - a Model T Ford, which they bought for $300 in 1920. Charles and his father built a big barn to store hay. Charles comments that fifty years later that’s not the way it’s done. More on life on the farm. Charles has a section on ailments, recurring, his children and his mother.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Six. Amy Nash passes away at age ninety-one. Charles goes through a list of more ailments in the family.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Seven. Charles continues the ailments section - too much salt, dropsy, glaucoma, and many more.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Eight. Growing fruit. Going to the fairs. Planting the “north” and “south” orchards - the Nash Orchard.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Nine. More on growing fruit. Pears. Planting raspberries, strawberries, and gooseberries. Peaches. Flowers. And more. A biographical sketch of Amy Nash for the South Dakota Historical Society is included here.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty. More on Amy Nash. Poems written by Amy. A story about Amy and Ella. Spelling and the teacher’s exam.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-One. Charles in school - his first teacher was Jessie Yeager. Third grade teacher was Mary Delire. Carrying Ora Elfes to Grandma Nash’s piggyback. Other students listed, including Alton Parish. John Campbell on adjoining homestead. Odds and Ends - snow fills 40 acre lake on Uncle Henry Adkin’s property; hunting geese.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Two. More odds and ends - Robert finds a possum. Hazing in school. Pranks: George Burton ringing the bell at Halloween at Ward Academy.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Three. More pranks. End of the bell ringing story. Toilets face down on Halloween. More Halloween stories.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Four. Story of being custodian at Yankton College and faculty concerns about what went on behind a hedge; hiding in a closet while putting in a storm window in Orpha Hollen’s room. Orpha was a student from Platte, later she married Mr. Gaskill and was in St. Charles and worked in Herrick. Mrs. Enock Norbeck reported possible fruit theft. More stories about growing fruit.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Five. In 1961-62 there was deep snow. Hard for Charles to keep up. They sold some of their land for cow pasture, and where the Ford Sales Company now is. They also sold the orchard. Charles and Ella bought the Harris house. They fixed up the house. Felt bad about relying on old age assistance, but did. Talks about this journal.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Six. Charles talks of aging, and recaps the different publications he has authored, including the Nash Genealogy, the Ward Academy Directory, and more. I posted the cover of the Academy Church history earlier on this page. I do not have copies of his history of the Olive Presbyterian Church or of the Doric Lodge. He also references an album of photos.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Seven. Charles talks of eight inches of snow on South Dakota’s 83rd birthday. He then talks of each of his children and how they and their families are doing.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Eight. More about the children. The whole family gathered at Thanksgiving in 1972 on Charles and Ella’s 56th anniversary. Charles includes a poem, “Do They Forget”.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Nine. The poem “Little Old High Chair”.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Sixty. Poem, “Together”. Friends of sixty-eight years, John McCartney and Minnie Grimes McCartney. Article about Orley, “Pioneer Celebrates 76th Birthday”. For thirty years Charles as teacher, Ella as assistant, teach an adult Sunday school class at Olive Presbyterian. The January 1973 class is listed, and includes my mother’s former teacher Helene Just and others. It appears that this page goes to at least another - but I do not have a copy.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Sixty-One - Photo Page - Colorized. The photo of George Nash and Phebe Blodgett Nash are posted in the Nash tintype webpage on this site. Every photo here is captioned by Charles.

The Sixty-Four Pages of the Recollections of Charles A. Nash

Charles Nash Recollections - Page i: Part of this copy was faded or not copied clearly. I did my best to bring it out, but was not successful. The page contains a table of contents for “Charles’ Section” [indicating that Charles and Ella’s recollections were meant to go together]. After the table is an introduction to the recollections.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page ii: The top half of this page is a map of the southern sections of Carroll Township, showing where the Nashes, Morses, and Christensens homesteaded. The bottom half of the page lists the age of the Nashes at the time of homesteading in 1883, and has a brief table of who had what property into the 1930’s.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page iii: A hand-drawn map of all of Carroll Township, with a listing of who lived in what sections. It appears to be original land owners with some amendments as people lived on certain sections. Schools, the cemetery and such locations are noted. Charles and Ella Nash are listed in one section. [NOTE: Below page iii is a posting of the 1912 Carroll Township Map from the Charles Mix County Atlas of that year. The comparison to Charles’ hand-drawn map is clear.]

