Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-23
CHARACTER SKETCH BY BARTON
Splendid Tribute from Ola Friend and
Business Associate.

Splendid Tribute from ola Friend and
Business Associate.
Few successful men were more highly
esteemed by their friends and close ac-
quaintances than e. W. Nash. In life or
death they spoke of him with remarkable
affection. OF the men intimately associated
with him for the last twenty-five years
none was closer than Guy c. Barton whose
financial aid put the local smelling works
on its feet in the early '7os
1.-The character Of Mr.. Nash" said Mr.
Barton, can be expressed briefly and
truthfuliy by the mere statement that he
was one of the incest men who ever lived
in Omaha. In many respects his character
was admirable and as a business man he
was brilliant.
ut was the enterprise of Mr. Nash that
really made the Omaha smelling works.
He got into II when II was n very crude
affair and, seeming to grasp the needs OF
the situation. started out to satisfy them.
He induced me to buy controlling interest
in the stock and thus obtained the financial
assistance that the smelter had to have 1
had no experience in the smelling business
up to that time and he came out to North
Platte to my ranch and presented the case.
Logically / was elected president Of the
company, although l knew nothing what
ever about the smelling business. Mr.. Nash
taught me all 1 know about It and was par
ticularly kind and patient and fine in doing
it. His ability TO understand the early sit
uatlon and his knowledge of the ms and
outs OF the smelling business was what
gave him his right to be one of the big mon
of the company and later in the consolida-
lions that were made.
Came Here Poor.
"As is we'll known Mr.. Nash came 10
Omaha a poor young man and got a Job
wheeling freight. He was one OF the best
accountants have ever seen, however, and
II was not long before he was bookkeeper
i'm the Office of the auditor OF the Union
Pacific From this position he went with
the group OF men who were struggling to
| make the smelter a success. II was not
very long before he became virtually their
| leader.
! He was a man who never took a vaca-
| ton. Recreation seemed to be an impossi-
| bnity to him. He had no rads or hobbies
| Many times tried to get him interested in
things outside his work, but his nature
seemed incapable OF relaxation or appliea-
ton to anything else. During the long
] years that he served as secretary and treas
| urer OF the smelling companies he was at
| his desk necessarily during business hours
| Smelling and Refining company in New
York it was the same thing. Always work.
ing. working. working. Outings and ex-
! curslons did not appeal to him, and almost
with tears in my eyes / urged him time
ana time again 20 take his family and Ro
/ some place where business cares could not
reach him and take good long rest. His
death at the age OF 50. stricken down sud
denly and going 70 pieces all at once. is
the result OF his intense absorption In bust
ness. There is no other reason for II. as
Mr.. Nash was always a temperate man and
had strong and rugged constitution.
Nash for the Place.
when the consolidation OF all the smelt-
ing companies was made our company was
entitled to the presidency by reason OF its
being the largest. Immediately named Mr..
Nash and he Immediately proposed me.
This illustrates his character as wen As
anything else-essentiaIly generous and
willing TO step back into second place with
out a thought. I insisted. however, upon
his assuming the head OF the big CON-
pany. for which he was by all manner and
means htted. Several months dragged by
before he consented 70 become president
and only then at the solicitation Of Mrs
Nash, who wished 20 go TO New York for
superior educational advantages for theiJ
children.
Mr.. Nash was a man Of quick judgment
ana his opinion was so nearly often the
correct one that he might be said TO have
been always right on such matters. Con-
stantly immersed In commercial afiairs he
never puzzled over a new condition. but
met It qnckiy, squarely and sniciently
When he came out here from New York
he was restless and Disseminated. although
IN measure still at his work. Turn him
loose In the town and he would wander
from place 10 place, chatting few minutes
here and there. and then drifting back 70
. desk again to null over business mat.
ters He attended the theater frequently