In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910)
BENJAMIN W. ASHLEY (1866), deceased. Among the men who took the lead in affairs 4n Jackson in the early and later days, and one whose name is inseparably linked with that of the county seat village, was Benjamin W. Ashley, who came to the little village at the time of its birth and continued to make his home in it until his death, which occurred December 19, 1905.
Benjamin W. Ashley was born in Sylvania, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1839. He came to Jackson county in 1866 and in company with his father built the first saw mill that was operated. In 1870, in company with his father, he erected the Ashley house and was its proprietor many years. Mr. Ashley was a man held in the highest esteem and had a host of friends.
In 1864 Mr. Ashley was united in marriage to Juliet Bobbins. She died August 29, 1904, aged over sixty-two years. They were the parents of the following named children: Mark D., Otis M., Mrs. Maud Wold, Virginia, Will W., Mrs. Neva Buraham, Benjamin W., Jr.
As printed in An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name Benjamin W. Ashley: Jesse P. Prescott (b. 1863) Mark D. Ashley (b. 1866)
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.