WILLIAM F. NASH.  The largest independent packing company in the State of Ohio is the Cleveland Provision Company.  It is a big business, one that has been in existence for fully three-quarters of a century, and its development throughout has been fostered largely by the members of one family.  It was founded by the late Benjamin Rose.  John Nash became associated with Mr. Rose in the Cleveland Provision Company about 1893, and most of the executive officers at present are his sons, including William F. Nash, vice president.
     The late John Nash was born in Warwickshire, England, in 1836, and spent a large part of his life in the old country, coming to Cleveland about 1890.   He died in this city in 1910.  He first came to the United States when sixteen years of age, locating at Baltimore, Maryland, where he became associated with the packing industry.  Subsequently he had further experience in the Chicago packing firms, and finally went back to England to marry, and took his bride to Chicago.  In 1872 he again went back to England and lived for about two years on the Isle of Wight.  For ten years his home was a farm in Worcestershire.  England, and from there he went to Liverpool and engaged in the commission business twelve years, conducting a large provision house.
     On returning to this country, John Nash located at Cleveland, where he became associated with Benjamin Rose in establishing the Cleveland Provision Company.  Mr. Rose was a factor in this business until his death in 1909.  John Nash had for a number of years been vice president of the company, and succeeded Mr. Rose as head of the institution, but after a few months the presidency was taken by his son, S. T. Nash.  S. T. Nash is now president; William P. Nash, vice president; and Joseph H. Nash, secretary and treasurer.
     The plant of the Cleveland Provision Company is at 2527 Canal Road.  It is a wholesale packing establishment, employs about 900 hands and its goods are shipped all over the United States and to England and France.
     The late John Nash, who died at Cleveland in 1910, was a member of the Episcopal Church and the Masonic fraternity.  He married Winnifred Fowler. She was born at Evesham, Worcestershire, England, in 1841, and died at Cleveland in 1917.  Their children were: Joseph H., a resident of Cleveland and secretary and treasurer of the Cleveland Provision Company; Elizabeth A., who is unmarried and lives at Cleveland Heights, being a stockholder in the Cleveland Provision Company; Winnifred E., wife of Charles Tilby, a resident of Berkenhead, England, where he is in the shipping business; William F.; S. T. Nash, president of the Cleveland Provision Company; R. P. Nash, twin brother of S. T., who is now a major in the United States army, at present stationed in the army camp at Chillicothe, Ohio; J. W. Nash, who lives at Bournemouth.  England, serving with the rank of commander in the English navy; Dianna L. and Margaret, both residents of Cleveland Heights and stockholders in the Cleveland Provision Company; Annie, unmarried and living at Ocean View, Virginia; H. L. Nash, a captain in the engineers' corps of the United States army; and T. H. Nash, a resident of Cleveland Heights and a captain now stationed at Camp Sheridan.
     William F. Nash was born at Chicago, Illinois, Oct. 31, 1870, and in early infancy his parents returned to England and he was educated in the grammar schools, finishing at Berkenhead College.  For three years of his youth he was associated with his father in business at Liverpool, and in 1890 came to Cleveland and entered the Cleveland Provision Company.  He began as a clerk and did practically everything in the round of duties, which made him familiar with every phase and detail of the business.  He has been one of the executive managers for a number of years, and succeeded his father in the office of vice president of the company.
     Mr. Nash is an independent republican in politics and belongs to the Episcopal Church.  He and his family reside at 2921 South Park Boulevard in Shaker Heights, Cleveland.  He married in 1909, at Wickliffe, Ohio, Miss Anna B. Rockefeller.  Mrs. Nash is a daughter of Frank and Helen Elizabeth (Scofield) Rockefeller and is a niece of John D. Rockefeller.  Her father is deceased and her mother resides at Wickliffe, Ohio.  Mr. and Mrs. Nash have three children: William R., born Nov. 10, 1910; Helen E., born Sept. 2, 1912; and John F., born Jan. 22, 1916.
Source: History of Cleveland and its Environs - The Heart of New Connecticut - Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago and New York - 1918 - Page 401 - Vol. III