Emery Nabb

NABB, WELSH, DUBERT, SHIELDS, MYERS

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 12/30/2009 at 12:51:38

J. W. Ellis, History of Jackson County, Iowa, 1910

EMERY NABB.

Emery Nabb, who was actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits in Jackson county for many years, owning a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in Brandon township, removed to Kansas on the 1st of January, 1910, and is now devoting his attention to the operation of his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Allen county, that state. His birth occurred in Farmers Creek township, Jackson county, Iowa, on the 28th of November, 1865, his parents being Perry T. and Mary (Welsh) Nabb. The father, who was born in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, there grew to manhood and then took up his abode in LaFayette, Indiana. Subsequently he lived in Princeton, Missouri, for a time but eventually came to Iowa and here continued to make his home until called to his final rest on the 4th of November, 1892. He was a plasterer by trade and successfully followed that occupation throughout his active career. During his early manhood he supported the democracy but in later years became a republican. It was in Indiana that he wedded Miss Mary Welsh, whose birth occurred near Terre Haute, that state. They became the parents of eight children, as follows: R. C., who is a plasterer by trade and resides in Baldwin, Iowa; Sarah Elizabeth, Henry, Mary and Matilda, all of whom are deceased; William T., an agriculturist of Brandon township; Emery, of this review; and Amasa, who wedded Miss Meda Dubert and follows farming in Fairfield township, this county.
Emery Nabb obtained his education in the common schools of Jackson county and remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of seventeen years. He then started out in life on his own account as a farm hand, working by the month until twenty-four years of age, when he began the operation of rented land and was thus identified with agricultural pursuits until 1899. In that year he purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Brandon township and was actively engaged in its further cultivation and improvement for a period of ten years or until the time of his removal to Allen county, Kansas, on the 1st of January, 1910, He owns a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in the Sunflower state and there intends to continue his career as an agriculturist. The prosperity which he now enjoys is attributable entirely to his own well directed industry and Indefatigable energy and, though now a resident of Kansas, he well deserves mention in this volume as one who for many years was numbered among the enterprising farmers and representative citizens of Jackson county.

In 1888 Mr. Nabb was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary M. Shields, who was born in Perry township, Jackson county, on the 22d of January, 1871, her parents being John and Louisa (Myers) Shields. The father, whose birth occurred in Ireland on the 27th of July, 1831, was reared in England and there learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1849, when a youth of eighteen, he crossed the ocean to the United States, landing at New York city. After becoming a resident of America he devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits in this county and his demise occurred in Farmers Creek township on the 16th of December, 1896. His wife, a native of Germany, was twenty-two years of age when she emigrated to the new world in 1864. She still survives and now makes her home in Fulton, Iowa. By her marriage she became the mother of five children, namely: John William, who follows merchandising and farming in Fulton, Iowa; Mrs. Nabb; Mary L., who is the wife of Marion Hawyard, an agriculturist of Maquoketa; Martha E., who gave her hand in marriage to William Carter, a farmer of Fulton, Iowa; and Minnie F., at home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nabb have been born eight children, as follows: Charles E., whose birth occurred September i, 1889, and who is at home with his parents; Oscar E., who died on the day of his birth—September 7, 1890; Theodore Edgar, whose natal was January 1, 1892, and who passed away on the 12th of January of the following year; Louisa Mabel, who was born September 13, 1894, and is at home; Wallace and William, twins, who were born June 5, 1897, and died on the same day; one who was born and died September 20, 1900; and John Perry, who first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 31st of July, 1907.
Where national questions and issues are involved Mr. Nabb supports the men and measures of the republican party but at local elections casts an independent ballot, voting as his judgment dictates. He held the office of township assessor for three terms and acted as trustee for two years, while for three years he served on the school board. He was likewise elected to the position of road supervisor. Both he and his wife belong to the Church of the Latter Day Saints. They are people of genuine personal worth and gained an extensive circle of friends during the long period of their residence here.