AMOS ASHLEY

I do not remember any stories told about my great grandfather Ashley.  I did find his obituary that was written in the Tonica daily newspaper  from Tonica, Illinois.

 

Obituary taken from theTonica News-Fri. Sept 14, 1894 issue # 29

Death of Amos Ashley.  Although Mr. Ashley has long been a sufferer from kidney complaint, his acute illness at the last was of less than a week's duration.  As the news was rapidly passed from neighbor to neighbor last Saturday evening, it was difficult to realize that he had really gone--gone forever from the activities of life among his friends and associates.  Funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday forenoon with Masonic ceremonies and burial.  Rev. G. L. Taylor spoke briefly from the Scripture, "No man liveth unto himself, and no man dieth unto himself."  He showed how the fabric of our lives is interwoven--how one is dependent upon another, and how impossible it is for a human being to isolate himself entirely from the influence of others.  He had words of consolation and comfort for the bereaved ones mourning their great loss. From the house the friends proceeded to the Tonica cemetery.  By careful count there were found to be 67 carriages in the procession as it started, 15 of them being occupied by Masons.  On arriving at the open grave the Masons rendered their impressive burial service and committed the body of their beloved brother, "earth to earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes."  Following is the obituary notice read by the minister:  Amos L. Ashley was born at Barnard, Windsor County, Vermont, June 15, 1829. Was brought by his parents to Illinois in 1839; lived in Magnolia until the fall of 1840, then moved to Tonica and lived in that vicinity until the time of his death, which occurred Sept. 8, 1894.  He was married to Velina S. Thomas of Royalton, VT., Feb. 24, 1856; was the father of three children, all of whom were privileged to be with and care for him during his last sickness.

I have been rather slow in posting stories to my blog lately.  Perhaps with the winter coming on I will be spending more time indoors and will try to get back to posting more diligently.  D



JASON ASHLEY

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Jason Ashley at 100 years old

In a previous post I had mentioned a time when Sarah Ashley had to go down into a well to rescue her son Jason.  The above pictured person is that Jason.  (Picture of Jason Ashley was in the possession of Millie Miller of Hendricks, MN. She allowed me to take a photo of it to add this story.  Aug 31, 2009.) 

This note was taken from the Tonica News Friday Mar. 1, 1895 issue #1

Jason Ashley was 99 years old yesterday, Feb. 28.  Now let our exchanges remember that Grandfather Ashley lives on the borders of Eden in the town of Hope, and is also one of the few very old men of La Salle county.  He is also one of the early settlers in these parts.  His neighbors now confidently look for him to become a centenarian.

    This Article was taken from the Tonica News dated April 26, 1895

    (From the Grange News, Apr. 5)

Jason Ashley, father-in-law, of our Sister V.S. Ashley, passed his 99th birthday in February, and is now in his 100th year.  And what is remarkable he has never been sick, he has had his pantaloons on every day (for 95 Years just think of it up and dressed every day since the people quit using pounds, shillings, and pence.)  Indeed, he was born in 1796, before the people had dropped the use of sterling money, before the birth of the U.S, dollar; as old as the stars and stripes.  Twenty-eight states have been added in his life time.  When he was a year old nails were made singly and by hand.

  In 1790 the first little steam propeller was made.  First cast iron plow was made when he was but two years old, but the farmers would not use them; they said they "poisoned the soil."  "Hail Columbia," first national song, was written when he was three years old.  The first braided straw bonnet was made when he was four years old.  He was five years old when Patrick Henry died; the same when George Washington died, and if he had seen him might have remembered him.  He was five yeas old before anyone in this country was vaccinated.  He was seven years old when Ohio was admitted as a state.  He was nine years old when the government built Fort Dearborn (Chicago) as an Indian outpost.  He was 11 years old before cotton was first planted in the United States.  He was 13 years old before stone coal was used as a fuel.  He was 17 years old, almost old enough to enlist, when Jackson fought the British at New Orleans.  He was 45 years old before reaping machines were used; 55 years old before the telegraph was a success.  What remarkable years the 100 years of his life have been.

  Sister Ashley says he was always temperate in everything, a teetotaler as far as liquor and tobacco were concerned, a small and slow eater, and satisfied and contented at all times.  He was born in East Barnard, Vermont, and came to Illinois in an early day. (note by author--Jason moved his family to Illinois in 1839.  Jason was born in Barnard, VT on Feb 28, 1796.  He died shortly after his 100th birthday but I do not have the exact date.)         H.K.S.

