IRA AUGUSTUS NESBIT, proprietor of the flouring mills at Sullivan, a
native of Hamilton township, Sullivan county, Indiana, born September
24, 1855, a son of William O. and Nancy Jane (Eaton) Nesbit.  The
father was born in Kentucky December 26, 1825, and died June 22, 1896
in Nebraska.  The Nesbits are of Welsh descent.  Mr. Nesbit's mother
was a life-long resident of Hamilton township, and she died in 1876.
After the death of his first wife, William O. Nesbit married Louisa
A. McKinley, a native of Sullivan county, who now resides in Fairbury,
Nebraska.  He followed farming for his occupation, coming to Sullivan
county when but six years of age with his parents, Thomas and Betsey
(Morgan) Nesbit, who entered some of the first land from the
government taken up in this section of the state.  They both died in
Sullivan county.  William O. Nesbit served in the Eighty-fifth Indiana
infantry regiment, being a member of Company H, under Captain
W. T. Crawford, for three years during the Civil war period.
Politically he was an advocate of the principles of the Republican
party.  In the latter part of the seventies he moved to Fairbury,
Nebraska, and there in a new but fertile section purchased a farm of
eighty acres, upon which he died.  Both he and his wife were members
of the Christian church, in which body he served as an elder for a
number of years.  The children born to Mr. and Mrs. William O. Nesbit
are as follows: John, of Sullivan county, Euphratus H., of Hamilton
township; Ira A., of this memoir; Sarah E., wife of Albert K. Boyle,
of Sullivan county; William R., of Sullivan, whose sketch will appear
in this work; and Anna Elizabeth, wife of Hardy Reins, residing in
Hamilton township.

Ira A. Nesbit was reared on the farm, surrounded by the scenes of
genuine rural life, and he remained at home until about twenty years
of age, when he commenced to farm on his own account, continuing for a
quarter of a century.  He then sold his place and moved to Sullivan in
1898.  Here he purchased a grist mill which belonged to J. T. Reid,
which he has since been successfully operating as a custom mill, also
buying and selling grain.  In his political choice he favors the
platforms of the Republican party.  He has prudently become a member
of the Modern Woodmen of America, which provides him with a safe life
insurance, as well as giving him other fraternal benefits throughout
his life.  Mr. Nesbit and family are exemplary members of the
Christian church.

One of the important events in this man's career was his marriage, in
1883, to Myrtle J. Johnson, born in Turman township March 31, 1865.
She was educated in the schools of her native township.  Her parents,
who were natives of Sullivan county, Indiana, and both now deceased,
were Cyrus and Catherine (McClanahan) Johnson.  Two children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Nesbit to cheer and brighten their home circle:
Glennalda, born December 7, 1884, is now attending De Pauw University
at Greencastle, Indiana. She has already taught three terms of school
in the country districts in Sullivan county.  Grace Lois, born August
16, 1886, now teaching in Sullivan county.

History of Sullivan County
pp. 273-274
Thomas J. Wolfe, Editor 
The Lewis Publishing Company, 
New York, Chicago
1909