Rev. Nathaniel Massie Urmston
Rev. Nathaniel Massie Urmston was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, April 12, 1799. He was the first child born there after the founding of the town by Gen. Nathaniel Massie, and was named for him. His father, Benjamin Urmston, was a companion of Gen. Massie in laying out the town. He asked for the privilege of felling the first tree in marking out the town, and the privilege was granted him by Gen. Massie. Benjamin Urmston built a home in the new town, and it had glass windows and a shingle roof. However, he did not reside long in Chillicothe, but soon removed to a farm, and died in a short time after that.
Nathaniel studied theology at Princeton, New Jersey. He had a school friend who resided in Danbury, Connecticut, and visited him there. He became acquainted with Miss Evaline Comstock there, and married her in 1826. He returned to Ohio and became a missionary for Ohio and Kentucky. His wife's health failed in this work, and he went to Connecticut, and there connected with the Congregational Church. In 1844, he located at Bainbridge, Ohio, in the ministry, and remained there until 1853.
He was then called to the Old Stone Church in West Union, Adams County, Ohio, to whch he ministered until 1857. While there he taught a select school which the writer of this sketch attended, and he can certify that Mr. Urmston was a most thorough teacher. What Rev. Urmston taught, the writer learned and has never forgotten. In this place, In 1855, Rev. Urmston lost his wife. She rests in the Old South Cemetery at West Union.
His daughter, Miss Mary E. Urmston, also taught a select school for girls at West Union, and she was regarded as a most excellent teacher. She afterwards taught in the Young Ladies' Seminary at Portsmouth, Ohio, for several years. She married the Rev. E. P. Pratt, D. D., of Portsmouth, Ohio, and is now his widow.
In 1857, our subject went to Missouri and preached there until the breaking out of the war. He then returned to the vicinity of Hillsboro, where he remained until his death on August 27, 1884. He married for a second wife. Miss S. Johnson, of Cornwall, Connecticut. His third wife was Miss Melissa A. Stover, of Highland County, Ohio, who survived him.
He had seven children of his first marriage. His son, Lieutenant Thomas A. Urmston, of the Regular Army, was killed in one of the battles in Virginia. His son Comstock died in young manhood. At the time of his death, Rev. Urmston left two surviving children, Mrs. E. P. Pratt and Philander Urmston, of Muscatine, Iowa. Rev. Urmston was a man of strong conscience, and lived up to his belief. He believed in doing thoroughly everything he found to do, and followed that belief both in preaching and teaching.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900