Charles Nash Recollections - Page One: Introduction - Charles past eighty-five years of age; not repeating items in the Nash Genealogy authored by him in 1960; reference to 1853 Sylvester Nash Genealogy copied in long-hand by Orson Nash [NOTE: Actual copy of Orson’s hand-copied pages containing Oliver Nash Jr., whose listing included George M. Nash - is just below this page one.]; recounting of his great-grandfather Oliver Nash coming from New York to Illinois by way of the Great Lakes; his father’s memory of Cynthia Pierce Nash, Oliver’s wife; Oliver Nash son getting receipts from New York property and going to Iowa and not sharing with other family members; Orley’s Aunt Mary marrying a first cousin Samuel Nash and not having children; and the beginning of the story of the extended family members homesteading in Dakota Territory in 1883.

Above on page one is a reference to Orson Nash’s hand-copied book of the Sylvester Nash 1853 Genealogy of the Descendants of the original immigrant to Connecticut, Thomas Nash. As I recall the story, a copy of the genealogy was in a library, and Orson spent the time to copy the entire thing into a bound journal. In the 1960’s when I made contact with Charles Nash, he sent the journal to me in California. We made a complete “xerox” copy at the time - which I still have - and then shipped the journal back to Charles in South Dakota. Upon reflection, what a risk to just sent it through the mail. But he did and it worked. I still have the copy. I have also reflected on what a Herculean task it was to copy the genealogy in its entirety. It appears to be almost two hundred pages in the journal. There’s a reprint of the 1853 genealogy that is in hard copy, and I ordered it on the internet about fifteen years ago. Charles would marvel at that. I pulled out the two copied pages that included Oliver Nash Jr., and posted them below. It makes a reference to George as “see p. 131”, but I cannot find that reference on that or any other page.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Two. This page picks up with the story of the original homesteading in Dakota Territory of the Morses and the Nashes in 1883; Orley’s chest and tools; Aunt Ida Nash and her husband Wesley Hickok come in 1885; the Morse family is described; Alcander Morse’s civil war experiences are described; and the fact that Alcander left a “diary” of his civil war experience is described. [NOTE: Charles sent me a copy of the transcribed diary, probably ca 1966, as a mimeographed document - it had blue “construction paper” around it. I have posted the first page of the diary below this page. The first page is a brief description of the document and then the first entries from the diary.]

As described just above, below is posted the first page of Charles’ transcription of Alcander’s diary:

