“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

THOMAS F. NASH, an attorney of Garland, Dallas county, Texas, was born in 
Marion county, Kentucky, October 11, 1850.  He was the eleventh born in the 
family of fifteen children of Thomas J. and Eliza (Flood) Nash, natives of Virginia 
and of Scotch and Irish descent.  Thomas J. Nash was born in 1808; went to 
Kentucky in 1815, being one of the pioneers of that State.  He was a farmer by 
occupation, as was also his father, Thomas Nash.  His material grandfather was 
a Virginia farmer, and was a first cousin to the celebrated Peter Cartwright.  
Thomas J. Nash received a superior education for his day, and started out in life 
with fair prospects in Marion county, Kentucky.  He was elected to various offices 
of minor importance, and when in his fortieth year he was chosen Representative 
of his county to the State Legislature.  Previous to this he raised a regiment of 
men and offered his services to the United States for the war with Mexico; he 
was not accepted, however, there being more men offered than needed.  He 
came to Texas in 1854, first settling five or six miles north of Dallas.  In 1857 he 
permanently located in the vicinity of Garland.  Here he bought 320 acres of wild 
land and developed a fine farm, his land costing him $3.00 per acre.  By the time 
the war came on he had a nice farm and plenty of stock.  In 1858 he was elected 
County Commissioner.  In 1861 he was chosen as a member of the Secession 
Convention, and was a recognized authority on most subjects in regard to State 
rights.  Being well advanced in years, he took no part in the late unpleasantness, 
except as a civilian, but in that capacity aided and encouraged the Confederate 
cause all he could.  In 1876 he was again elected County Commissioner, and 
filled the office two years.  This was the last of his political life.  He died March 3, 
1886, in his seventy-eighth year.  For many years he was a member of the 
Masonic fraternity and nearly all his life was a prominent and devoted member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife died July 7, 1873, aged fifty-six years.  
She was a member of the same church, possessed many amiable traits of 
character, and, like her honored husband, was held in high esteem by all who 
knew her.  Of their fifteen children eleven lived to be grown and eight still survive.  
Names of the eleven are as follows:  Lucy J., widow of Jerry Brown, resides in 
Los Angeles, California; Marietta, deceased; Isabella, wife of J. W. Jones; 
George W., of Grayson county, Texas; C. L., of this county; J. J., deceased; 
Adelia, deceased; Mary E., wife of T. J. Jackson; Thomas F.; Albert R., a 
Methodist minister of Kaufman county, Texas; Anna E., wife of John Jackson, of 
this county; Emma E., deceased.

Thomas F. Nash received his early education in the common schools of this 
county, as he grew older attended some of the more advanced schools, and 
subsequently engaged in teaching in Dallas county.  After teaching five years, he 
located on a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits until he was thirty-three.  
In 1883 he became editor of a paper in Mesquite, called The Mesquiter, and was 
thus employed three years.  Previous to this, in 1880, he was elected to the State 
Legislature, filling that honored position most acceptably four years.  He had also 
served the public two years as Justice of the Peace previous to his election to the 
Legislature; was a member of the School Board when he was only twenty-three; 
has also served in other minor offices.  During the time he was in the Legislature 
he was Chairman of the Committee on State Affairs, and was one of the leading 
young members of the House.  In 1878 he began the study of law.  It was not, 
however, until 1888 that he decided to make law his profession.  He consulted 
with Charles F. Clint, of Dallas, but did not study under him; passed an excellent 
examination in May, 1889, and was admitted to the bar by Judge R. E. Burke.  
His practice is already assuming large proportions, and he starts out with 
flattering prospects for a brilliant career as a lawyer.  He has been a resident of 
Garland since 1887.

Mr. Nash was married, December 25, 1873, to Miss Mary F. Hobbs.  Her father 
was killed while in the Confederate army when she was quite small, and her 
mother died when she was nine years old.  Her paternal great-grandmother was 
a first cousin of George Washington.  She was reared by her grandfather, James 
M. Ware, a prominent man in this section of the country.  Mr. and Mrs. Nash are 
the parents of eight children: Eliza Adelia, Mary Leola, Lillian, Olin Welborn, 
Albert Ware, Flora Estelle, Effie Lee and Lorena Inge.

Mr. Nash is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Duck Creek Lodge, No. 441, of which 
he is Master; is also a Knight of Honor.  He and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church.

Submitted by: L. Pingel