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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Shelby County, Ohio
and
representative citizens
Publ.
Evansville, Ind.
1913
947 pgs.
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CAPT.
EDMUND ELGIN NUTT, whose death on September 18,
1911, removed one of Sidney's foremost citizens—-one
whom all delighted to honor —was born in. Shelby county,
O., in 1837, the eldest son of Irwin and Barbara (Persinger)
Nutt.
The father of our subject, Irwin Nutt,
was born in Montgomery county, near Centerville, O.,
January 31, 1811, being a son of Aaron Nutt,
Jr. In his youth he learned the tanner's trade,
which, however, he followed for but a short time. After
acquiring a fair, common school education in the
district school, he. spent six months in the seminary at
Xenia, Q., where he prepared himself for teaching, which
occupation he followed for a time. In 1834 he married
Miss Barbara Persinger, of Green
county, O., who was born September 27, 1812. In 1836,
with his wife and daughter, Louisa M., who
was then one year old, he came to Shelby county and
bought a piece of timber land one mile north of Sidney,
where he built a cabin for himself and family and began
to clear the land. His busy axe soon enlarged the
clearing and in course of time smiling field's took the
place of the dense and gloomy forest, and as the product
of his toil he was able to command not only the
necessities, but also some of the luxuries of life. In
the work of developing the homestead he was greatly
aided by his faithful wife, who did her part in spinning
and weaving the flax and wool for the family garments,
also aiding in the outdoor work, in addition to
performing her usual household duties and rearing her
family of seven children. This family consisted of four
sons and three daughters, as follows: Louisa M.,
born 1835, married Joseph Wilkinson;
Edmund E., the subject of this sketch; Margaret
J., born 1840; who became the wife of James
Middleton; William A., born 1843, who
married Elenor C. Lillie; Mary M., born 1845, who
became the wife of Dr; J. C. Lillie of Logan
county, O.; J. Newton, born 1848, who
married. Mae Price and John M..born
1851, who married Ella Smith.
In 1854 Irwin Nutt rented his farm and
moved to Pemberton, O., where he engaged in the business
of buying and shipping grain, but three years later he
returned to his farm and there remained until 1873. By
this time his children had all married and settled in
homes of their own and a lonely air pervaded the old
homestead—as he expressed it, "the clock ticked too
loudly on its shelf." At the earnest solicitation of his
children, he again rented out the old farm and he and
his wife spent the rest of their lives with their
children, residing for a while with one, then with
another. He died in Quincy, O., at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. J. C. Lillie, on March 7, 1880. In
1832, when twenty-one years of age, he had united with
the Methodist Episcopal church, of which for the rest of
his life he remained a faithful and useful member,
giving freely of his time and money1 in its behalf, and
when his end came the final summons found him prepared
to enter into the eternal mansions. His remains were
brought to Sidney and lay in state at the M. E. church
from Monday until Tuesday afternoon, when interment took
place in Graceland cemetery. His funeral procession was
one of the largest seen in Sidney up to that time. He
was among the first members of Temperance Lodge No. .73,
F. & A. M., and during his life held all the offices up
to and including that of worshipful master. His wife
survived him until April 5, 1905, and was also buried in
Graceland cemetery, Sidney.
Edmund E. Nutt was reared on the home farm north
of Sidney and was educated in the schools of that city.
When eighteen years of age he began teaching school,
which occupation he followed for four years. He then
entered Delaware College, but his further studies were
interrupted by the breaking out of the Civil war, and on
April 17, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifteenth regiment,
O. V. I., serving three months, the full time of his
enlistment. On September 16, 1861, he re-enlisted as a
private in Company F, Twentieth regiment, O. V. I., and
served until the close of the war, first as private,
then sergeant, then second and first lieutenant and
later as captain, with which rank he was discharged. He
took part in all great battles in which his regiment
participated, and for meritorious conduct at the battle
of Atlanta, July 22, 1864, he was awarded a medal of
honor, by order of Maj. F. P. Blair. He was
wounded on the skirmish line near Atlanta, August 14,
1864.
After his return from the war Captain Nutt
engaged in the grain business, with his brother,
William A. Nutt, at Pemberton, but after remaining
there for a while, he came to Sidney and entered into
the same business here with his brothers, I.
Newton and John M. Nutt, purchasing what was
known as the old stone bridge warehouse. His brothers
subsequently retiring from the business, he continued it
alone for some time, after which he sold out his
interests to Griffis Brothers.
Although now past middle life he began the study of law
and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced law.
Instead, he engaged again in the grain business, being
thus associated with his brother, William A., at
Urbana, O., still, however, continuing to reside at
Sidney. Subsequently he repurchased from E. J.
Griffis the old stone bridge warehouse, to which
Mr. Griffis had added a milling department, and this
he owned and managed until his death. He was by this
time conspicuous as a useful and public spirited citizen
and in 1897 was nominated on the republican ticket for
state senator for the twelfth district.