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Three. This page contains a poem in the section on Alcander Morse. Charles says he has reduced Alcandar’s thirty-six page civil war diary to four pages. Alcander joins the 37th Illinois infantry shortly after the Battle of Bull Run. Charles details his Morse ancestry, he interviewed his elderly aunt Ruth in Illinois in 1919 and 1925. He has the family going back to John Morse (1761-1846), enlisted in Revolutionary War at young age. John’s family is listed, which includes William, Alcander’s father.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Four. This page picks up with William Morse’s family, and talks of their covered wagon move from New York to Boone County, Illinois. He then talks of great-grandmother Louisa Cushing Morse and the Massachusetts Cushings. Mentions studying the “Defense of New England” by Caleb Cushing at Ward Academy and then realizing he was a distant relative. Mentions Cushing Genealogy. Alcandar comes home and goes back to the front - he meets Sarah Brush and they marry in 1866. The Brushes also came from Cortland County, New York. Both great-grandfathers Morse and Brush are buried in Capron, Illinois.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Five. A description of Alcan Morse and his family; the establishment of the post office at Flora; daughters Eva and Amy marry Nash brothers; sad parting of Morse’s going to Iowa; Charles questions his memory of a parting at two years of age; but details a memory of his son Alan at age two; and his wife at age three.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Six. Amy, Charles, and Frank visited grandparents Morses in Iowa in 1892. Grandpa Morse had malaria from Civil War. Alcan visited South Dakota in 1894. Visited Ben Fulwider. Alcan’s brother sent canned fruit, which inspired Charles to start Nash Orchard in South west Platte in 1944. Alcan died of his stomach ailment at age 55, and was buried in Rock Hill Cemetery. Great Uncle Arthur lived in Kansas, and had a family.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Seven. This page was also one of those that was faded and hard to bring out. I have tried and most of the page is legible. Amy and Orley drove to Kansas to visit Uncle Art about 1920. Descriptions of other relatives - Morse and Brush. Guy Nash did work on the Brush ancestry, but after his death his widow Claire turned the notebooks on this to Charles - and Charles hopes to pass them back to Guy and Claire’s children, Keith or Shirley. This page starts the Brush ancestry with Thomas Brush, born in 1610.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Eight. Traces the Brush ancestry to Joseph, Joseph Jr., Israel, and Sarah (Alcan’s wife). Description of Sarah Brush Morse’s life after Alcan’s death in Iowa and Belvidere, Illinois. She died in 1927, having lived for many years on her husband’s civil war pension. Uncle Charlie and Aunt Lottie visit South Dakota. Charles describes photo taken when he was four and Frank two - quite likely the photo at the top of this page.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Nine. More Uncle Charlie and Aunt Lottie. Cousin Edwin Brush, magician. “Brush Round Robin” letters in the 1930’s, Belvidere and Dakota branches. Edwin and Henry Brush past eighty. Frank Brush and George Brush and their families. Effie Brush and Herman Tanner. Uncle William “Willie” Brush and family.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Ten. More on Uncle William Brush, including gifts to Charles as a teenager. World War I changes reading habits of the younger generation. Uncle William marries Nellie Frost and they have five children. William came to his mother’s funeral, Orley and Amy’s golden wedding anniversary, and to Orley’s funeral. Visited Uncle Charley, 1929 Nash reunion in Belvidere, and Uncle Charlie’s funeral in 1929 and Uncle William’s funeral in 1951.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Eleven. Stories of Uncle William Brush’s family, his widow Nellie, and William and Nellie’s children and their families. Then, on this page, Charles switches to describing his Nash family members. He describes and tells stories of his grandfather George Nash, known as “Uncle George” to everyone outside the family. Charles tells of chasing one of the last buffalo twenty miles.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twelve. George shot geese with his rifle, Charles did as well. George Nash had one of the first artesian wells in the region - Peter Norbeck drilled it and Charles describes Peter. Artesian wells faded by the 1920’s and windmills were used to pump water. Charles writes of Lake Andes being dry and then filled - and the altitude compared to Platte. Talks of the altitude of the corner of the state. Begins a discussion of his grandmother’s family, the Blodgetts, starting with writing Metta Olson Stock.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirteen. Aunt Climena (Menie) sister to Grandma Nash. Squire Blodgett born in Albany New York, married Joanna Carpenter. Squire and Johanna’s children listed. Sidney Nash married Johanna’s sister Caroline. Phebe, Ida May and Menie died within a year. Henry Carroll and family described at length. Ray Carroll marries Flora Latham, Ward Academy school mate.