Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B.F. Bowen Surnames in this biography are: NATION, Harvey, Tweedy, Hearn, Pidgeon, Mercer, Armacost, ENOCH H. NATION. The subject of this review is a worthy representative of one of Indiana's old and prominent pioneer families and is also one of the oldest of Henry County's native sons. His paternal ancestors were North Carolinians. In an early day the family moved to Kentucky, thence to Wayne County, Indiana, where the subject's grandfather lived for a umber of years. This ancestor was a soldier of the war of 1812 and at one time was captured by the Indians and taken to Canada. William Nation, father of Enoch, came to Henry county in the early thirties and first purchased forty acres of land, which he subsequently sold, investing the proceeds in eighty acres of what is now known as £he Samuel Ward farm. Still later he increased his holdings to one hundred and sixty acres in the township of Dudley, to which he moved in 1839, the land at that time being an unbroken wilderness, Mr. Nation was a man of indomitable courage and during his early experience as a pioneer did a prodigious amount of hard work in clearing and developing his farm. He built his first habitation, a small log cabin, with his own hands, labored long and industriously in making a home for himself and for those dependent upon him and in due time became a wealthy farmer and one of the leading citizens of the community in which he lived. In young manhood he married Miss Rebecca Harvey, whose parents came to Indiana from Virginia many years ago and settled in the township of Dudley. At the time of his marriage Mr. Nation was less than twenty-one, while his wife was only a miss of seventeen. They became widely and favorably known, were prominent members of the Christian church and both lived to be quite old, the husband dying in 1901 and Mrs. Nation departing this life in 1896. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Enoch H., Lucinda, Nancy, Mary, Susan, Samantha, William W. and Elizabeth. Enoch H. Nation, whose name introduces this sketch, was born September 2, 1837, in Henry county and was but eighteen months old when his parents moved to the farm on which he now lives. He grew up a strong vigorous lad by reason of the work he was early obliged to do in helping clear the farm and reduce the soil to a state of cultivation. In such schools as the country afforded he acquired a knowledge of the fundamental branches, reading, writing and arithmetic, and such was his progress that while still a mere youth he was frequently pressed into service as the teachers assistant. Until his twenty-first year he remained with his parents and then severed the home ties and started in life for himself, choosing a companion and helpmeet in the person of Miss Sarah E. Tweedy, to whom he was united in the bonds of wedlock December 12, 1858. Mrs. Nation was born in this county on the 26th of July, 1839, and reared on a farm adjoining the Nation homestead; her parents were natives of North Carolina and came from that state to Henry County in 1832, settling in the township of Dudley. After his marriage Mr. Nation moved to a place contiguous to his father's farm on which he built a cabin and began his career as a successful tiller of the soil. He increased his possessions at intervals, and made substantial improvements on his place, gradually forging to the front as a farmer until in due time he was recognized as one of the enterprising and progressive men of his community. By diligence and good management he has acquired a sufficiency of this world's goods to make him Comparatively independent, although he still gives personal attention to his farm and looks with close attention after his business interests. Mr. Nation has traveled extensively over the northern, eastern, western and southern states, visiting many places of interest and becoming well acquainted with the great extent and wonderfu1 resources of our country. He made a trip south during the Civil war for the purpose of bringing home the body of his brother William who was killed before Atlanta after serving about one year as a brave and gallant soldier. Mr. Nation is an earnest supporter of the Republican Party and in religion belongs to the Christian church his wife also being a zealous member of that body of believers. They are both noted for their activity in religious work, having been identified with the church at New Lisbon for a period of over forty years. Mr. Nation is public spirited in his efforts to promote the general welfare of his township and county, his name being identified with all enterprises having for their object the up building of the community, material, morally and religiously. He has been generous in helping his children when they started in life for themselves, assisting each to secure a home besides encouraging them in many other ways. The names of these sons and daughters as follows: John S., who married Luvinda Hearn and lives in California; Anna, wife of Albert Pidgeon, Dudley township; Enoch married Eva Mercer and resides in New Castle; Charles, a farmer of Henry Township, married Love Armacost, and James who married Maud Mercer and helps cultivate the home farm; besides these there were three that died in childhood, Jasper, Ada and Louemma.