Charles W. Nash
| Charles W. Nash | |
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| Born |
Charles Williams Nash January 28, 1864 Cortland, Illinois |
| Died | June 6, 1948 (aged 84) Beverly Hills, California |
| Nationality | United States |
| Occupation | Automobile industry entrepreneur and executive |
| Years active | 1890–1936 |
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| Spouse(s) | Jessie Halleck |
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Charles Williams Nash (January 28, 1864 – June 6, 1948) was an American automobile entrepreneur who served as an executive in the automotive industry. He played a major role in building up General Motors. In 1916 he bought a small Wisconsin automobile maker, renamed it Nash Motors, and played an independent role in an automobile industry increasingly dominated by the Base Three: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. His profits came from focusing on one, well-designed car in the upper medium price range. He bought several distressed companies in Wisconsin, merging them and installing advanced managerial accounting procedures, while cutting costs and focusing on long-term growth. He retired as president in 1932, but remained chairman of the board. His major acquisition was the merger in 1937 with the Kelvinator Company, which made refrigerators. During World War II, Nash-Kelvinator greatly expanded to manufacture aircraft motors and parts.
Nash was born to a poor farming family in Cortland, Illinois, on what is now Route 38 — Lincoln Highway. His mother was Anna E. "Annie" Cadwell (1829–1909) 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 under an agreement that was to last until he was 21. He had only three months of schooling per year while he was "bound out" to perform farm chores. At age 12, Nash ran away and became a farm hand first in Grand Blanc, Michigan for $8 per month, then for Alexander McFarland in Mount Morris, Michigan for $12 per month. On McFarland's farm he learned the carpentry trade from John Shelben and formed the 'Adams & Nash' concern to press hay. While pressing hay on the Halleck farm, he met and married his future wife. On April 23, 1884, he married Jessie Halleck. Later, they then moved to Flint, Michigan, due to Jessie's poor health. In 1890 where he was hired by William C. Durant of the Flint Road Cart Company which later became the Durant-Dort Carriage Company.
Durant hired him in 1890 at a wage of $1 per day as an upholstery stuffer and within six months, he was promoted to superintendent of the factory. Within ten years, he was promoted to vice president and general manager of the Durant-Dort Carriage Company. Nash introduced the straight-line belt conveyor into the assembly of carriages. In 1897, Nash had a chance to drive an early automobile, and became very interested in the commercial potential of this newly developed contraption.
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