Notes:
Past and Present of Tippecanoe Co., IN. Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1909 - page 652
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OLIVER MORTON NISLEY, D. D. S.
The profession of dental surgery has several worthy representatives in Lafayette, prominent among whom is Dr. Oliver Nisley, who since about the year 1890 has practiced his profession and now maintains an elegant suite of parlors in the Moffitt block and built up lucrative patronage in all parts of the city. Dr. Nisley was born on a farm near Purdue University. October 4, 1856, a son of Abraham and Nancy (Mumma) Nisley, natives of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania , descendants of well known families of that state. Sometime after their marriage these parents moved to Indiana, making their long journey to the new home in a one-horse wagon and locating about the year 1850 two miles north of the present site of Purdue University. where Mr. Nisley purchased land and improved a farm on which he spent the remainder of his days, dying on the 22d day of November, 1889 at the age of seventy-four. Mrs. Nisley, who departed this life on April 13th of the same year, was seventy-one years old at the time of her demise and the mother of eleven children, eight of whom survive. Christian M., the oldest of the family, resides in Lafayette and is one of the constables of the city; Esther, the second in order of birth, is unmarried and lives in Portland. Oregon; Emeline, wife of W. H. Felix, makes their home in West Lafayette; Millard F. lives in Chicago; William Orth is a farmer by occupation and cultivates a part of the family homestead; Dr. Oliver M., of this review, is the next in order of birth, after whom is Mrs. Clara Yeager, widow of Dr. J. W. Yeager, of Lafayette ; Fannie, who married O. P. M. Jamison, lives in Portland, Oregon, where her husband practices law. The following are the names of those deceased : Abraham died at the age of thirty-eight; Felix was twenty years old at the time of his death, and Nancy was called from earth at the tender age of three years.
Dr. Nisley received his elementary education in the district schools, and when Purdue University was opened for the reception of students he was one of the eighteen who constituted the first class enrolled in that institution. During his three and a half years attendance at the university he paid his own way by teaching, and after finishing his course he turned his attention to educational work, which he followed with marked success for a period of eight years, five in the common schools and three as principal of the school of Linnwood. Having decided to make dentistry his life work, he resigned the latter position at the expiration of the time indicated and began the study of his profession in the office of Burt & Pattison, of Lafayette, with whom lie spent three years. He then entered the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. where for two years lie applied himself closely to his studies, completing his course and receiving his degree in the spring of 1889. immediately after which he went to Peoria, Illinois. where he worked in an office about one year. reducing his knowledge to practice and becoming familiar with the principles of his profession. At the end of that time he was called home by the death of his father, and after settling the latter's estate he located, in the fall of 1889, in West Lafayette. where his professional ability was soon recognized as the steady growth of his business abundantly attests. From the beginning of his career to the present time his success has been most gratifying, and as an efficient and skillful dentist, familiar with every phase of his profession and fully abreast of the times on all matters relating thereto, he occupies a conspicuous place among the leading men of his calling in the city, besides being well known in professional circles throughout the state. He is a member of the Lafayette Dental Association and the Dental Association of Indiana and a regular attendant upon the sessions of these bodies, availing himself of every opportunity they afford of keeping in touch with the latest discoveries and improvements in the line of his calling and taking an active part in the discussion of various questions brought before them for consideration. He also holds membership with the Pythian order, in which he takes a lively interest, being influential in the regular lodge work and a leader in the Uniform Rank of the brotherhood.
Doctor Nisley was married, November 26, 1890, to Florence McCarty, of Tippecanoe county, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. McCarty, of West Lafayette, the father a retired farmer and a man of considerable local prom¬inence in the community where he formerly lived and where he now resides. Mrs. Nisley has one brother, William R. McCarty, who lives in the country and farms the home place. Doctor Nisley and wife are members of the West Lafayette Baptist church and are deeply interested in the various lines of religious and charitable work under the auspices of the organization. As a citizen the Doctor is energetic and public-spirited, encouraging all enterprises for the advancement of the social and moral welfare of the community.
Christian Nisley, the Doctor's older brother, was a soldier in the late Civil war and saw much active service during the four years he was at the front. He enlisted early in the sixties in Company D, Fortieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, took part in a number of campaigns and battles and was twice wounded and twice taken prisoner on account of his injuries. He was in prison when the war closed and was one of the survivors of the ill-fated "Sultana," which blew up near Memphis, on the Mississippi river, when laden with soldiers returning home, a large number being killed or drowned.
1850 Census, IN, Tippecanoe Co., Wabash twp. p. 14 (transcribed as Neartley)
Abraham Neartley, 34, laborer, b. PA
Nancy Neartley, 32, b. PA
Christian " , 12, b. PA
Felix " , 10, b. PA
Abraham " , 8, b. PA
Esther " , 6, b. PA
Emily " , 4, b. PA
Nancy " , 2, b. PA
1860 Census, IN, Tippecanoe Co., Wabash twp. (transcribed as Niesley)
Abraham Nisley, 45, farmer, $3480 real estate, $1578 personal, b. PA
Nancy " , 42, b. PA, cannot read or write
Christian " , 22, b. PA
Felix W. " , 20, b. PA
Ephraim H. " , 17, b. PA
Esther " , 16, b. PA
Emeline " , 14, b. PA
William F. " , 9, b. IN
Winnie O, " 7, b. IN
Oliver W. " , 3, b. IN
Clara " , 1, b. IN
1870 Census, IN, Tippecanoe Co., Wabash Twp., (transcribed as Insley)
Insley, Abraham, 54, farmer, $45,500 real estate, $850 personal, b. PA
" , Nancy, 52, keeps house, b. PA, cannot read or write
" , Emeline, 20, b. PA, cannot read or write
" , William, 17, b. IN,
" , Oliver, 13, b. IN
" , Clara, 11, b. IN
" , Fanny, 8, b. IN
1880 Census, IN, Tippecanoe Co., Wabash Twp., (transcribed as Nisley)
Nisley, Abraham, 64, farming, b. PA/PA/PA
" , Nancy, 63, wife, keeps house, b. PA/PA/PA
" , Heister, 37, dau, single, dressmaker, b. PA/PA/PA
" , Emeline, 34, dau, single, at home, b. PA/PA/PA
" , Oliver, 24, son, single, works on farm, b. IN/PA/PA
" , Fanny, 18, dau, single, at home, b. IN/PA/PA
Clark, Charley, 19, single, boarder, b. IN/IN/IN