Biography of J. W. ASHBY, Saline Co, AR

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        Date: 25 May 2002
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SOURCE: Goodspeed's History of Saline County

J. W. ASHBY, prominently identified with Benton's interests, was born in
Floyd County, Ga., August 17, 1842, and is the son of John and Rebecca
(WOODRUFF) ASHBY, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. John
ASHBY was born in Princess Ann County, on October 11, 1800, and was of the
old Virginia stock. He was reared to the occupation of farming, which he
continued all his life, and in the fall of 1858 emigrated to Claiborne
Parish, North Louisiana, where he spent the remainder of his days. Himself
and wife were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was called
to his long home in 1864, and his wife (who married again) survived until
1878. J. W. ASHBY is the eighth of a family of ten children, six of whom are
still living: Elizabeth (wife of Mr. JOHNSON, a prosperous farmer of Texas),
G. W. ( a farmer living in Louisiana), Annette (wife of J. F. HAMITER, a
farmer of Hempstead County, Ark.), Amanda (wife of Robert SCOTT, a farmer,
and one of the early settlers of Saline County, having lived here since
1834), Nancy (wife of George KING, a farmer and stockman of Texas), J. M.
(the eldest of the brothers, a man of family, who died in the army at Monroe,
La., in 1863), William (a farmer, living in Saline County, Ark.), Lucinda
(who married John Nelson, and died in 1872), William (died at the age of
thirty-four, in 1867, in Louisiana), and Mary (died in childhood while her
parents were living in Georgia). J. W. was educated in the common schools of
Georgia, and was reared to farm life, but in his early manhood learned the
carpenter and blacksmith trade. At the age of twenty-two, and in the spring
of 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Twelfth Louisiana Infantry, Col. Scott's
Regiment. He served three years and four months, participating in the
engagements of Baker's Creek, Jackson, and the bombardment of Fort Hudson. He
was with Hood on his Georgia and Tennessee campaigns, and while in the latter
was in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, then in the encounter at
Kingston and later on at Bentonville. He was paroled at Greensboro, N.C., on
April 26, 1865. After the close of the was Mr. ASHBY returned to North
Louisiana to take care of his mother and her family, and did not leave her
until her second marriage. He then came to Arkansas and there won his bride,
Miss Mary SCOTT, their marriage occurring in 1868.  Returning with his bride
to Louisiana, he remained there till December, 1869, when the temptation to
get back to Arkansas became so great that he again located and purchased a
large farm. This place consisted of 120 acres of new land, with little or no
improvement, but this did not discourage him in the least, for he immediately
set to work and made so many improvements that old surroundings would hardly
have been recognized. For thirteen years Mr. ASHBY remained on this farm, but
in 1882 he moved to Benton and erected a home, opening a store of general
merchandise, and also engaging in the undertaker's business, which he has
successfully conducted to the present time. In 1885 he sold his land, and
since then has devoted his whole attention to the mercantile business. Mr.
And Mrs. ASHBY have four children: Edna (born March 3, 1871, at present
attending boarding school in Kentucky), Bertie (born July 7, 1874, attending
school at Benton), Pearl (born October 13, 1879, also at school), and Robert
(born February 13, 1883).  Mr. ASHBY is a member of  Benton Lodge No. 1319,
and himself  and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at
Benton. He honors the Democratic party with his vote, but is conservative on
the subject of politics. He has served as a member of his school board and
always takes an active interest in any enterprise that is for the good of his
town or county, and is a man that has the respect of the entire community.