Menzo L. Ashley

As printed in 1910

MENEO L. ASHLEY (1866). With the exception of a little less than three years the gentleman whose name heads this sketch has lived in the village of Jackson over forty-three years and has seen it grow from a grass-covered prairie to the substantial city it is today. During these many years spent in Jackson Mr. Ashley has taken a prominent part in the affairs of his village and county and has participated in many of the stirring events of pioneer days.

On July 5, 1847, in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, Menzo L. Ashley was born to Welch and Margaret (Smith) Ashley. In that county he passed his boyhood days, attending the district schools winters and working on the farm during, the summer months. At the age of sixteen and one-half years he entered the army and took part in the closing events of the war of the rebellion. Being under age he was required to secure the consent of his parents before enlistment. January 7, 1864, he enlisted in the Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry, and later became a member of company B, of the 97th Pennsylvania volunteer infantry. He served until his muster out at Weldon, North Carolina, August 28, 1865, being finally discharged at Philadelphia a little later.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Ash- BIOGRAPHICAL IFISTOKY.

ley rt'lunied to his old home in Tioga county, remained there ten months, and then came to the site of the village of Jackson, arriving during the month of July, 18(50. Here he joined his parents, who had conic out the year before. Soon after his arrival Mr. Ashley was engaged in carrying the mail between Jack-.son and Kslhcrville, Iowa, over the first route opened in the county after the Sioux war. When the second mail route was opened into the county — from Madclia to Jackson — he carried the mail on contract with the government three years. In those days there were no bridges or beaten paths on the routes and it was necessary to ford streams and undergo other hazardous risks in the discharge of his duties. In the way of a pioneer "tree blaze" he was considered among the best, and many tales are still told of his exploits and deeds of heroism in those days. After giving up the Madelia route Mr. Ashley carried the mail for some time between Jackson and Siou.x City. When the Sioux City and St. Paul railroad was b\iilt through to Windom, B. W. Ashley, our subject's brother, took the government contract to carry the mail from Windom to Jackson, and Menzo Ashley opened and operated the line.

In 1809 Mr. Ashley bought an eighty acre farm in Des Moines township and later bought an additional ninety acres in the same township, property which he still owns. In addition to his other occupations he engaged in farming these tracts part of the time. After giving up his mail contracts Mr. Ashley devoted his time to teaming, farming and other occupations. He resided at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a little less than three years, from 1889 to 1801. He owns his home in the city in addition to his farming land. Mr. Ashley served as deputy sheriff of Jackson county five years during the eighties. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was the captain of Jackson's first fire department, organized in 1874, and he has been a fireman ever since. He is an honorary member of the Minnesota State Fire Department association.

Mr. Ashley was married in Jackson July fi, 1872, to Hattic O. Benton, a native of Columbus. Ohio, and a daughter of Porter W. and Harriet Benton. To Mr. and Mrs. Ashley have been born four children. Of these Porter W. lives in the state of Washington and Benjamin H. lives at homo. Alice B., the eldest child, died March 22, 1805, aged 20 years and 11 months; Dallas C. was born May 15, 1870, and died April 11, 1901.

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.