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)
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Jesse Ashley was born in the county 01 Tioga, Pennsylvania, on the 14tii day of August. 1840, the son of Welch and Margaret-Ashley. Up to his.seventeenth year he resided on his father's farm in his native county, where be secured an education in the common schools. Coming to the little settlement of Jackson in the summer of ISBO. he look a position in his father's saw mill, at which laws engaged until he became <if age. When his father platted llic, jackson lownsite..lease assisted the surveyor. James K. Palmer, in the work. In company with Lant Thonu'.s and Pi'ter Kingsley he went to Harden City, si.xtytwo miles distant, in 18(17 for the purpose of bringing back (lour to relieve (he suffering of those who were in need. The country was (looked by meeting snows ami lin party experienced much sufTering on the trip. At Blue Earth it was found necessary to ekMi stroot a boat to ferry the teams over the swollen stream. The party was gone tliirlccn days, but was successful in bringing back the much needed article of food. The (lour sohl for thirteen dollars per hundred weight, which was the actual cost of getting it in.
Upon reaching his majority the subject of this biography purchased a farm in Middletown township and engaged in farming sever.il years. Three years of this time he had a govcrnniciit contract and carried the mail between Jackson and 8t. James. During the time lie live on the farm he held the oft'ices of township clerk, assessor and other offices.
Giving up his farming operations, Mr. Ashley moved to Jackson and for about ten 3'ears conducted a store and meat market. Later he engaged in other mercantile pursuits and became the local agent for the Standard Oil company. A few years ago he gave up active participation in business affairs and now lives a retired life.
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.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.