MORE ABOUT THE ASHLEYS

Notes obtained from Helen Moe's Family History and also from a story told by Gerald Paige at the time of the visit by the Moe’s in 1997:  In 1784 Lemuel Ashley came to East Barnard.  The 1st year the family, which consisted of father, mother and 7 children, lived on venison and wood nettles.  The next summer, having cleared some land they planted corn.  That spring Lemuel walked to Windsor and bought a pig, which he carried home on his back.  They had visions of johny-cake and salt pork to add to their diet the next winter.  But, before they had a chance to butcher the pig, the Episcopal Church in Woodstock took the pig to pay the church tax.  It was reported that they were not ardent Episcopalians after that.  In fact, they became known as fox hunters and fiddlers.  However, it is reported that one of his descendants, a son, Jonathan Ashley, became a minister in the Christian church.   I was unable to verify this—again Trails of My Imagination.

   The above was probably taken from LOCAL HISTORY OF EAST BARNARD by Lucy Edna Allen.  It was also included in the stories told by Gerald Gibbs to Bud Moe in 1987 and also reported in The Harbor a Glimpse of East Barnard by the East Barnard Community Club 1976.

Another story reported in The Harbor concerned Sarah Osborn Ashley, Jonathan’s wife and my 3rd Great Grandmother.  They lived in a log cabin and in the year of 1797 or 1798 and one of her children, a son Jason fell into the well.  (Jason would later become my Great Great Grandfather)  Although she was pregnant, she climbed down into the well and rescued the child.  Her third child, Sarah, was born in February 1808.  After this birth Sarah was paralyzed and unable to walk.  She managed to get around the house in a chair as she looked after family.  She had ten children in all.  Before her paralysis she sowed flax seed, harvested it, spun the flax into linen thread, wove it into fine cloth and from ths cloth she made two ruffled shirts for Mr. Boyden. She received five acres of land in payment.

THE ASHLEYS

When Helen Moe, one of my cousins, visited East Barnard, VT in 1997 with her children they had an opportunity to visit with Ruth Paige, a granddaughter of Ozro Ellis.  Her brother in law, Gerald Gibbs was also there.  Gerald was a widower and had been married to Ruth’s sister Margaret.  Bud Moe, son of Helen, had a chance to interview Mr. Gibbs and caught it on Video.  He started by telling of Lemuel Ashley the ancestor of the Ashleys who eventually moved to East Barnard and were to become related to the Ellis family when Dollie Ashley married my grand father Harlan Joel Ellis.  But back to the story told by Mr. Gibbs—He told of the early Ashley who had been a member of the infamous Captain Kidd's pirate crew.  Captain Kidd was a pirate who preyed on Spanish galleons.  When Captain Kidd went to turn himself in to authorities he paid his men off with the  gold doubloons that had been pirated from the Spanish.  Lemuel Ashley bought a house in one of the Eastern States and paid for it with gold.  The Ashleys eventually moved to Vermont and established themselves around East Barnard.  I have no documentation of this but it does make an interesting story. (Trails of my imagination)

OLIVER'S CAVE

Picture from Barnard a Look Back by Marie de Giacomo 1982 Greenhills Books Randolph Center

While I am still on the subject of Ellis Mountain I will also include another article from The Harbor publication: Oliver’s Cave on the side of Ellis Mountain was the mecca of many boys during the last hundred years and an expedition there sometimes served to close the spring term of school.  They have cited their article from Vermont  Life Spring 1961. ) For a boy of the 1830’s, Oliver Plaisted had a good education, and as a youth taught school for awhile before learning something of the builders trade.  In the 50’s he came back to live down on Broad Brook in Royalton with his parents and he remained there after their deaths, taking on strange and reclusive ways.  He was ill and a man to fear imagined dangers.  It was a special house that Oliver built which keeps his name alive today, not the hermit shack which he first built down by Broad Brook.

 There is no evidence that the authorities ever thought to come for him but when the Civil War broke out, Oliver struck out for the hills—for the wilderness of ledges and mountain top near the Barnard-Royalton town line.

Here he took refuge, living for some time in a small natural cave whose opening he walled up partially.  Here in his fear and misery Oliver chiseled on the rock works to be seen today: “This is Hell.”

Nearby Plaisted soon erected a small stone house which now is known to picnickers and hikers as “Oliver’s Cave”.  He built staunchly, his only tool a jackscrew but with this he somehow moved a huge stone slab across the top to form a complete roof.  There was a doorway and inside a rude fireplace.  Nearby he built pits and rock piles, which some say were his forts or outposts.

