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.
Born 1837, Richland County
From History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885)
J. R. ASHTON, dealer in machinery, Lima, was born October 20, 1837, in Richland County, Ohio, the youngest son of Francis and Elizabeth Ashton, natives of England. Francis Ashton came to America in 1831, traveling through New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. He then returned to England, but in 1832, accompanied by his family (having then five sons), came back to Ohio, and purchased land and settled in Richland County, where he remained until 1852, when he came to Allen County, his family then numbering seven sons and two daughters. He gave his children the advantages of the best schools of the day, and they now occupy respectable positions in life, and are all residents of Lima, except Charles, who resides in Guthrie County, Iowa. Mr. Ashton was a highly respected and honorable man, looking not only to his own family’s interests, but to the good of the community. Our subject was educated in the common schools of the county, and moved to Lima with his parents. He enlisted during the late civil war, August 12, 1862, and was assigned to Company A, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and afterward transferred to Company I, of same regiment; was detailed to duty in hospital department, and subsequently promoted to hospital steward, remaining with his regiment until it was mustered out of service at Salisbury, N. C., June 24, paid off at Cleveland, Ohio, July 9, and reached home July 13, 1865. Mr. Ashton was married, October 25, 1866. to Margaret E. Clippinger, by whom he had one son, Edwin, who died in infancy. Mrs. Ashton died March 25, 1872, and our subject was again married, November 25, 1874, this time to Mary C. Melhorn, by whom he has two children: Harry M. and Paul.
As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name J. R. Ashton: John Melhorn (b. 1819)
The printed record stops around 1885. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.