An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1893

THOMAS NESBIT, an old settler of Whidby island, Washington, whose farm near Oak
Harbor is one of the best in the county, was born in Scotland, December 9, 1851.
His parents, James and Jeannette (Archibald) Nesbit, were also natives of the
bonny land of the thistle, the former born in 1821 and the latter in 1824. James
Nesbit, well remembered by the pioneers of Washington, was a miner in his native
country across the sea, in which occupation he was exclusively employed until
1853, when, in response to a requisition sent to Scotland by the Hudson Bay
Company, of Victoria, British Columbia, he and his family, with 300 other miners
and their families, started from the Old World to Victoria, via Cape Horn. After
being at sea for several months, provisions became scarce, trouble and mutiny
arose, and the ship was obliged to put in to Valparaiso, Chili, on the South
American coast. After recourse to law, it was finally decided that the crew
should have the privilege of either going on to Victoria or remaining in South
America; and as Mr. James Nesbit had secured work at the small town of Lota,
near Valparaiso, he and his family remained there three years, during which time
he worked in the wines. They then removed to Valparaiso and from there set sail
for Puget Sound, arriving in due time at Port Townsend, where they remained two
months. They then, in 1857, came to Whidby island, where Mr. Nesbit rented a
farm of Dr. Kellogg, which he engaged in working, cultivating it one year, at
the end of which time he removed to a farm near Oak Harbor. In 1859 he settled
on a claim of his own, containing 160 acres, and situated near Crescent Harbor.
This he cleared and assiduously cultivated, until in a few years he had an
excellent farm. To this he subsequently added, until it now comprises 435 acres
of the choicest land in the county, 100 acres being under a high state of
cultivation. James Nesbit, after his stormy and laborious life, found rest and
prosperity in his western home, where he and his worthy wife passed the
remainder of their days, she dying April 3, 1887, and he surviving until January
21, 1891, both being sincerely mourned by all who knew them. They were the
parents of two daughters and one son. One daughter, Mrs. Jane Vosburg, and
Thomas Nesbit, the subject of this sketch, now survive. Thomas bought his
sister's interest in the homestead, subsequent to his parents' death, and he now
has the entire farm of 435 acres of the best land in the country, 100 acres of
which is under cultivation, being largely grown to grain, besides which he is
extensively engaged in the stock business and has an excellent dairy, from all
of which he realizes a good profit. Ever since his arrival in Washington, Mr.
Nesbit has resided on Whidby island, to which he is irrevocably attached by
every tie of association. January 31, 1889, Mr. Nesbit was married to Asenath
Martin, an estimable lady, who was born in Missouri, February 17, 1870. She
resided in the State of Illinois until three mouths prior to her marriage, when
she came to Whidby island, Washington. Both enjoy the highest esteem of their
community, where Mr. Nesbit has every prospect of continued prosperity and
happiness.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.