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fourteen. Description of Henry Carroll and his children. Describes Henry in the hardware business in Platte and with his ferry boat for crossing the Missouri at Wheeler. Description of Maud Olson. Description of Quincy Gates and Caroline Blodgett and their children of Miner County, South Dakota. Mention of a Blodgett sister that married a Schermerhorn and another who married a Snook.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifteen. Hugh Snook in Florida. Uncle Russell “Bub” Blodgett and his children. Squire sells his property in 1873 and moves across the state line to Sharon, Wisconsin. Caroline Carpenter, Johanna’s sister, married Sidney Nash, George’s brother and their family is described. Aunt Ida Nash babysat Charles and Frank. Orley in the Blizzard of 1888. How old grandparents were when Charles, Frank, Ray, and Guy were born.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Sixteen. This page contains childhood stories of Charles and Frank pursuing animals on their property - gophers, badgers, hogs, coyotes, and more.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Seventeen. This page describes ciphering, walking across the fields. Dorothy and Bob walked two and a half miles to school in the 1930’s. Alan did the same walk a few years later. Charles describes the rural school - likely a Carroll Township School - that he attended. Alton Parish, the teacher, is described. An award of merit from him in 1900 to George Nash is posted in the Jim and Ida Nash web page. Talks of students who were immigrants from Holland and also of Dutch immigrants in the region. [NOTE: A 1969 book “On the Reservation Border: Hollanders in Douglas and Charles Mix County”, describes the Dutch immigration to the region.] Right at the end of this page starts Charles’ description of his time at Ward Academy.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Eighteen. Charles’ time at Ward Academy - his studies, Della Jorgensen, and sports.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Nineteen. More of Charles’ time at Ward Academy - Della Grimes, Den Urguhart, and others. Time on the farm. Minnie Grimes, now Minnie McCartney. Regulations at Ward Academy. Dr. Camfield’s failing health and school closure in 1931. Class of 1909 close to each other, Charles particularly close to Clair Carpenter.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty. Charles brought Ella to meet his parents. Clair Carpenter’s family moves to Montana, Clair died of diabetes in 1916 before insulin developed. Visited Lloyd Truesdale, Ward Academy classmate. Mentions the Exon family. Frank and Charles walked and rode on the eighteen mile trip home from Ward Academy to pass the time. Classmate Lee Miller lived to the north of the Nash’s, married Grace Streeter and died young. Classmate Chester Rosencrance had a filling station at Presho. Classmate Dean Urquhart developed Parkinson’s disease. Della Grimes was the youngest person to go to Yankton College.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-One. More on Della Grimes, retired to Santa Ana, California. Goldie married Academy sweetheart Fred Burton. Frederick Burton was killed in World War II in Italy. Reta Young married Will Sly. Ruth Lydy not heard of since graduation. Mentions other graduates. Recounts that his father built an eight by sixteen foot shack at Academy where Charles and Frank lived one year until they returned to the dormitory the next year. Charles passed the teachers examination and started teaching - Chilman School and Campbell School. Bob born in 1920 and Charles taught the next day.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Two. While riding horseback four and a half miles to the Chilman School, witnesses Haley’s comet. Takes the examination for census taker and was assigned Rhoda and Signal Townships [NOTE: One of the pages of Signal Township in the 1910 census was downloaded and the top part of the page posted just below Page Twenty-Two, showing Chas A Nash as the enumerator.]. Charles goes to agricultural college in Brookings. In 1912 he’s mad at Teddy Roosevelt for running against Taft, votes for Woodrow Wilson, and then has voted Republican in the next twelve presidential elections. Charles leaves Brookings College behind, works to raise money in Academy and goes to Yankton College. He takes a train to Platte and is met by his parents where his father had his first car, a new Hudson.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Three. Charles and Frank ran a taxi with a Dodge to the Fairgrounds - his father was president of the Fair Association. In 1911, it was Frank’s turn to go to college and he chose Vermillion. Charles taught at Campbell school. A classmate, Lulu, had a baby Fola Fay - who visited sixty years later as her husband George Holland was a leader with the Boy Scouts of America. Charles starts at Yankton College and gets a job four miles north at the State Hospital. He eventually found work at a custodian at the college.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Four. More on Charles work at college. Wooing Ella by taking her to an operetta, and to a picnic, among other things. A fire at Dakin Hall, where Ella lived.