Captain Nutt was a member of Neal Post,
G. A. R., from its organization. He took great interest
in the Ohio Department of the G. A. R. from the time
also of its organization, and in recognition of his
zeal, and of his honorable army record, he was elected
department commander of Ohio, at Canton, O., at its
twenty-ninth annual meeting in 1894. This position he
filled both with credit to himself and satisfaction to
his comrades, his administration being a highly
successful one. He also served as president of the
regimental organization of the Twentieth regiment, being
always present at the annual reunions of Companies F, H
and K, on the 22d of August, to celebrate the battle of
Atlanta. The following circular was issued by Neal Post,
G. A. R., at the time Captain Nutt was
candidate for the office of department commander.
Headquarters Neal Post, No. 62,
Department of Ohio, G. A. R.
Sidney/O., April 4, 1894.
"Comrade:—We the undersigned committee, appointed by
Neal Post to present the name of Comrade Edmund
Elgin Nutt for .the position of Department
Commander at the encampment to be held at Canton,
respectfully and briefly submit their claims as follows:
"Comrade Nutt was a candidate and
received a large vote at Hamilton, Ohio, and many
pledges of support, and solicitations to remain in the
field for the next encampment, to which we confidently
respond with a brief review of some of the merits of our
candidate. He was a soldier from the first call to
Lights Out,' from April 17, 1861, to July 15, 1865;
carried a gun more than two years and a sword two years
in Company F, 15th O. V. I., three months' service; and
Company F 20th Ohio, three years' service; served at the
front in all ranks from private to captain, and was
skirmish officer on brigade staff; was wounded on
skirmish line and awarded a medal for conspicuous
bravery in battle.
"As a citizen since the war, his 25 years of successful
business has proven excellent executive ability. As a
comrade he was a charter member of Neal Post, always
present at meeting, takes an active interest, is well
posted in Grand Army affairs, attends encampments, and
has served Neal Post five years as commander. In
addition we desire to remind comrades of their pledges
of support which induced us to renew the effort for the
place, and further urge our claims for the reason that
this part of the state has never been favored with
department honors of any office. If this favor is
granted we promise to furnish a department commander
fully up to the high standard of former, commanders.
"Yours in F. C. & L.
"Signed,—-T. B. Marshall.
"Co. K, 83d 6. V. I.
"J. H. Creegan.
"Co. C, 2d Iowa, I. V.I.
"H. C. Roberts,
"Co. D, 51st O.V.I
"Committee."
In 1867 Captain Nutt married Miss
Arvesta Van Demark, who was born in
Shelby county, O., October 28, 1844, a daughter of
Henry B. and Susannah (Boyer) Van Demark, who
were married January 17, 1844. Mrs. Nutt's
father, Henry B. Van Demark, was a native of this
county, born near Sidney, September 19, 1815, the
youngest member of the family of Daniel and Catherine
(Bush) Van Demark. He was brought up on the farm and
there remained during the lifetime of his parents,
having charge of the farm for a number of years until
the death of his father, which took place in 1840. In
1844 he married Susannah Boyer, who was
born in Miami county in 1821, a daughter of Jacob
Boyer. After their marriage the young couple made
their home with his mother, Mrs. Catharine Van Demark,
residing with her until her death, which occurred in
1848, at which time Henry B. Van Demark became
owner of the homestead in Orange township. In 1855 he
traded it for a farm in Washington township, which
contained over 400 acres of land. Subsequently he added
further to his landed possessions, until at the time of
his death he owned over 900 acres, all within three and
a half miles of Sidney. In addition to this, he owned
considerable real estate in the town of Sidney. He and
his wife reared a family of five children, namely:
Arvesta; Daniel, who married Margaret A.
Brown, a native of Warren county; Clymelia,
now deceased, who was the wife of Samuel S. McCready;
Jacob N., of Clinton township; and
Harry, who died at the age of eleven years. Mr.
Van Demark was reared in the Presbyterian
faith and his wife in that of the United Brethren.
Their burial took place in Graceland cemetery in Sidney,
O.
Capt. Edmund E. Nutt and wife were the parents
of six children, as follows : Florence Atlanta
is the wife of Frank Leslie Shull,
secretary of the Portland Flour Mills, at Portland, Ore.
They have two children—Martha Arvesta and
Frank Leslie, Jr.
Earl Edmund, who is second in order of
birth, is engaged in the practice of law in Sidney,
married Lillian Esther Patterson,
of Nebraska. They have two children—John
Edmund and Caroline Arvesta.
Susan Ethylen, is the wife of Henry
W. Roberts, a grocer of Tacoma, Wash: She has one
child—Anna Catherine.
Barbara Emma is a teacher of domestic
science in the Sidney high school.
Ora Marie is a kindergarten teacher in New
York City. Jennie Mathers, . the remaining
member of the family, resides at home with her mother.
The family belong to the Methodist church, taking a
useful part in its work and various Christian
activities.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page
432 |
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