| Our Family Ties |
| Hiram Langdon Nourse, Sr. |
1830 - New Hampshire to Georgia ABT 1831 - Georgia to New Orleans (then why was Jr. born in New England?) 1844 - New Orleans to Apalachicola GA 1850 - died while visiting Boston after living in Italy for a year 1831-1841 - Apalachicola (note contradiction with myself) businessman 1840 - appointed Collector of the Port of Apalachicola (SC probably) 1844 - resigned and moved to New Orleans worked as a cotton buyer, according to John F.'s obit !DEATH: our copy of his obituary says Aug. 21 1830 - New Hampshire to Georgia ABT 1831 - Georgia to New Orleans (then why was Jr. born in New England?) 1844 - New Orleans to Apalachicola SC or FL 1850 - died while visiting Boston after living in Italy for a year 1831-1841 - Apalachicola (note contradiction with myself) businessman 1840 - appointed Collector of the Port of Apalachicola (SC probably) 1844 - resigned and moved to New Orleans worked as a cotton buyer, according to John F.'s obit Hiram Langdon Nourse, Sr. (44), the son of Benjamin Franklin Nourse and the grandfather of Ruth Abigail Nourse, was born in New England in 1795, and bred a merchant. Apparently of delicate constitution, he went to Georgia about 1830 seeking a warmer climate. A cotton buyer, he served on the Board of Temperance in Columbus, GA in 1830 and in Apalachicola, GA where he settled the next year. About 1840 he spent a year in Italy for his health, traveling through Marseilles, France according to a French passport dated 6 August 1841 (Native of the United States/Profession: Merchant/Eyes: Blue/Color: Pale/Nose: Effete). His obituary in the Apalachicola Commercial Advertiser (November 25, 1850) mentions his ardent temperament" which despite the difficulties that accompanied it "led him to be gentle, benevolent and generous to all mankind, and affectionate and true to his friends." An intelligent man, he worked hard once he was convinced to take on a project. In 1835 the Supreme Court determined the true owners of the land on which Apalachicola was built, deciding in essence that the whole population were "squatters." Hiram took the lead in persuading the owners to be generous with those who had built and invested in the town, and spent much of his own money in improvements. Because of his efforts, wharves and levees were built and fine houses constructed on streets that had once been quagmires at every high tide. He also fought against the establishment of a rival town in nearby St. Joseph. Hiram Nourse's business, which depended on water transport, was deeply hurt by the coming of railroads and plank roads, and to support his family, he became Collector of the Port of Apalachicola in 1840. He tried to revive trade between the town and the Spanish West Indies. At one point he was a Commissioner in Columbus, GA. Disliking the political world, he resigned his post early when opponents were elected to office in 1844, and left Apalachicola to move to Pascagoula, MS and finally to New Orleans, LA. where he rebuilt a large business and made a home for his children, who included Hiram Langdon Nourse, Jr. During his final summer of illness, his doctors advised to find a cooler climate, so he was carried to Amherst, NH. He recovered enough to make a visit to Boston, where he died in August 12, 1850. Watercolor portraits of him and his wife show they had large eyes, and Ruth O'Bryan's nose resembled his. A marble bust records his strong eyebrows and chin. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.gencircles.com/users/terilynn/1/data/63731