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Five. Crane Gymnasium served as college dining hall and kitchen until a new dormitory could be built after the fire. Rooms with Cleve Moore, who served in World War I, moved to New Mexico, came to Academy Church’s 75th anniversary, and passed away just before their fiftieth Ward Academy celebration. [NOTE: Charles Nash wrote the history of the Academy Church for the 75th Anniversary that he refers to here - the church is clearly the church where Ward Academy was. The cover of that history is posted below.] Charles describes who came to the 50th anniversary and what happened there.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Six. Finishes 50th graduation anniversary from Yankton. Elmer Bussey, Class of 1914 scared woman in furs while practicing for track. Ivan Lothrop and Charles took their fiancee’s to a picnic on the Missouri River. The Y Club at Yankton College was the center of male society. Visited Granite Falls and met Ella’s family in 1915. He was sorry to not have met Ella’s father, who he describes and who died at a very young age. Her brother John died of tuberculosis.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Seven. Charles teaches Math and History at Ward Academy. Ella had successful surgery. One of three male teachers at Ward Academy. Didn’t enjoy chaperoning skating parties. Recounts Ward Academy graduates who taught for a year before moving on. Ella was recovered enough to visit Platte and stayed with the Alton Parish’s. Jessie Parish, Alton’s wife, was the only person at the Academy Church anniversary who was there when Rev. Camfield started at the church.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Eight. Ella remained a few days in Platte, Charles and Ella planning a Thanksgiving wedding. Frank and Leila were married in the Black Hills, and returned to take over Orley’s homestead. Guy took over his father’s farm. Charles was working on the house he and Ella would move in to. They were married in Montivideo, Minnesota. Charles describes World War I and states he appeared in front of the draft board, but was not called because he was a married man producing grains.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Twenty-Nine. Charles appointed Chair of the Liberty Loan Drive, with Jim Dermody as his deputy. Charles believes loan rates were higher in Platte and tried to get that changed. Crops were good and prices high until the war was over. Charles is superintendent at Lesterville and then at Herrick. Charles took a civil service exam and was offered a position in Washington, D.C., which he did not take.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty. Charles gets elected schools superintendent in Davison County. Ella is his deputy. Ella helps deliver babies. State spelling contest.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-One. Charles does well at spelling. Ella as school deputy had responsibility for the school paper “The Young Citizen”. Went to the state young citizen’s league, visited large ranch with buffalo. Charles challenged state curriculum and made an enemy of the state superintendent. A bill was passed that prohibited a county superintendent from having his spouse as a deputy. Ella was going to run for superintendent - but had young children and couldn’t have done it without Charles as her deputy. They returned to the farm.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Two. The Depression was hard on the Charles Nash family. They lost the farm to taxes and abandoned payments on their Mitchell home. Charles worked for the WPA and then accepted a job as educational advisor to the Civilian Conservation Corps. Charles experienced a massive flood on the Republican River and there was a big impact.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Three. Charles taught at the conservation corps camp. Ella and the children visited. Caught in heavy snow. Returned to farm in 1935. Rough year, but just made it with enough food through the winter for the animals. Alton Beckman was a neighbor boy working on the farm. Charles gets a saddle horse for Bob. Rural teacher comments on good manners of his kids compared to other students.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Four. Mitchell Republic prints Charles’ articles on state course of study. Orley and Amy celebrate 50th wedding anniversary in 1934. Charles counts other locals who have reached their fiftieth anniversary. The depression, the state of the farm, debt on farm, Orley offers Charles farm, company that reneges on debt agreement. Frank Sheriff at the time.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Five. Charles takes on dairying at the farm. Cows get disease. Charles plants fruit trees in 1944 (Nash Orchard?) and enters fruit in the state fair. Orley plays music.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Six. Orley plays music. Orley and Amy move to town in 1916. Orley beats Dr. Brooks for Mayor in the 1920’s. Orley buys a threshing machine. Tenant moves to farm until Charles moves in. Orley and Amy have 50th anniversary, Orley gets prostate problems and is bedridden. Orley passes away and survives all his siblings except Aunt Mate. Amy lives in their house for another twenty-one years.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Seven. Amy kept a “diary” and a file of clippings and obituaries. Charles recounts copying of Sylvester Nash Genealogy. Charles and Ella support Amy who was still living alone. Orley only had a fifth grade education, but he and family members educated themselves and loved history. After graduating from Platte High School, Bob joins the conservation corps.

