Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-26

of January, 1862, when he laid
down the pen for the sword.
going to the front in defence
of his country. He assisted in recruit
ing a company for the 18th Me. Reg
iment, and when % years of age was
on the 25th of August. 1862, commits
stoned second lieutenant in Co. +,
commanded by Capt. l. W. Starbird;
was made first lieutenant of the same
company, Oct. 4, 1862. and captain of
Co. G, same regiment. Dec. IS. 1863.
tie was discharged +or disability, Nov.
= ISL. The disability wa. caused
ty wounds received in the right arm
in the battle Of Ream'S Station, Aug.
-, 1861. Just two years from TIE date
Of his commission. His regiment was
in the charge upon the fort about a
mile south of the station on the We'll
don railroad. This locality was the
hardest fighting ground for the Union
army in the year 1864.
At the close of the war he returned
to his beloved profession of journal
ism, purchasing his old paper the Ga
zette, in January. 1865, and continued
its publication until September, 1869.
In May. 1868, (while publishing the
Gazette), he came to Augusta and pur-
chased a quarter interest in the Ken
nebec Journal, forming a partnership
with Alden Sprague and Howard
Owen, under the firm name Of Sprague,
Owen & Nash. Mr. Nash was the
business manager during the partner
ship, which lasted until the fall of 1879.
This firm started the Daily kennebec
Journal on the LIST of January. 1870.
and the members of the firm have lived
to see their doubtful venture go on to
it's present prosperity and success.
In 1880 Capt. Nash purchased Of
Masters & Livermore of Hallowell. thu
publishing business originally founded
| by Ezekiel GOodale, including the
Maine Farmers Almanac, which was
established in 1919. and removed the
same to Augusta, having secured tenn
porary quarters in the old Waverly
| building at the top of Winthrop hill.
In June, 1889, he located in the wooden
block he had just completed for the
publishing business on Oak street.
near the Maine Central Railroad pas
senger station. Here he had continued
| ever since. printing the almanac with
| its 10000 annual circulation, several
issues Of the Maine reports, and a large
amount of commercial printing. He
published the History Of Methodism
in Maine" by the late DR.. Stephen
Allen, several books of poems and
numerous pamphlets, all the work
turned out from his establishment
| showing that it had passed under the
tcritfcal eye of the master. When
death came to him he was putting
through the press the masterpiece Of
his lifetime. THE History of Augusta"
which viii! make two large octave VOL
umes, and when published will stand
as an enduring monument to the men,
DRY of the author, who spent upon it
several years Of the best part Of his
life, much of the material for the his
tory being evolved from laborious
original Investigations.
Next to this work, Capt. Nash will
best be remembered by. his almost alb
sorbing interest in the schools of his
adopted city. On the board of direc-
tors of the Village District since 1890.
at the expiration of each of his terms
he has been reelected without opposi-
ton. Every teacher was the object Of
his helpful frienC"hip. he sought to
know and become interested in every
scholar, and every branch of the school
work was under his close personal in
spection. In acknowledgment of his
valuable services, the modern school,
, house at the corner Of Sewall and
Capitol streets. erected in 1897. was
named for him.
AS one of the trustees of the Lith-
, gov Library and Reading Room, Capt.
Nash was active in securing the lot
and the needed funds to erect the pres:
ent magnificent library building. which
next to the post office is the most
artistic structure in the city. On its
dedication he made the address deliv-
ering the completed building into the