Wilburn K. Nation was born near Lexington, Kentucky, July 1, 1817. His father was a native of South Carolina. When he was a child his parents moved to Claiborne county, Tennessee, and in 1833 to Callaway county, Missouri, and in 1835 to this county. He participated in driving out the Mormons from this county, and was at the battle of Honn’s Mill, in Caldwell county.
Mr. Nation was united in marriage, November 8, 1841, to Miss Nancy Tarwater, who was born September 23, 1818, and is the daughter of John Tarwater, who was the third white man that settled in this county, and who started the first ferry on Grand River in Daviess county; he settled in this county February 25, 1830. She is the oldest settler to-day in this county. By this union they have eleven children: Lithey M., born August 14, 1842; Phoebe A., born August 1, 1844; John C., born September 2, 1846; William E., born November 13, 1848; Isaac H., born January 3, 1851; Ruth J., born June. 12, 1853; Mary O., born August 28, 1855; Nancy C., born October 8, 1857; Sarah E., born August 21, 1860; Wilburn K., born December 8, 1862; and Louisa M., born April 10, 1865. Mr. Nation has made farming his business through life.