TRAILS OF MY IMAGINATION

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