NATHANIEL P. TARR, farmer, P. O. New Grand Chain, was born June 24, 1824, in Adams County, Ohio. His parents, Joseph and Catharine (East) Tarr, were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The father was a carpenter by trade, and in late years was engaged in farming. He died near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1873, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife died about 1840, of what the physicians called the "unknown" fever. The father was married a second time, to a Widow Parsons, who had by her previous husband a son by the name of Charles F. Parsons, who is now in the livery business in Iowa. Our subject's parents were blessed with eleven children, six of whom survive — Thomas W., Levi A., Nathaniel P., John S., Mary and Martha. Nathaniel P. received his early education in the common schools of Richland and Hamilton Counties, Ohio, and he afterward attended Oberlin Institute at Lorain. He afterward went to Bucyrus, Ohio, where he was engaged for some time in teaching school, and clerking in stores. He then came to Pulaski County, and resided a year in Mound City, after which he moved up in the "nation;" after two years there he removed to Duquoin, Ill., where he lived about twelve years. Here he ran a grocery and provision store. August 26, 1862, he enlisted in the Eighty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. J. Dollins. He was taken sick at Humboldt, Tenn.; was taken to hospital, and finally discharged February 17, 1863. He was first married to Barbara Stewart, who died about 1852, leaving two sons J. S. and C. W., who live in Cleveland, Ohio. He was married a second time, to Elizabeth Stewart, a sister of first wife. She died in 1854. He afterward married Eliza S. Esque, born May 2, 1832, widow of Booker Esque, and daugliter of John and Mary W. (Chapman) Bartleson. This union has been blessed with four children — Augustus W., Mary S., Flora B. and David W. Mr. Tarr is a member of the G. A. R, Grand Chain Lodge, No. 217. In politics, he is a Republican.
Extracted 02 Nov 2014 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V - Biographical Sketches, pages 309-310.
| Union | Johnson | |
| Alexander |
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Massac McCracken KY |
| Ballard KY |
