Obediah Nash

Obediah Nash was the father of Pleasant Riley Nash, the grandfather of Emaline “Emma” Nash Carson, the great grandfather of Mary E. Carson Wyant and the great great grandfather of Bessie E. Wyant Wellons, my grandmother.

He was born on November 28, 1801 in Virginia. Some accounts say he was born in Tennessee. Tennessee was created from a portion of Virginia.

He died on August 21, 1851 in Beech Creek Township of Greene County, Indiana.

His father was Samuel Nash. His mother was Nancy J. Bicknell Gray.

Obediah married Nancy Edwards about 1825. There is no source recording the date or place.

Obediah and Nancy Nash were the parents of at least 8 children and possibly more. The first of these was Pleasant Riley Nash, who was born May 10, 1827 in Beech Township of Greene County, Indiana.

Pleasant’s younger brother George reports that he was one of ten children and that his parents moved to Beech Creek Township in Greene County in 1822 or soon thereafter. The township was formed in 1822. This is when the first white settlers were able to move into former Native American lands in central Indiana.

Source: History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, page 397. Published 1884. 

In the 1830 census we have:

2 adults ages 20-29

1 boy age <5

1 girl age 5-9

There is a Federal Lands Purchase record showing the purchase of land in Beech Creek Township on October 1, 1840.

In the 1840 census we have:

2 adults ages 20-29

3 boys (2<5; 1 aged 10-14)

3 girls (1<5; 1 aged 5-9; 1 aged 10-14)

In the 1850 census we have:

Obediah 48

Nancy 47

And 5 children (the older children have left home already)

Obediah died on August 21, 1851 in Beech Creek Township and was buried in the Edwards Cemetery there. This is the date on the grave marker above.