It’s not recorded how long Oliver kept to his mountain retreat, though probably he was there off and on throughout the war.  Once, it is told, he backpacked in from Woodstock a barrel of crackers.  Nobody ever came after Oliver, it appears, and he died at 58 in Royalton some fifteen years after the war ended. The old there and his shack by Broad Brook have long since gone, but the stone refuge, “Oliver’s Cave” stands firm on the mountain top, a Civil War monument in its way.

I have added a link for all you geocachers out there.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=98928

OZRO ELLIS—1849-1929

Picture and text from Barnard  A Look Back by Marie deGiacomo, 1982 Greenhill Books Randolph Center

Now before I get completely away from Vermont I will expand my imagination even more.  The history I have of Ozro is taken from interviews with Philip Desmond, owner of Ellis Farm in 1999, and articles from The Harbor.  Since Harlan has left the farm Ozro will take over the operation of the farm.  That will include managing the quarrying of granite from Ellis Mountain.  From the sources I cited earlier, indications are that the granite from the mountain was used extensively throughout the area.  

Author at the Granite Quarry on Ellis Mountain

The method of harvesting the granite was by the “drill and fill” method.  Holes were drilled into the granite, by hand, several inches apart and then filled with water.  I was told that this operation was done during the winter months so as the water froze and expanded the rock was forced apart.  The granite, being layered, would split off into rather uniform slabs which were then loaded on a stone boat or as some say stone sled.  This piece of equipment consisted of two wooden runners tapered in front and a platform secured to the runners forming a very low sled.  This was pulled by horses down trails on the mountain and to the place where the granite was to be used.  The use of granite for foundations and retaining walls was prevalent at that time and were laid up with the “dry stone” method.  That is no mortar was used but by careful fitting the stones were placed and remain in place to this day.  The dry stone method was mostly abandoned after the Civil War as poured concrete became more readily available.  Some walls and fences still use the dry stone method. 

Barn foundation Ellis Farm

Retaining wall at the end of the Barn

This excerpt was taken from The Harbor  published July 1976 by the East Barnard Community Club:  The stone quarry on Ellis Mountain furnished the underpinnings and handsome doorsteps for many homes in the valley and for houses as far away as Woodstock. The wall around the Billings’ Mansion  is built with Ellis Mountain stone.  The stones were all moved by sleds in the winter.  

Granite doorstep at the Ellis Farm House

My cousin, Helen, in Wisconsin found another use for Vermont granite.  While she was visiting the farm in 1998 she asked Mr. Desmond for a slab of granite that she intended to use for her tombstone when she dies.  This has been marked and placed at the grave of her husband.  It will be ready for when it is time.   

Headstone for Elroy and Helen Moe

My wife and I found another use of the granite slabs as indicated in this picture of granite fence posts in use in the Royalton area.  Since granite is quite abundant in that area I don’t know if the granite posts came from Ellis Mountain or not.  But I thought them quite interesting.  Yankee ingenuity at work.
  
Another use for the granite as we found out on our trip to Vermont was that it was  used to build a dam at the Billings Living History Farm near Woodstock.  The dam is roughly eight feet high and thirty to fifty feet across.

Dam at Billings Living Farm

HARLAN JOEL ELLIS 1857-1933

Harlan Joel Ellis moved from East Barnard, VT. to Illinois in 1878.  There he met and married Dollie Ashley.  From this union four children were born while in Tonica, IL.  From Tonica, IL. they moved to Mt. Airy, MO. where my father, Richard Clark was born.  They later moved to Iowa Falls, Iowa and then to near Trenton, Nebraska.  After the death of Harlan Grand mother Ellis moved back to Iowa Falls, IA.  My Dad stayed in NE. where he had met and married my mother Doris Adkins.   I do not remember my Grandfather Ellis although I have a copy of a picture taken when I around three years old. The picture shows my Dad, his brother Ashley, both grandparents, with my Grandmother Ellis holding me.  My brother Jim and sister Peg are in the picture.  Since my Granddad died in 1933 the picture must have been taken in 1932 or early  '33.

