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James Blackburn Nesbitt

Birth	:	28 Aug 1840 Navarre, Stark County, Ohio, USA
Death	:	1 Nov 1916 Nuckolls County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Nelson Cemetery, Nelson, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.2056084, -98.0791702
Plot	:	Block 9 Lot 8
Description	:	J.B. Nesbitt died yesterday at the home of J.F. Lee east of town. He had been in very poor health for some time and death was no surprise, as deceased was well along in years. The funeral will occur from the Lee home this afternoon at 2:30. The Nelson Gazette (Nelson, NE), Thursday, November 2, 1916 ===== JAMES BLACKBURN NESBITT. James Blackburn Nesbitt was born in Nevarre (sic), Ohio, August 28, 1840. His ancestry was Irish. His grandfather, James Nesbitt, who was a native of Ireland, came to this country about the time of the American revolution (sic), and served... Read More	J.B. Nesbitt died yesterday at the home of J.F. Lee east of town. He had been in very poor health for some time and death was no surprise, as deceased was well along in years. The funeral will occur from the Lee home this afternoon at 2:30. The Nelson Gazette (Nelson, NE), Thursday, November 2, 1916 ===== JAMES BLACKBURN NESBITT. James Blackburn Nesbitt was born in Nevarre (sic), Ohio, August 28, 1840. His ancestry was Irish. His grandfather, James Nesbitt, who was a native of Ireland, came to this country about the time of the American revolution (sic), and served throughout that struggle for independence, with the Irish troops that so faithfully supported Washington in the dark hours about Philadelphia and Valley Forge to the dawn of a new day at Yorktown. After the close of the war James Nesbitt settled in Pennsylvania, and from that time until his grandson, James Blackburn Nesbitt settled on the prairies of Nuckolls county (sic), the history of the family is the history of American pioneers - through the forests of Ohio and Indiana across the prairies of Illinois and Iowa to Nebraska. When the great struggle between the North and South came to a climax, James B. Nesbitt was not yet 21 years of age. His home was in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and when Lincoln made the first call for troops, Mr. Nesbitt assisted in raising a company. Failing to get into the service under this call, the company was abandoned and Mr. Nesbitt went to Illinois, where he enlisted in CoC. (sic) B 12th Ills. regiment on the 24th day of August, 1861, four days before he was 21 years of age. His service to his country lasted four years and five months. He was under fire for the first time at Donaldson, was under Gen. W.H. Wallace at Shiloh, who held the position during the day known to the Confederates as the "Hornet's Nest," that cost the lives of hundreds of Southern troops that day. He was in the battle of Corinth, where he participated in some of the hardest fighting. After the fall of Vicksburg he was detailed to duty to guarding the communications of the army until Sherman's campaign against Atlanta. There he was detailed to conduct a wagon train back to Nashville, when Hood came out of the works before Atlanta and started on his drive in Sherman's rear. Sitting on his horse directing his train across a stream, he witnessed the fierce fight at Franklin, and barely escaped capture. His last active service in battle was at Nashville, when Thomas destroyed Hood's army. After the battle of Nashville he accepted a position on the staff of Maj. Gen. Clinton B. Fisk with the rank of First Lieutenant, where he served until mustered out January 223, 1866. Returning home he took up the life of citizen and with the great army of citizen soldiery began the building of the mighty empire of the West. He was married to Eveline W. Lee January 15, 1868, at Muskatine (sic), Iowa, He followed his profession of teaching most of the time until he came to Nuckolls county (sic) and homesteaded a quarter section of land seven miles due north of Nelson in the spring of 1878. His life in the early days of the settlement of Nuckolls county (sic) was given to every movement that looked to the betterment of conditions - to make this a better and move desirable place in which to live. Being a carpenter by trade he found plenty of work building for the men who were rapidly settling in this section. He built the first house in Nelson, the first home of Mr. and Mrs. G.D. Follmer. He built the first hotel which the settlers will recollect. He built the old court house which is still to be seen as one of the old landmarks of the town. At the first election held in Nuckolls county (sic) he was selected to fill the office of county superintendent of public schools, and he laid down the hammer and saw for the work he liked so well - that of building up an educational system. Being a teacher and a practical man in that vocation, he soon systematized the work and laid the foundation for the high standard of education in this county. After the expiration of his term of office he often taught in the rural schools near his homestead, and not a year passed that he was not solicited to accept a place in some district. No account of the life of James B. Nesbitt would be complete without prominence given to his church and Sunday school work. He was a member of the Baptist church (sic), but he work with any denomination when opportunity offered to do good work. He opened one of the first Sunday schools ever held in Nuckolls county (sic), in the old Shiloh school house, which then stood on his farm. Pioneers came with their families for miles and whenever the weather would permit the house was crowded. In addition to his Sunday school he assisted in organizing others in the county and to arouse interest and promote the cause, held Sunday school conventions and picnics. He always took an interest in the politics of the county and state, and had he been a practical politician in those early days, owing to scarcity of men of his education and ability, he could have been elected to some if the best positions in this section of the state. But he was not a politician. He was too independent in thought to comply with hard and fast party ties. No party lines could bind him to vote for a man whom he believed to be unfitted for public position. Never a physically strong man, as age came on he felt the winters were too vigorous and in 1895 he moved to Eldorado (sic) Springs, Mo., where his health improved and he built a nice home in that town of hills and beautiful trees, springs and streams. There he lived until 1904, hen his wife's health was so poor that he sold the house and moved to Oklahoma, where all of his children lived with the exception of one. Since that time he has lived free from any business cares. He had sufficient to keep himself and wife and the latter tears were spent in visiting children and watching the growth and development of his grandchildren in whom he took a great interest. Last May he and Mrs. Nesbitt began a trip, first visiting all of their children in Oklahoma and arriving at the home of their daughter who lives north of Nelson, about July. It was while visiting Mrs. Nesbitt's brother, J.F. Lee, east of Nelson, that he was stricken. He said from the first that he would not recover, and on the night of November 1, passed away, surrounded by his wife, spns and daughters, and relatives. Without ambition to be in the public eye, always promoting the interests of others, with a keen sense of right and wrong, Mr. Nesbitt, like the host of pioneers, was unselfish in giving his life for public good, and honorable to a degree that made him loved by those who knew his best, The remains were laid to rest on Thursday afternoon, November 2nd. The Nelson Gazette (Nelson, NE), Thursday, November 9, 1916; pg. 1

