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
