NASH, JOHN A., D. D.-President of the University of Des Moines, and an educator of much experience and eminence. Is a native of Sherburne, Chenango county, N. Y. Was born July 11, 1816. When be was five years of age he lost his father, and was brought up on a farm by an aunt in Otsego county. At the age of twenty he entered the preparatory department of Madison University, and graduated from the university in 1842, and from the Theological Seminary at the same place in 1844. His first pastorate was at Watertown, N. Y., where he spent six years, and on the 3rd of January, 1851, came to Des Moines, which has since been his home. He immed-iately gathered the few Baptists together, organized a church, and was its pastor between seventeen and eighteen years, teaching also the larger part of this period. About 1835 he started a select school, which soon grew into what was long known as the Forest Home Seminary. Des Moines being centrally located in the State, and some inducements being held out to the Baptists, it was resolved to establish an institution here of the highest order, and the University of Des Moines is the result of that movement, organized in April, 1865. Dr. Nash became its financial agent, and labored in that capacity, with some interruption, for four years, until his health broke down. This was not, however, until some time after the brick building on the hill in Des Moines had been completed and the institution was in operation there. During the period that he was regaining his health, Dr. Nash was Superintendent of Schools for Polk county, his term expiring on the 1st of January, 1874. Prior to this date, in the autumn of 1872, he became acting President of the university, and was at its head three years, when Hon. Frederick Mott became President, but after holding that position a little over a year he resigned, and Dr. Nash was again placed in the presidential chair, May, 1877. Since he located in Des Moines at the opening of 1851 he has accomplished a great religious as well as educational work organizing two Baptist churches, one on each side of the river, and being largely instrumental in the formation of nearly thirty others in Central Iowa. Every good cause receives his hearty and powerful support. Dr. Nash has been twice married. First, in July, 1846, to Miss Jennie C. Calhoun, of Pittsford, Monroe county, N.Y. She died February 3,1851, leaving no children. His second marriage was March 15, 1853, to Miss Mary V. Hepburn, a native of New York, residing at the time of her marriage at Augusta, Lee county, Iowa. They have four children: John A., Jennie C., Netta and Hattie.

"The History of Polk County, Iowa" published by the Union Historical Company, Birdsall, Williams & Co. 1880.
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s/o John & Betsey (Peck) Nash
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h/o (1)C.J.Calhoun; m.9 Jul 1846 Pittsfield,NY; (2) Mary Elliot Hepburn
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m. 15 Mar 1853 Augusta,IA
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p/o Jennie Calhoun [Mrs. Charles Justin Rose], Nettie Mary[Mrs. John McEwan MacVicar], John Alasco, Harriet Mable [Mrs. Archibald MacVicar]
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John Anson Nash influenced his nephew Darius Nash, son of his brother Nathan Nash, in homesteading in Iowa after the civil war.
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in same lot:
Harriet N.Davis, Mariah Dunham, George Dunham, James Hepburn, Roxanna Simmons Hepburn, Archibald MacVicar, Harriet Mable Nash MacVicar, Rev.John Anson Nash, Mary Elliott Hepburn Nash