The Ashby Family of Washington County, Iowa

JESSE ASHBY, deceased, was numbered among the true pioneers of Washington County, having located one mile south of the present city of Washington in 1839. At that time there was not a building on the town site, and Mr. Ashby assisted Jonathan Wilson in hauling the logs for the first building erected in the town. Indians were frequent visitors to his cabin as they passed to and fro, and before they were formally removed. Burlington was the trading point of all the citizens when they designed to buy any particular amount of supplies.

Jesse Ashby was born in Alleghany County, Md., Aug. 31, 1788, and in about 1811, was there united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Wilson, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Wilson, and subsequently settled in what is now West Virginia, where they remained until about 1834, when they moved to Perry County, Ohio. In 1839 they came to Washington County, where they resided until their death. They were the parents of six children, five of whom are yet living: Mary W., of Washington County; Julia F., the wife of Morgan Hart, of Wilson County, Kan.; Priscilla B., the wife of Rev. E. W. Twining, of Corning, Iowa; Hester W., the widow of Alpheus B. Dickens, of Washington; Elizabeth, who married William Bickford, and is now deceased, as is also her husband; ►

Eiisebius W. H., of this county. Mrs. Ashby died about 1851, and Mr. Ashby subsequently married Mrs. Fannie Ritchie, by whom he hsid one son. Jesse A., of Keotii, Keokuk Co., Iowa.

Mr. Ashby died in 1880, at the advanced age of ninety-three j'ears. He was for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the early day his cabin was the place in which all religious services were held, and was the home of all pioneer preachers. He assisted in the erection of the first church building in Washington. Few men deserve more credit for what the present generation now enjoys in Washington County, than Jesse Ashby, the pioneer.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

E. W. H. ASHBY.

E. W. H. Ashby is an e.extensive landowner, having seven hundred acres in this county. In all of his business affairs he manifests a spirit of keen, discrimination and undaunted enterprise which has led him into important relations with agricultural interests. From time to time he has increased his holdings by judicious investment until toda\- he derives a very substantial and gratifying income from his property.

His birth occurred in West Virginia, December 1, 1834, and he was one of the seven children born unto Jesse and Elizabeth Ashby, who were likewise natives of the same state. They came to Iowa in 1839 when it was still a territory and cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of Washington county. This region was then largely wild and unimproved, much of its land being still in possession of the government, while over the broad prairies grew the native grasses, giving little indication that the district would soon be transformed into fine farms bringing forth rich crops of marketable products. Roth Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Ashby continued residents of this county until called to their final home.

The subject of this review was but four years of age when brought by his parents to Iowa. He started out in life for himself at the age of sixteen years. He had previously shared with the family in all of the hardships, privations and trials incident to frontier life and later he entered upon the arduous task of providing for his own support when he was still but a boy. He commenced dealing in stock and as soon as he had accumulated a little money he purchased a tract of land, becoming owner of eighty acres near the city of Washington. He further completed his arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage when twenty-six years of age. The lady of his choice was Miss Elizabeth A. Ihrig, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, August 21, 1840, and was a daughter of Peter and Christina (Rillman) Ihrig. Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania. while her father was born in Germany. He came to America in his boyhood days and established his home in Ohio, where he continued to reside until his death. Unto him and his wife were born six children.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ashby began their domestic life upon a farm of eighty acres in Washington township, where they lived until 1861, when he sold that property and invested in a farm on which they are now residing in Lime Creek township. Mr. Ashby now owns seven hundred acres of land in Lime Creek and Cedar townships, constituting a splendidly improved property. As his financial resources increased he kept adding to his holdings until he became one of the extensive landowners of the county, driving a most gratifying annual income from his farms. He has always made a specialty of raising and feeding stock, handling good grades, so that they bring high prices on the market.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ashby were born seven children, five of whom are still living: Viola M., the wife of Ezra Gardner, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Jessie J., the wife of Don Brimley, living in Cedar township; Ralph M., who resides in Lime Creek township: Eleanor and Esther, who spent two years at the Iowa State University and are members of the Delta Gamma Society, while Esther was also a member of the Iowa Lane Society. Eleanor is also a professional nurse and for a time was a visiting nurse in Chicago. These two sisters are now at home and are operating the home farm of two hundred and seventy acres, known as the Pilot Grove farm. They conduct business under the firm name of E. & E. Ashby and deserve great credit for the manner in which they are carrying on the business, displaying excellent management and keen discernment in the conduct of their interests. They are now making a specialty of raising and breeding the Red Bacon Tanworth hogs, which are today considered the finest on sale.

Mr. Ashby gives his political support to the republican party but has never desired office. He is now in the seventy-fifth year of his age and largely leaves business cares to others while he is enjoying well earned rest. He has ever been a man of resolute spirit, swift in decision, energetic and persistent in action, quick in perception and stable in purpose. His is the record of a strong individuality and a strenuous life which has gained and merited its own just reward.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

R. M. ASHBY.

R. M. Ashby, living on section 32, Lime Creek township, is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers who gives his time and attention to the cultivation of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. He was born in Washington county, this state, May 9, 1869, a son of E. W. H. and Elizabeth A. (Ihrig) Ashby, natives of West Virginia and Wayne county, Ohio, respectively. The father was but four years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, and was here reared amid wild scenes and the privations and hardships of pioneer Hfe. At the age of sixteen years he began business on his own account, becoming a dealer in stock. He subsequently purchased a tract of land of eighty acres near the city of Washington, but in 1861 he sold that property and invested in the farm upon which he now resides in Lime Creek township. As the years have come and gone he has accumulated much property, so that he now ranks among the extensive landowners of this county. He is now living retired, having reached the seventy-fifth year of his age. LTnto him and his wife were born seven children, of whom five still survive: Viola M., the wife of Ezra Gardner, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Jessie J., the wife of Don Brimley, living in Cedar township; Ralph M., of this review; Eleanor and Esther, who are still at home and are operating the home farm of two hundred and seventy acres.

R. M. Ashby was reared to manhood on the home farm and acquired his early education in the common schools of the neighborhood, later supplementing this training by a course of study at Washington Academy.

When not devoting his time to the text-books he assisted his father in the work of the farm and early acquired practical knowledge of the best methods of cultivating the fields. Upon attaining his majority he rented a farm, which he operated for one year. He then became proprietor of the Pilotburg store and was thus connected for two years. Then deciding to make the occupation to which he was reared his life work, he returned to agricultural pursuits, locating upon the farm in Lime Creek township where he now makes his home. He is directing his energies to the cultivation of three hundred and twenty acres of his father's land which, in response to the care and labor expended upon it, is yielding abundant annual harvests. He also makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and in this branch of his business is meeting with marked and gratifying success.

In 1892 Mr. Ashby laid the foundation for a pleasant home life in his marriage to Miss Lizzie Yeakel, a native of McLean county, Illinois. She is the daughter of James A. and Lethia (Moore) Yeakel. who are yet living and make their home in Fort Scott, Kansas, their family numbering eight children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ashby were born the following: Percy E., Lethia E., Charles E., Ralph W., Marion R., James D. and E. W. H.

Mr. Ashby is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Wellman, Iowa, while his wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise he has been a stalwart supporter of the republican party, and although he is at all times loyal to its principles and does all in his power to further its influence, he is not a politician in the sense of office-seeking, the only public office which he has filled being that of school director. He is not remiss in the duties of citizenship, however, but takes an interest in all those things which are to the true citizen matters of civic virtue and civic pride, while his many good personal qualities have won for him the regard and good will of his fellowmen.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.