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is James Blackburn Nesbitt's memorial?
James Blackburn Nesbitt's memorial is located at: Nelson Cemetery, Nelson, Nuckolls County, USA.
When did James Blackburn Nesbitt death?
James Blackburn Nesbitt death on 1 Nov 1916 in Nuckolls County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the James Blackburn Nesbitt's memorial?
Latitude: 40.2056084
Longitude: -98.0791702

Family Members:

Spouse

Eveline Watkins Lee Nesbitt

(1844 - 1918)

Children

Walter Nesbitt

(1870 - 1880)

Maud Nesbitt Shaw

(1877 - 1967)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Nelson Cemetery
Nelson, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2056084, -98.0791702

2. Oxbow Cemetery
Nelson, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2560997, -98.0280991

3. Salem Cemetery
Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1255989, -98.0658035

4. Smith Cemetery
Nelson, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3078003, -98.0567017

5. Nora Cemetery
Nora, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1394005, -97.9705963

6. Union Cemetery
Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3146706, -98.1236877

7. Phil R Landon Gravesite
Angus, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2703200, -97.9553200

8. Beulah Cemetery
Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1324997, -98.1986008

9. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Lawrence, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2921982, -98.2268982

10. Saint Stephens Cemetery
Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2544899, -98.2562485

11. Assumption Church Cemetery
Deweese, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3507000, -98.1324000

12. Hannum Graves
Lawrence, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3456500, -98.1766800

13. Oak Grove Cemetery
Oak, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2326889, -97.8739471

14. Liberty Creek Cemetery
Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3361015, -98.2035980

15. Zion Cemetery
Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2277985, -98.2921982

16. Beaver Creek Cemetery
Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1617012, -98.2882996

17. Evergreen Cemetery
Superior, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0374985, -98.0650024

18. Bostwick Cemetery
Bostwick, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0536118, -98.1801071

19. Evergreen Cemetery
Lawrence, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2922401, -98.2723236

20. Edgar Cemetery
Edgar, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3587200, -97.9700200

21. Spring Creek Cemetery
Ruskin, Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1258011, -97.8756027

22. Saint Martin-Loucky Cemetery
Deweese, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3652496, -98.1948624

23. Mount Zion Cemetery
Nuckolls County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1974983, -97.8397522

24. OBanion Cemetery
Blue Hill, Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2850000, -98.3020000