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.