Source: Beckwith, H.W. Montgomery County, Indiana History. Chicago: HH Hill, 1881
JONATHAN NUTT, farmer and stock raiser, Crawfordsville. His father, Edmund Nutt, was one of the earliest pioneers that came to Montgomery County. The exact year of his emigration is not known, but it is safe to say that he came as early as 1822; not more than two cabins being in Crawfordsville when he arrived. He came on foot, and found the country densely wooded, and bearing peavine and touch-me-not in exuberant and almost impenetrable abundance. Through the matted and tangled growth, and by trails already made, he traced out a piece of land and made a claim soutH. W. est of Crawfordsville. After deadening the trees on forty acres he went back to Ohio and remained there at least two years. Returning, this time on horseback, he hired his land cleared off, and then went to raising grain. The country was rapidly settling up, and he had a ready market at home for all his produce, though prices ranged low. Corn brought twelve and a half cents per bushel, and pork twenty-five cents per hundred weight. In a very short time he bought a farm of 160 acres from James Gilkey for $600, and paid for it from the products of his fields at these small figures. Finally, in 1828, he married Elizabeth Mann, by whom he became the father of five sons and two daughters. Mr. Nutt spent his early boyhood in the "Old Dominion' where he was born, but guided by the common instinct of his countrymen to go west he fell in with the tide of emigration to Ohio. He spent fourteen years there, teaming in summers and in winter working in a woolen-mill. Both he and his wife died in December, 1863, the former being about sixty-seven years of age. At the time of his death he owned over 2,200 acres of land. On his second journey out here he arrived just at night at the Indian Village north of Thorntown, and being sick and pale, was invited to refresh himself in a wigwam. Skins were spread on the ground for his couch, and he was treated with great kindness by his red entertainers; but he could not be altogether at ease, and in a state of mind which had no tendency to induce sleep he lay awake the whole night looking out of the lodge watching his horse in front. Jonathan, his eldest son and second child, was born in Union township September 1, 1829. He was married March 17, 1863 to Mary Ann Cooper, who was born in Union township August 13, 1841. She was the daughter of Sylvester and Lydia Cooper, who settled here the year before her birth. Mr. and Mrs. Nutt have been the parents of three children: Lenora, born March 8, 1864, died September 30, 1865 ; Orra, April 13, 1867; and Flora, February 7, 1873. Mrs. Nutt belongs to the Methodist Church, and he is a republican. His farm of 382 acres, 50 of which are woodland, is all fenced; it is in a high condition of improvement, with the adjuncts of excellent buildings and a schoolhouse within a stone's throw of his dwelling. His residence is a fine, tasteful brick structure. He values his real property at $28,000. - transcribed by kbz
