Rev John C. Ashley was my Great Great Great Grandfather.
John Clinton Ashley was born May 14, 1800, in Norfolk, Virginia. His father was Rev. Benjamin Ashley, a Baptist minister, ordained by the Portsmouth, Virginia, Association in 1803. His grandfather was William Ashley, who was master's mate in the State Navy of Virginia, during the Revolutionary War. These were all descended from Captain John Ashley of London, England, whose name appears in the second charter to the Virginia Colony in 1609, and whose descendants came to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1635.
In the spring of 1826, he moved with his wife and three children to Portsmouth, Ohio, and established a bookbinding business on what is known as the McDowell Corner. In 1831, he established the first soap and candle manufacture in Portsmouth, in which he was passably successful. At that time candles were made by the "dipping" process. In 1830, he was present and assisted in organizing the Scioto County Bible Society, and was one of a committee of three to draft by-laws for the government of the Society. In 1837, John C. Ashley was a candidate for County Assessor on the Democratic ticket and was second in the race. Azel Glover, who was elected had 234 votes and Ashley 154.
In 1837, he was elected a Justice of the Peace for Wayne Township and also served two years as a Trustee of the Township. He continued his studies for the ministry, studying particularly the Greek language, which materially assisted him in his work. He preached at "McCoy's," about 4 miles north-east of Portsmouth, at "Elijah Musgrove's," about six miles above Portsmouth ; also in a church at the mouth of the Little Scioto river. In 1842, he decided to give all of his time to the ministry, and received letters of ordination as au elder and evangelist. His work until 1850, was in Meigs, Athens, Washington and Monroe Counties, in southeastern Ohio, where he established a number of churches, teaching school and lecturing on temperance during the winter months.
In 1850, he moved to Illinois, where he continued his ministerial work in the section of country from Carmi to Walnut Hill, where he died in August, 1855, and was buried in the little church yard cemetery about one mile south-east of Walnut Hill. He had eight children, five sons and three daughters. Two daughters did not survive.
His children were:
James M. Ashley-Gov. of Montana, died 1896
John Kossuth Ashley-Illinois Doctor, died 1905
Benjamin Ashley--died in 1847
William Henry Ashley--died 1907
Mary Jane Ashley--died in 1849
Eli Melville Ashley--died in 1909
John Clinton Ashley was born May 14, 1800, in Norfolk, Virginia. His father was Rev. Benjamin Ashley, a Baptist minister, ordained by the Portsmouth, Virginia, Association in 1803. His grandfather was William Ashley, who was master's mate in the State Navy of Virginia, during the Revolutionary War. These were all descended from Captain John Ashley of London, England, whose name appears in the second charter to the Virginia Colony in 1609, and whose descendants came to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1635.
In the spring of 1826, he moved with his wife and three children to Portsmouth, Ohio, and established a bookbinding business on what is known as the McDowell Corner. In 1831, he established the first soap and candle manufacture in Portsmouth, in which he was passably successful. At that time candles were made by the "dipping" process. In 1830, he was present and assisted in organizing the Scioto County Bible Society, and was one of a committee of three to draft by-laws for the government of the Society. In 1837, John C. Ashley was a candidate for County Assessor on the Democratic ticket and was second in the race. Azel Glover, who was elected had 234 votes and Ashley 154.
In 1837, he was elected a Justice of the Peace for Wayne Township and also served two years as a Trustee of the Township. He continued his studies for the ministry, studying particularly the Greek language, which materially assisted him in his work. He preached at "McCoy's," about 4 miles north-east of Portsmouth, at "Elijah Musgrove's," about six miles above Portsmouth ; also in a church at the mouth of the Little Scioto river. In 1842, he decided to give all of his time to the ministry, and received letters of ordination as au elder and evangelist. His work until 1850, was in Meigs, Athens, Washington and Monroe Counties, in southeastern Ohio, where he established a number of churches, teaching school and lecturing on temperance during the winter months.
In 1850, he moved to Illinois, where he continued his ministerial work in the section of country from Carmi to Walnut Hill, where he died in August, 1855, and was buried in the little church yard cemetery about one mile south-east of Walnut Hill. He had eight children, five sons and three daughters. Two daughters did not survive.
His children were:
James M. Ashley-Gov. of Montana, died 1896
John Kossuth Ashley-Illinois Doctor, died 1905
Benjamin Ashley--died in 1847
William Henry Ashley--died 1907
Mary Jane Ashley--died in 1849
Eli Melville Ashley--died in 1909
Rev John C. Ashley was my Great Great Great Grandfather.