NOTE: Robert Nash, Charles grandson, provided a copy of Amy Nash’s Journal, which he transcribed, sometime in the 1990’s. It is in text format and he explains it in the introduction. I have pasted the beginning of his transcription below this page.

The Journal of Amy Morse Nash: 1867 - 1959

                       Not edited for dates. This journal of my great-grandmother's was loaned to me by my brother, Charles A. Nash of Omaha, Nebraska in 1989.  Due to its extremely fragile nature, I have decided to make this copy to insure that future descendants might have available the family information, and other notations contained therein.   I should point out, even though it will become readily apparent, that there is no chronological sequence to the entries in this work. Rather it is almost as if Grandma just opened the journal and wrote on whatever blank page she found.  Therefore, I will copy the journal as it came to me, leaving any alterations to someone else.  A great deal of it is written in pencil making it very difficult to decipher. Also the edges of nearly all the pages are crumbled away which makes it necessary to make a guess occasionally.

                                        Robert C. Nash   Feb. 1991  

1 quart Raw linseed oil

2 oz turpentine

for colic in horses

this is one doze

                              1903

Jan

Sold three cows that we had fattened

received $81.76.  It was Bluey, Sukes

& Swancha.  Fattened 4 but killed a

4 yr old black heifer & sent hide off to

be tanned and lined for a robe.

Feb-  Took hogs to Platte.  Got $6.30 per hundred

They brought $91.35.

C. Anderson put casings on house.  Was here

3 1/2 days.  Got 30 cents per hour, received

$11.70.  Cost $40 counting lumber & nails.

Sent $30.15 to Montgomery for

Machine, suit for Charles &

other things.

Paid taxes $39.09, full amount

the third of March.

Paid Charles Boyce $5.00 for Camfield

and $1.00 we owed him for beef.

Paid Andrews $10 note & $25 on $50 note

the third of March.

Robe cost $8.00 besides the hide value.

30th of May  bought badger, gave $35.50.   Aug. 1908

had ---lstras bull

Pidie 17th

Bess 19th

Cherrie 21st

Moonie 22nd

May 23rd

Hipsie 24th

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Eight. Bob enlists in the army in 1942. Bob marries Loretta Gamblin in January 1944. Bob goes overseas to the Philippines and Loretta and baby Robert stay with Charles and Ella. Charles describes Bob’s growing family, and his jobs and where they moved.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Thirty-Nine. Charles describes their daughter Dorothy’s life and marriage to Dick Ellingson in 1949. Dick passes away and Dorothy marries Ora Elfes’ widowed husband Jack Olston. In 1972 all Charles and Ella’s children and grandchildren (with one exception) were home for Thanksgiving. Son Alan joins the Navy and marries Loretta Hiltz.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty. More on son Alan. Children do chores so Charles and Ella can travel. They visit many friends and relatives. Charles had prostate operation.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-One. Visited Ella’s relatives in Winnipeg. Alan and his family moves from Florida to Littleton CO to New Orleans. Charles visits Dorothy in Bismarck after Dick passes away. Chores around the house and orchard. Teaching grandkids to hunt pheasants.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Two. Bob and Loretta and their children. Charles and Ella’s role in their family.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Three. Charles and Ella travel to Yankton and stay with the Elsbrees for their 50th reunion. Florence Camfield Bussey was one of the classmates. Great grandson of founder Joseph Ward joined them. Visited Mae Gregg Love a Ward Academy classmate. Charles and Ella visited Ella’s cousin Leo Larsen in Sioux Falls, as well as Torg Olson. Drove to Gary, South Dakota to visit Cecil Dunn. Charles writes of his children’s schooling in Charles Mix County. He and Ella celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a few months early to get everyone in the family to be able to visit.

