David A. Nation...Attorney, Minister, Postmaster, Newspaper Publisher, Civil War Union Captain and husband of Carry A. Nation, the World-Famous Saloon Smasher.
David A. Nation was a man of many important accomplishments in his 75-year life, but he died alone and on the edge of poverty. Historians have generally labeled him only as the mousy husband of the more dynamic Carry A. Nation.
Even his simple tombstone at Highland Cemetery in Medicine Lodge, Kansas shows only "DAVID NATION". No dates. No mention of achievements. Not even a full name.
David A. Nation traveled in the deep and dark shadows of Carry A. Nation for the last few years of his life.
This extensive study of his life has proven that he deserved a far much better role than the "second banana" part given to him by his wife and others.
His Ancestors were People of Substance
Research reveals that he came from solid Indiana stock of above average surroundings. His family tree was lined with people of importance. There were lawyers, judges, teachers and doctors. People of high privilege and apparent wealth.
The Nations in this family line descend from a trio of men who came to America from England and settled in North Carolina very early in the history of our country. David's grandfather Sampson served as a soldier in the Second War with England. The linage back from Sampson traces to Joseph, Christopher, John Sr., and John Nation. Other genealogists have traced portions of the Nation family.
Studied Law and Passed the Bar
David was born on June 8, 1828 to Enoch and Sophia (Thompson) Nation in Henry County, Indiana. They had nine other children who all grew to adulthood. David studied law and was admitted to the bar. He married Samantha Van Matre (pronounced Van Meter). They had eight children.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, David and several of his brothers answered the call to arms. He joined Company B of the 69th Indiana Infantry as a Captain.
His brother Enoch was a member of the 9th Indiana Cavalry and was killed in the explosion of the Steamship SULTANA near Memphis, Tennessee on April 27, 1865.
After the war David resumed his law practice. His wife Samantha died on August 18, 1874 and was buried in the VanMatre family plot in Holden, Missouri.
He Married a Younger Woman
On December 30, 1874 he married Carrie Amelia Moore Gloyd, a widow 19 years his junior. She later legally changed her name to Carry A. Nation which nicely abbreviated CAN.
David was Editor of the Warrensburg (Missouri) Journal.
They later moved to Texas and operated a hotel for a few years. David practiced law. Then they returned to Kansas and settled in Medicine Lodge, where David took a pastorate at the First Christian Church.
Shortly after they arrived in this dusty little town near the Oklahoma border, Carry began smashing area saloons with a hatchet. As her fame increased, she smashed more saloons and started traveling the lecture circuit.
David Files for Divorce
David tried to get her to stop this public display of emotion and return to the quiet life of a homemaker. Carry refused and David finally filed for divorce on grounds of mental cruelty, desertion, and exposing him to public ridicule and humiliation.
After an ugly and lengthy court battle, David was granted a divorce in Barber County, Kansas on November 27, 1901. The judge ruled in David's favor only on the charge of desertion.
On Saturday, October 3, 1903, David A. Nation died alone at the age of 75 in a boarding house in Medicine Lodge. He had complained of pain in the abdomen in the middle of the night. Apparently he died of stomach cancer.
None of his family came to his funeral. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) handled his funeral services and he was buried along side other soldiers in the GAR section of Highland Cemetery in Medicine Lodge.
Much More to Follow in a few days............