Small - Nathan
Source: H. W. Beckwith, History of Montgomery Co IN (Chicago: HH Hill)
p 605
Nathan Small, retired farmer, Waynetown, was born in North
Carolina, May 4, 1808, and came with his parents to Waynetown,
Indiana, in 1811. In 1828, with about $200 in ready money and a
strong body, aided by a resolute determination to become
independent, he removed to this township, since when his history
is contemporary with that of those who by their untiring energy
have made this country what it is. With this money Mr. Small
entered land here, and by dint of hard labor succeeded in
clearing it, at the same time enduring all the hardships incident
to pioneer life. Whenever he became the possessor of any money he
invested it to the best advantage in real estate, so that before
dividing it with his children he owned 1000 acres of land and was
worth about $50,000. In 1830 Mr. Small was married to Louisa
BLACKFORD, with whom he lived until 1859, when she died. They had
nine children, six of whom are living; Mary, who married Charles
Berry and with whom the subject of this sketch is now living;
Phineas, who is a successful farmer in this township, owning 197
acres of land and giving considerable attention to stock-raising;
John, who is also a farmer of this township; Louisa, the wife of
Isaac Williams; Edward and Nathan Jr, who are also following the
occupation of their father, that of a husbandman. In politics Mr.
Small was at first a whig, and upon the dissolution of that
party, with the great mass of its members, cast his lot with the
then infant republican party, a member of which he has since
been. He is now enjoying the sweets of retired life, to which he
seems doubly entitled when we consider the hardships he endured
in common with the pioneers, who are the most important factor in
the foundation of the principles upon which this community now
rests. - kbz