John Nash, D.D.

NASH, CALHOUN, HEPBURN

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/13/2009 at 15:20:59

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 792-793

JOHN NASH, D. D., President of the
University of Des Moines, an educator
of much experience and wide reputation,
is a native of Sherburne, Chenango County,
New York. He was born July 11, 1816.
When he was five years old his father died,
and he was brought up by an aunt on a farm
in Otsego County. At the age of twenty he
entered the preparatory department of Madi-
son University, and graduated from that in-
stitution in 1842, and from the theological
seminary at the same place, in 1844. His
first pastorate was at Watertown, New York,
where he spent six years. January 3, 1851,
he came to Des Moines, Iowa, where he has
since made his home. He immediately
gathered the Baptists together, organized a
church, and was its pastor for eighteen years;
he also taught a large portion of this time.
About the year 1835 he started a select
school, which grew into what was long known
as the Forest Home Seminary. Des Moines
being centrally located in the State, and some
inducements being held out to the Baptists,
it was resolved to establish an institution
there for the higher order of education, and
the University of Des Moines is the result
of that movement; it was organized in April,
1865. Dr. Nash became its financial agent,
and labored in this capacity, with some inter-
ruption, for four years, when his health broke
down. This was not, however, until some
time after the brick building on the hill in
Des Moines had been completed, and the in-
stitution was in operation. During the
period that Dr. Nash was regaining his
health he was superintendent of the schools
of Polk County, his term expiring January
1, 1874. Prior to this date, in the autumn
of 1872, he became acting president of the
University, and had been at its head three
years, when Hon. Frederick Mott became
president. After filling the position a little
over a year he resigned, and Dr. Nash was
again placed in the presidential chair in May,
1877. Since his residence in Des Moines
Dr. Nash has accomplished a great religious
work, having organized two Baptist churches
on the east side of the river, and being
largely instrumental in the formation of
nearly thirty other churches in central Iowa.
Every good cause receives his hearty and
powerful support. Dr. Nash has been twice
married - first in July, 1846, to Miss Jennie
C. Calhoun, of Wellsford, Monroe County,
New York; she died February 3, 1851, with-
out children. His second, marriage was
March 15, 1853, to Miss Mary E. Hepburn,
a native of New York, residing at the time
of marriage at Augusta, Lee County, Iowa.
They have four children -- John A., Jennie
C., Nettie and Mattie.