John Clinton Ashley was born May 14, 1800, in Norfolk, Virginia. His father was Rev. Benjamin Ashley, a Baptist minister, ordained by the Portsmouth, Virginia, Association in 1803. His grandfather was William Ashley, who was master's mate in the State Navy of Virginia, during the Revolutionary War. These were all descended from Captain John Ashley of London, England, whose name appears in the second charter to the Virginia Colony in 1609, and whose descendants came to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1635.
In the spring of 1826, he moved with his wife and three children to Portsmouth, Ohio, and established a bookbinding business on what is known as the McDowell Corner. In 1831, he established the first soap and candle manufacture in Portsmouth, in which he was passably successful. At that time candles were made by the "dipping" process. In 1830, he was present and assisted in organizing the Scioto County Bible Society, and was one of a committee of three to draft by-laws for the government of the Society. In 1837, John C. Ashley was a candidate for County Assessor on the Democratic ticket and was second in the race. Azel Glover, who was elected had 234 votes and Ashley 154.
In 1837, he was elected a Justice of the Peace for Wayne Township and also served two years as a Trustee of the Township. He continued his studies for the ministry, studying particularly the Greek language, which materially assisted him in his work. He preached at "McCoy's," about 4 miles north-east of Portsmouth, at "Elijah Musgrove's," about six miles above Portsmouth ; also in a church at the mouth of the Little Scioto river. In 1842, he decided to give all of his time to the ministry, and received letters of ordination as au elder and evangelist. His work until 1850, was in Meigs, Athens, Washington and Monroe Counties, in southeastern Ohio, where he established a number of churches, teaching school and lecturing on temperance during the winter months.
In 1850, he moved to Illinois, where he continued his ministerial work in the section of country from Carmi to Walnut Hill, where he died in August, 1855, and was buried in the little church yard cemetery about one mile south-east of Walnut Hill. He had eight children, five sons and three daughters. Two daughters did not survive.
His children were:
James M. Ashley-Gov. of Montana, died 1896
John Kossuth Ashley-Illinois Doctor, died 1905
Benjamin Ashley--died in 1847
William Henry Ashley--died 1907
Mary Jane Ashley--died in 1849
Eli Melville Ashley--died in 1909
John Clinton Ashley was born May 14, 1800, in Norfolk, Virginia. His father was Rev. Benjamin Ashley, a Baptist minister, ordained by the Portsmouth, Virginia, Association in 1803. His grandfather was William Ashley, who was master's mate in the State Navy of Virginia, during the Revolutionary War. These were all descended from Captain John Ashley of London, England, whose name appears in the second charter to the Virginia Colony in 1609, and whose descendants came to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1635.
In the spring of 1826, he moved with his wife and three children to Portsmouth, Ohio, and established a bookbinding business on what is known as the McDowell Corner. In 1831, he established the first soap and candle manufacture in Portsmouth, in which he was passably successful. At that time candles were made by the "dipping" process. In 1830, he was present and assisted in organizing the Scioto County Bible Society, and was one of a committee of three to draft by-laws for the government of the Society. In 1837, John C. Ashley was a candidate for County Assessor on the Democratic ticket and was second in the race. Azel Glover, who was elected had 234 votes and Ashley 154.
In 1837, he was elected a Justice of the Peace for Wayne Township and also served two years as a Trustee of the Township. He continued his studies for the ministry, studying particularly the Greek language, which materially assisted him in his work. He preached at "McCoy's," about 4 miles north-east of Portsmouth, at "Elijah Musgrove's," about six miles above Portsmouth ; also in a church at the mouth of the Little Scioto river. In 1842, he decided to give all of his time to the ministry, and received letters of ordination as au elder and evangelist. His work until 1850, was in Meigs, Athens, Washington and Monroe Counties, in southeastern Ohio, where he established a number of churches, teaching school and lecturing on temperance during the winter months.
In 1850, he moved to Illinois, where he continued his ministerial work in the section of country from Carmi to Walnut Hill, where he died in August, 1855, and was buried in the little church yard cemetery about one mile south-east of Walnut Hill. He had eight children, five sons and three daughters. Two daughters did not survive.
His children were:
James M. Ashley-Gov. of Montana, died 1896
John Kossuth Ashley-Illinois Doctor, died 1905
Benjamin Ashley--died in 1847
William Henry Ashley--died 1907
Mary Jane Ashley--died in 1849
Eli Melville Ashley--died in 1909
