The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-10-26
JUDGE GEORGE K. NASH.
Sketch Of the Life Of Pure and Upright Man
in Public and Private Life.

shows Judge Nas1h's sense of honor and
his party loyalty more than little in
cident of that campaign. 1t was the
year Greeley was running for president
against Grant. Many former Repub-
licans had come out strongly Nfor
Greeley, and one day a delegation of
Democrats waited on Judge Nash. They
agreed THAT II he would come out for
Greeley, they would see that he was
Endorsed for reelection by the Demo-
cratic county convention and he would
therefore have no opposition. Judge
Nash listened to the proposition. 1t was
rather attractive The spokesman con-
tinued: "Greeley's as good Republican
as you and here Is an opportunity for
you to be
THE UNANIMOUS CHOICE
for prosecuting attorney"
Gentlemen, do you know what mean
things you would say of me II did a.
you ask?" was Prosecuuor Masks rs.
ply; L.
you. Such q move as we ask you TO make
will strengthen you In this county.
Democrats have already voted for you
and made It possible for you to be elect
ed when the rest OF the ticket failed.
Now you can 20 in for another term
without opposition"
"If should do as you WISH" replied
the young lawyer, ''in less than q week
all Of you would be standing on the
street corners saying that turned to be
Democrat In order to hold office. I'm
net going to give you a chance. I am
a Republican and I shall stand or fall
with my party"
The Democrats looked at each other
for a moment in silence. Then up
spoke the leader Of the delegation:
Mash understands his business" he
M "a al prp fnp nt1 n hn
prosecutors office.
That year the Democratic majority In
Franklin county was 20SO, but Prosecu-
tor Nash overcarne this and was re-
elected by
A MAJORITY OF 7ss.
In 1877 Mr.. Nash was the Republican
nominee for attorney general on the
ticket with Judge West for governor.
The whole ticket was beaten. In 1879
he was renominated and was elected to
the Office. In 1881 he was reelected,
and in April 1883, Governor Foster
offered him an appointment as men,
ber Of the supreme court commission.
This commission was composed Of fve
members, and was given the same
power as the supreme court. 1t was
created to relieve the court. Nash re-
signed as attorney general and went on
the commission. 1t Is from this ap-
pointment that he secures the title OF
Judge. The commission expired in 1885.
Since that time the judge has held no
office except that Of chairman OF the
executive committee of the Republican
party.
Judge Nash was married in April,
1882, to Mrs. Addie M. Deshler Of CO.
lumbus. In October, 1886, she died, and
the blow was a severe one to her fond
husband. A child, 81 years old, was
left for the father to care for, and he
transferred to the little girl the affec-
tions he had formerly divided between
his wife and baby. He watched tender
ly over his offspring, and she was just
BUDDING INTO MAIDENHoOD
when she, too, was gathered in by the
grim reaper. That was in February.
Judge Nash's grief was intense, but
instead of giving up to 1t he plunged
deeply into work, and during the fol-
lowing summer, in order to have much
to occupy his mind, he accepted the
position Of chairman of the Republican
executive committee. The success of his
campaign Is too we'll known to be men,
toned here.
Two stepchildren are as devoted to
the Judge AZ though they were Of his
own blood.
"They have always been like my own
children to me-" was the comment the
Judge made to a friend when asked con-
cerning his family. and there was sad
ness in his tones as he spoke. He was
thinking Of those who were gone.
The stepchildren are David w. Desh-
Ter and Mrs. Kate Babcock.
As lawyer Judge Nash Is recognized
aS
ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THD
BAR.
| His voice has been heard in many of
the famous cases Of Ohio, and he has
sat with the brightest lawyers Of the
country, either as colleague or oppo-
| nent. He assisted in the prosecution OF
the famous tally-sheet forgery cases
| in 1885, and was associated with such
| well-known lawyers and statesmen as
| Luther Lanin Mills of Chicago and
Judge Allen G. Thurman. The other
counsel Of the case were J. r. Holmes
| and Hon. Cyrus Hulins.
While attorney general he was faith.
fully on the watch to protect the peo.
pie from grasping corporations, and II
was he who started and won the fight
| to prevent the consolidation Of the Big
Four and Cincinnati. Hamilton and
| Cleveland was behind the move to con-
solidate the two companies anto one
| corporation. Judge Nash attacked the
new corporation on the ground that II
existed In violation of the state consti-
tuition, which prohibits the consolida,
ton Of competing and parallel lines OF
railroads. The case was begun in the
supreme court on relation Of the people
| and the court sustained the petition
| Of the attorney general.
| At the request Of Governor Mckinley
he undertook the defense of Colone
Colt in the prosecution which followed
the Washington C. H. riots, and in tina,
he was also successful.
Judge Nash Is affable and without af-
| fectation. He Is plain and simple in hit
habits and of most studious nature
Possessed Of judicial mind, he weighs
we'll, before he decides, all questions
which come before him.
! Judge Nash 10 honest. He Is genuine