NOTE: My grandmother still had her copy of the invitation to Charles and Ella’s 50th anniversary - she and Charles were first cousins - and the inside page is posted just below this page.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Four. Stories about daughter Dorothy growing up. Charles comments on the typing and preparation of “Recollections”.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Five. Further description of their house. A description of their first car - a Model T Ford, which they bought for $300 in 1920. Charles and his father built a big barn to store hay. Charles comments that fifty years later that’s not the way it’s done. More on life on the farm. Charles has a section on ailments, recurring, his children and his mother.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Six. Amy Nash passes away at age ninety-one. Charles goes through a list of more ailments in the family.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Seven. Charles continues the ailments section - too much salt, dropsy, glaucoma, and many more.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Eight. Growing fruit. Going to the fairs. Planting the “north” and “south” orchards - the Nash Orchard.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Forty-Nine. More on growing fruit. Pears. Planting raspberries, strawberries, and gooseberries. Peaches. Flowers. And more. A biographical sketch of Amy Nash for the South Dakota Historical Society is included here.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty. More on Amy Nash. Poems written by Amy. A story about Amy and Ella. Spelling and the teacher’s exam.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-One. Charles in school - his first teacher was Jessie Yeager. Third grade teacher was Mary Delire. Carrying Ora Elfes to Grandma Nash’s piggyback. Other students listed, including Alton Parish. John Campbell on adjoining homestead. Odds and Ends - snow fills 40 acre lake on Uncle Henry Adkin’s property; hunting geese.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Two. More odds and ends - Robert finds a possum. Hazing in school. Pranks: George Burton ringing the bell at Halloween at Ward Academy.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Three. More pranks. End of the bell ringing story. Toilets face down on Halloween. More Halloween stories.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Four. Story of being custodian at Yankton College and faculty concerns about what went on behind a hedge; hiding in a closet while putting in a storm window in Orpha Hollen’s room. Orpha was a student from Platte, later she married Mr. Gaskill and was in St. Charles and worked in Herrick. Mrs. Enock Norbeck reported possible fruit theft. More stories about growing fruit.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Five. In 1961-62 there was deep snow. Hard for Charles to keep up. They sold some of their land for cow pasture, and where the Ford Sales Company now is. They also sold the orchard. Charles and Ella bought the Harris house. They fixed up the house. Felt bad about relying on old age assistance, but did. Talks about this journal.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Six. Charles talks of aging, and recaps the different publications he has authored, including the Nash Genealogy, the Ward Academy Directory, and more. I posted the cover of the Academy Church history earlier on this page. I do not have copies of his history of the Olive Presbyterian Church or of the Doric Lodge. He also references an album of photos.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Seven. Charles talks of eight inches of snow on South Dakota’s 83rd birthday. He then talks of each of his children and how they and their families are doing.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Eight. More about the children. The whole family gathered at Thanksgiving in 1972 on Charles and Ella’s 56th anniversary. Charles includes a poem, “Do They Forget”.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Fifty-Nine. The poem “Little Old High Chair”.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Sixty. Poem, “Together”. Friends of sixty-eight years, John McCartney and Minnie Grimes McCartney. Article about Orley, “Pioneer Celebrates 76th Birthday”. For thirty years Charles as teacher, Ella as assistant, teach an adult Sunday school class at Olive Presbyterian. The January 1973 class is listed, and includes my mother’s former teacher Helene Just and others. It appears that this page goes to at least another - but I do not have a copy.

Charles Nash Recollections - Page Sixty-One - Photo Page - Colorized. The photo of George Nash and Phebe Blodgett Nash are posted in the Nash tintype webpage on this site. Every photo here is captioned by Charles.