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Submitted: 7/9/16 • Approved: 1/9/18 • Last Updated: 3/24/18 • R132636-G0-S3
February 23, 1840 - December 13, 1923
CAPT. JOHN H. NATTIN is one of the most extensive planters of Bossier
Parish, and since his residence in this parish he has been noted for
honorable, upright dealing and intelligence. His birth occurred in
Claiborne Parish, La., February 23, 1840, and his literary education was
received in Minden, Shreveport and Cottage Grove, La. He lived in Minden
and Shreveport about twelve years, after that time labored upon a farm five
years. He left his parents on March 25, 1858, to clerk for G. W. Sentell,
a merchant of Collinsburg (now a large commission merchant of New Orleans,
La.), and later for W. M. Sentell & Co., and then for N. W. Sentell & Co.
In 1866 he was admitted as a partner of the last named firm. In 1875 he
bought out his partner's interest, and for the past fifteen years he has
been on eof the leading business men in Collinsburg. He still remains at
the first place, where he was taught to use the yard stick, which is more
than most boys can say. In 1861, he was one of the first to leave his
parish to go to the war and served as a private the first year. In 1862,
at the reorganization of the army in Virginia, he was made second
lieutenant, and took part in the engagements at Port Royal, Stausburg,
Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill, also
three days' engagement at second battle of Manassas, and many other
skirmishes. He was in more engagements than any officer of his company or
as many as any one of the regiment up to the time he was wounded; was shot
through the left lung and left arm, and reported mortally wounded in the
fight; on the second day he commanded a brigade of skirmishers; Gen.
Gordon, with body guard, rode up and was saluted by Lieut. Nattin. An
engagement was going on at the time between a rebel and a Yankee battery.
It was nip and tuck which would win; first one and then the other had the
advantage. Gen. Gordon rode out in the open field, when the grapeshot
began to fall. One struck Lieut. Nattin's sword and one his foot; the one
that struck his foot he picked up and was passing it from one hand to the
other to keep it form burning when Gen. Gordon rode up. Lieut. Nattin
saluted him, which was his last salute to Gen. Gordon. As the latter rode
off he remarked to Lieut. Nattin that "it is not so pleasant, now,
Lieutenant." The skirmishers were called back and Lieut. Nattin commanded
his company the balance of the day. In 1863 he was transferred to the
Trans-Mississippi Department. That fall he raised Cavalry Company D, Sixth
Louisiana Regiment, and was made captain of same. His regiment was
dismounted afterward, but he was allowed to keep his horse as he was
incapacitated for infantry service. He continued in active service most of
the time until the close. He was a member of the general court-martial
band at Monroe, La., with many able lawyers. He disbanded his company in
Louisiana, his record as a soldier from the beginning to the close of the
war being excellent. He is a Democrat, and has been a delegate to several
conventions of note, and has always worked faithfully and well for the
success of his party. Since 1880 he has been postmaster of Collinsburg,
and in 1887 he was married to Miss Mollie Barnes, a native of North
Carolina, but moved to Bossier Parish in 18570. They have three
children-one girl, Clio, and two boys, N. Harry and George W. Nattin. One
son, J. Hall Nattin, fifteen years old, was by the former marriage, his
mother's maiden name being Fannie Hall. Mr. Nattin is a member of the K.
of P., and by good management and industry has accumulated a good deal of
property in Bossier and Caddo Parish, La., and Lafayette County, Ark. He
is the owner of 900 acres of good farming land along the Red River, also
owns several hundred acres of good farming and timbered land in Arkansas
and Louisiana. His mercantile establishments are valuable ones: he has one
store at Wild Lucia, on Red River, Caddo Parish, La.; and the other in
Collinsburg, Bossier Parish, La.; the last named he makes his home. Both
stores bring him a good annual profit. His father, George W. Nattin, was
born in Kentucky or Tennessee, and removed to Port Hudson or Port Gibson,
Miss., when a boy, but at an early date settled in Claiborne Parish, La.,
and opened a mercantile establishment north of Minden, afterward moved to
Minden and ran a saloon and grocery store. In 1852 removed to Shreveport,
La., and in 1853 removed to Bossier Parish and engaged in farming on Red
River, where he died, in 1859, at the age of forty-nine years.
Contributed on 7/9/16 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 132636