Adults standing L-R R.C. Ellis, Dollie Ellis, Harlan Ellis, Ashley Ellis

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Peg Ellis standing in front of Dollie, Jim Ellis at Dollies Left and me being held by Dollie

 

Now for the trails of my imagination.  Harlan left the farm in 1878 when he was twenty one years old.   Why he left is also subject of supposition.  I feel that since he was the youngest son.  He would be the logical one to leave a farm that was too small to support so many people.   Just how he got to Tonica, Illinois is not known but I imagine he went by rail.  The Ashley family also of East Barnard had moved to Illinois many years earlier.  My research shows that Jason Ashley moved his  moved to Illinois in 1839 I am not sure just what the connection was to the Ashley family, but the story is that there were some family ties, perhaps as third or fourth cousin.  I do know that there was an Ashley-Ellis Cemetery near the Farm that still stands to this day.  But no matter, Harlan Ellis ended up in Tonica and there he met and married my grandmother two years later.  The following article was taken from the Tonica Daily News:

ORANGE BLOSSOMS

   Married.--At the residence of the bride's father, Dec. 1, 1880, by Rev. T. Doney, Mr. Harlan J. Ellis and Miss Dollie E. Ashley.  The ceremony was witnessed by a large company;  the presents numerous, appropriate and valuable;  and after partaking of the good cheer provided, Uncle Thomas addressed the friends and happy pair in words as follows:  Friends, let us all remember, that, on the first of December, --  In the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and eighty, -- We were kindly invited to see this couple united --   In bonds both pleasant and weighty. --  Let us all, with one accord, thank the good Lord -- for the goodies that have been set before us; -- Let old and young, with heart and tongue, join in to swell the chorus. --  May this happy twain, while on earth they remain,-- be blest with health and plenty, -- Unannoyed by vicious tattlers, but blest with pretty prattlers, -- To the number--some less than twenty;  Their honeymoon not set too soon, -- And leave their nights both dark and dreary, --  But ever shine with love divine, -  Whether they are fresh or weary. --  And now, dear friends, adieu; my task is through, --  And time with all is fleeting; --  Let all in the room give the bride and the groom, -- A friendly, cordial greeting.

   The happy pair take the train east Monday to spend the winter visiting friends in old Vermont.     T.B.G. 

This picture is their wedding picture (so I have been told). 

The picture above was taken at their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary.

More of Family History (which I call Heritage Hand-me-downs.)  The stories from family members is that after moving to Mount Airy, Missouri, Harlan Ellis was the manager of a cotton plantation.  His wife Dollie  served as a mid-wife for  the plantation women.  I visited Mt. Airy in 1996 and at that time it was just a wide spot in the road.  A group of houses and some very dilapidated buildings make up the town.  I have tried to find records from the courthouse in Randolph but with no success.  Some information was sent but none of it pertained to my ancestors.

The Ellis family then moved to a farm south of Iowa Falls, Iowa.  My Father was born there in 1899.  This was the residence for the next 19 years when they moved to Trenton, Nebraska somewhere around 1920.  From his obituary it is shown that Harlan died in 1933 when he was taking his son, Ashley, back to Iowa Falls, IA for burial.  

Harlan's Obituary--

Obituary from "The Citizen", Iowa Falls, Iowa Thursday June 9, 1933              

Harlan Ellis died Wednesday In Hospital in Iowa Falls

 Was Here to Attend funeral of son; Lived near Ellis Church Many Years

    Harlan Ellis, a former resident of the Ellis' Community, died at Ellsworth Hospital in Iowa Falls Wednesday afternoon, age 75 years, 10 months, and 21 days.  He and his wife had come here from their home in Leota, Kansas, to attend the funeral of their son who was buried in the Iowa Falls Cemetery last week. Mr. Ellis' funeral will be held Saturday morning at the Wilbur Undertaking Home at 10:30 AM and interment will be made in Union Cemetery.  The immediate cause of death was heart trouble. 

   Mr. Ellis was born at East Barnard, VT, July 12, 1857.  On Dec 1, 1880 Mr Ellis was married at Tonica, Ill.  To this union were born 5 children namely: Bert Ellis of Hampton; Mrs Edna Jones of Barron, Wi.;  Phillip Ellis of Hendricks, MN.; Richard Ellis of Culberson(sic), NE.; and Ashley Ellis, deceased.  There are 13 grandchildren. 

   The Ellis Family lived near the Ellis Church for 16 years and were well respected by everyone.

HARLAN JOEL ELLIS' grave is located in the Union Cemetery in Iowa Falls, Iowa  Section 1 Block 2 Lot 12 Space 7

Click on pictures to enlarge

 

JOEL ELLIS 1816-1896

Joel Ellis, the first child of Clark Ellis was born June 1, 1816 in Barnard Vermont.  He lived his entire life on the Ellis Farm in East Barnard.  He married Elmina Emeline Graves August 28, 1839.  She was the daughter of Issac and Prudence (Howe) Graves also of Barnard.  Joel and Elmina had 4 children: Ozro born 2-28-1849;  Edna Prudence born 8-19-1850; *Harlan Joel born 7-16-1857; and Addie born 5-9-1873.

