Rev. Nathaniel Henderson Self was the son of Elijah Self and Catherine Taylor Self. Both Elijah and Catherine were from pioneer families who helped organize the first Methodist society in the Clay area near Trussville, Alabama under the leadership of the Rev. Ebeneezer Hearn. It was founded in 1819 and later called Shiloh Church (now called Clay United Methodist Church). Catherine Taylor was the sister of a trio of Methodist circuit riders from that society: William, Isaac, and Harris Taylor.

Nathaniel was also an itinerate preacher. He was admitted to the Conference in 1855 while two of his uncles, William and Isaac, were still active in ministry. He lived to see another relative, William Hamby (the great grandson of Isaac Taylor) licensed to preach in what had then become the North Alabama Conference.

According to his memorial in the 1894 North Alabama Conference Journal, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at age 9. In 1846 he was licensed to exhort, and 2 years later licensed to preach. As an itinerant preacher he served Jasper, Murphree's Valley, and Harpersville Circuits. He then located for 17 years, joined the itineracy again in 1879, and served Chandler's Springs, Pelham, Pinckneyville, Mountain Mission, Oxanna, Elkmont, and Birmingham Circuits. In 1891 at Annual Conference in Decatur, he retired. The remaining years of his life were lived in Wilsonville, Alabama.

The memorial also notes he had a large family, and though not rich in worldly goods he had a happy home. He was a man of integrity and stability, and though he was not considered a man of great learning he had a thorough knowledge of the church. He was sound and organized in his preaching though he was considered dry in style and tedius in delivery. He died of heart failure at his home.