[p. 472] a representative citizen of North Beaver Township, residing on his well-cultivated farm of 150 acres, which is situated on the Enon road, about one mile southwest of Mount Jackson, was born on an adjacent farm, April 14, 1831. His parents were James and Nancy (Harrah) Nesbit.
Francis Nesbit, the grandfather of James Nesbit, the younger, came from the eastern part of Pennsvlvania to North Beaver Township, then a part of Beaver County, in 1795. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He secured a half section of land which is the site of the village of Mount Jackson, and on this he lived until his death in 1802. His son, James Nesbit, was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania in 1794, and as a youth of eighteen years he participated in the War of 1812. With his brother William he settled on the farm which is now the possession of his son James, it then consisting of 200 acres. James cleared the west end of the property and William settled on the eastern portion. James Nesbit lived to be ninety-two years of age and it was a remarkable coincidence that his wife survived to the same unusual age. His death took place in 1886 and her's in 1893. She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and was a daughter of William Harrah. Of their seven children, the two survivors are: James and Nancy A., the latter being a resident of Mount Jackson.
James Nesbit was reared on the west end of the present farm and he has devoted his best energies to agricultural pursuits through a long and busy life. On October 14, 1858, he was married to Matilda Jane Henry, who was a daughter of William Henry, and they had three children: Blanche, who is the widow of Robert Sharp Fullerton, who died in 1881; Jennie, who is the wife of Thomas Alvin Gilkey, has two children, Pauline and Cornella Jane; and Lucy Annetta, who is the wife of James N. Fullerton, of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. They have one child, Frances Nesbit. Mrs. Nesbit died in 1893, leaving behind a large circle of mourning friends.
After his marriage, James Nesbit moved to a farm one mile south of his present one and lived there until 1870, when he took possession of his present place. He has made many substantial improvements, erecting the large frame residence in 1874 and the commodious barn in 1883. His son-in-law, Mr. Fullerton, rents the farm but does not operate it himself, sub-letting it. Mr. Nesbit has been active in everything that has been of benefit to his community for many years. He has helped to increase the influence of the Westfield Presbyterian Church, not only being a faithful member, but since 1886 has been one of the elders.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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