Early Life
Nash was born to a farming family in Cortland, Illinois on what is now Route 38 — Lincoln Highway. His mother was Anna E. "Annie" Cadwell (b. 1829 NY - d. 1909 MI) who married David L. Nash. Other Nash siblings included Mazovia (b. 1862), George C. (b. 1866) and Laura W. (b. 1868). After Charles' parent's separation, at age 6, Charles worked as a farm-hand in Michigan as an indentured servant. He later became a shepherd to the owner of hay-bailing machinery. On April 23, 1884 he married Jessie Halleck whom he had met while pressing hay on her father's farm. They then moved to Flint, Michigan in 1890 where he was noticed by William C. Durant of The Durant-Dort Carriage Co. Durant hired him in 1890, and Nash became a supervisor.
In 1897, Nash had a chance to drive an early electric automobile in New York City, and became very interested in the commercial potential of this newly developed contraption.
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