Muskingum University Student Conducts Research on Zanesville Historian Nelson T. Gant
ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Ohio- Some are unaware of the life and accomplishment of the historic hero, Nelson T. Gant.
Nelson T. Gant, who settled in Zanesville in 1847 after freeing his wife from slavery in Virgina and becoming a self made millionaire will now be researched by Donny Wilkinson, a history major at Muskingum University.
Wilkinson said the opportunity was presented as an internship under history professor, Dr. William Kerrigan, where they both will be looking closely at Gant’s property acquisitions and revealing more details on the struggles, and success of his life.
“No one’s ever really heard of him before, like even if you Google him, there’s not much out there when his story is kind of movie exec, if I’m being honest like I’ve seen movies and novels written for less and less interesting events. The guy was literally friends with Fredrick Douglas.” Wilkinson stated. “Fredrick Douglas has been to Zanesville multiple times and a lot of people know about things like that, and I just hope to kind of spread the truth to the world about a really interesting man.”
Throughout this process, Wilkinson said the courthouse has been effective with providing documents for them.
He also shares some of the new discoveries they have found so far about Nelson T. Gant.
“We’re still kind of putting things together, but one thing we figured out is the ice house that he used to sell ice out of and store it from the winter to the summer. We kind of may have found that. We just need to look deeper into the records and see if he owned that plot of land and if he did then we can confirm that was where he sold his ice and all that,” Wilkinson said.
When asked how it feels to be a part of the research process, Wilkinson said he is proud and people should expect the research to possibly be completed by mid June.
Along with the research, the Nelson T. Gant Foundation will also be holding a tour of Gant’s home and impact around Zanesville.