 Joel Ellis died in East Barnard December 2, 1896.


*My direct lineage

Clark Ellis

Clark Ellis was born in East Barnard, Vermont November 16, 1794.  He died February 11, 1862.  He married Anna Campbell of Barnard November 21, 1815.  To this union two children were born. Namely: *Joel, and Mary Ann.

It is believed that Clark built the house that now stands at the Farm. It was built for his father Moses and replaced the one that was farther up the hill.  

 When I visited with Philip Desmond, the owner, in 1999 he had found a remnant of a rock foundation which he felt might have been the site of the original house. It was farther up the mountain above the present house.

There was a smaller house that Clark built for himself closer to the start of the lane up to the house and barn.

 Mr. Desmond had found termites in the smaller house and was in the process of reconstructing it at the time of my visit.  I have no information on the house at this time.  

At this writing  I have tried to contact Mr. Desmond to ascertain the situation at this time.  Some time ago the Farm was listed for sale by the Sotheby Company in New York but I have no information as to the results of that sale.  At the time of my visit Mr. Desmond had worked considerably to clear some of the old trails used for mining the granite from the quarry.

He also had salvaged the downed timber from an ice storm (perhaps in 1998 or prior) He then hired a man with knowledge of timber log building to construct a shelter at the top of the mountain.  My wife, Coleen, and I hiked the trail to the top of the mountain and enjoyed a picnic lunch at the shelter.  The picture shows the author at the log shelter on top of Ellis Mountain at East Barnard, Vermont.

click on pictures to enlarge

*my direct lineage

The Ellis FARM IN VERMONT

Aerial View of the Ellis Farm

The town of Barnard was given a charter on July 17,1761.  However, the first settlers in East Barnard did not arrive until 1785.  Moses Ellis settled on the place now owned by Mrs. De Rothschild.  His farm was in the Ellis family for 165 years.  The stone quarry on Ellis Mountain furnished granite for many foundations and for door steps for many homes in the valley and for houses as far away as Woodstock, Vermont.  The wall around the Billings mansion is built with Ellis Mountain stone.  The forgoing was taken from a publication called The Harbor a Glimpse at East Barnard.  Published in 1976 by the East Barnard Community Club.

   The dam at Billings Living History Farm is also of Ellis Mountain stone but the Granite Quarry is another story.   

Moses with his brother, Joseph, were the ones who came to Barnard, VT. from Walpole, MA. in 1785.  Moses at age 16 settled the Ellis Farm that is dated 1785.  This is painted on the big barn probably at the year of completion.  His brother Joseph settled an adjoining farm.  This is supposition on my part but I feel that the move from Walpole to Vermont was prompted by the offer of free land since Vermont had not yet achieved Statehood. The adventuresome spirit of the young men of that era probably had a lot to do with it.

Photograph of Ellis Farm circa 1925

 

I had heard about the “Ellis Farm” since I was a young boy. Indeed I had grown up with a picture of a lady on a horse just below the barn.  The picture had been taken sometime in the 1920’s or 30’s.

 None of my family had ever been to the farm in Vermont until my younger brother, Bill, was stationed in Boston during the Korean War.  He had an opportunity to visit the farm while on leave.  He was told the Rothschild’s were away from the farm but Bill was allowed to drive up and visit. He was met by the Gardner who showed him around.  This would have been in the 1950’s.

My first visit to the Farm came sometime in the 1970’s.  There was to be an international Physical Therapist Convention in Montreal, Canada.  Plans were made to drive to the convention by way of the Ellis Farm.  When we arrived in Barnard, VT.  I called the farm and was greeted by the Baroness de Rothschild.  She was a very gracious lady and invited us to come out and gave me directions to drive there.  Arriving at the farm we were met by the Baroness who invited us to look at the house, barn and her rose garden, in which she had been working.  In a cashmere sweater I might add.  She allowed me to take as many pictures as I wanted.

Barn at the Ellis Farm taken in 1999

 

She also shared several stories about her life there.  She said that, “at first the neighbors predicted that now that the Baron had purchased the place he would probably repaint the barn and paint out the Ellis name. That is precisely what he did but with orders to repaint the name and as long as he owned the farm the name would always stay.”

  She told another of a visit she had had from my Dad’s brother Bert.  Bert had come from Iowa Falls, Iowa and he brought a seedling black walnut tree for her to plant at the farm.  She gave him a native pine tree to take back to Iowa. 

East Barnard Cemetery taken 1999

 

The Baroness is buried in the cemetery in East Barnard.




Click on pictures to enlarge.