Published in The Garland Daily News in 1980 as part of a series by Betty Roberts
THOMAS NASH HELPED MEDIATE DUCK CREEK-EMBREE DISPUTE
Thomas Fletcher Nash was the eleventh child of Thomas Jefferson Nash and Eliza Floed. He was born August 11, 1850 in Kentucky. His parents brought the family to Texas in 1854, settling in the Duck Creek area.
Thomas went to local schools. One week following his graduation at the age of 17, he began teaching. He taught for three years. During this time he became interested in a student named Mary Frances Hobbs. They were married in December 1873.
The year he was 19, Thomas was elected to the Dallas County School Board, the youngest person to ever serve in the office. He served a four-year term.
In 1877-79 Thomas served as Deputy Tax Collector. He served one term as Justice of the Peace in Precinct 3. He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives and served in the 17th and 18th Legislatures.
In 1883, Thomas moved his family to Mesquite and published the weekly newspaper for three years. For a short time he was in partnership with J.C. Hugel dealing in hardware and farming implements.
In 1886, he took over the management of the Granger Co-operative Store in Duck Creek. He also talked John McCullom into moving to Duck Creek and starting the Duck Creek News.
At this time the two small towns of Embree and Duck Creek were involved in a bitter battle. It was through Thomas’ suggestion that a new post office site was determined and the name Garland was decided upon. The small town of Garland was incorporated in 1888.l
In 1888 Thomas had decided to make law his profession. In 1889, he passed the exam and became a lawyer. In 1892 he was elected County Judge. He lost the next election but was elected to Judge of the 14th District in 1901, 1904, and 1908.
Thomas had moved his family from Garland to Dallas in 1892. He died September 4, 1908 at the age of 58. He was survived by his wife and eleven children, eight daughters and three sons.
The oldest daughter Eliza Adelia was born 1874. She had taught in Garland for many years. When she died in 1949, many remembered Miss Nash as their first teacher.
Mary Leola, Mrs. Thomas B. Floyd, was born in 1876 and died in 1945. Lillian, Mrs. Robert B. Cammack, was born in 1878 and died in 1956. Flora Estelle, Mrs. Thomas W. Moore, was born in 1885 and died in 1949. Effie Lee, Mrs. James E. Taggart, was born 1887 and died 1957.
Willie was born in 1892. Gladys was born in 1896. She married William E. Peavy, Sr. of Garland.
The sons were Olin, Albert and Thomas Fletcher, Jr. Olin was born in 1881 and died in 1890. Albert, a doctor, was City Health Officer in Dallas for two years. He died two hours after his wife’s death. A double funeral was held. Thomas F., Jr. was born in 1900 and died in 1962. He was like his father a lawyer and a judge.
Thomas Fletcher Nash had been active in politics involving Garland, Dallas, Dallas County and the state. It was through his intervention that the city of Garland was incorporated, settling the bitter feud between Embree and Duck Creek.