No history of the Indian Territory would be complete without mention of Florian H. Nash, who has long been a leading factor of the public life and business affairs at Ft Gibson.He was born in New Orleans,Louisiana,in 1837, a son of Nathaniel H. and Sarah(Smelser) Nash. the first sixteen years of his life were spent in the city of nativity and in 1853 he came to the Indian Territory,securing a clerkship in the store of William P Denckla,who was succeeded by Shaw & Lanigan.at Ft Gibson.There he mastered business principles and after 10 years connection with that enterprise he bought out his employers and became the the proprietor of the store.
Six moths later his place of businss was raided by the Confederate army,as also his home, and in July of that year he and his family were taken prisoners by the Union army.It was General Albert Pike and his troops who raided the store,at which time they forced Chief John Ross into signing a treaty with them.When the Union army reached this portion of the country they claimed as prisoners the Chief,Lewis Ross,who was treasurer of the nation, and those who were immediately related to them, including Dr John D Ross, Major George Murrell,John W. Staples,and Mr.F.H.Nash
They were all married men and their families accompanied them when they taken to the north.At Leavenworth Kansas, however, they were immediately discharged and from Leavenworth they made their way to New York, spending a winter on Staten Island
A short time before their return Mr Nash secured a clerkship in the store of A.P Stewart , of New York city, then the largest dr-goods est. in the country.
In the spring of 1864.however,he returned to I.T.and about that time entered into a partnership with D.H. Ross,William P.Ross and Lewis Ross in a a mercantile venture. They were Sutlers for
Third Indian Rigiment,of which Col.A. Philips,of Kansas,had charge. At the close of war by mutual consent the partnership was dissolved, Mr Nash embarked in General Merchandising until he sold his store in 1874.
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Note; I think he married to John Ross- Dau?