Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Asbury, W. H. H. 1841 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 5, 2013, 1:41 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

W. H. H. ASBURY.

W. H. H. Asbury, who for a quarter of a century has been engaged in the real
estate business in Ottumwa, was born in Parke county, Indiana, April 4, 1841.
This was the day upon which General William Henry Harrison died and Mr. Asbury
was named in his honor. His parents were Benjamin and Polly (Porter) Asbury, the
former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. They were married in the
Bluegrass state and started overland to the Wabash valley, establishing their
home in Vermilion county, Indiana, whence they afterward removed to Parke
county. In 1850 they came to Iowa, settling in Monroe county, where they spent
the greater part of their lives, although the father died in Ringgold county. He
was a blacksmith by trade, having served an apprenticeship of nine years. In
later life he engaged both in blacksmithing and in farming. During the Civil war
he served with the Thirty-seventh Iowa Regiment, known as the Gray Beards—a
regiment which was largely engaged in guard duty. His father, Joseph Asbury, was
a soldier of the Revolutionary war and was with Washington's army during the
memorable winter at Valley Forge. For five years altogether he was on active
duty under Washington. His birth occurred at Fairfax county, Virginia, and his
entire life was passed in that state. The mother of our subject was a
granddaughter of Robert Porter, who served as a sergeant in the Revolutionary
war under General Broadhead. In the family of Benjamin and Polly Asbury were
five children: Emily, who is the widow of Leonard Clary, of Keokuk county, Iowa,
and is now eighty-one years of age; Thomas Payne, of Ringgold county; W. H. H.;
Mary Ann, the widow of Harrison Neidigh, of Ringgold county, and Benjamin F., of
Albia, Iowa.

W. H. H. Asbury spent his youthful days in his parents' home, remaining with
them until he enlisted in response to the country's first call for three months'
troops. He did not go to the front, however, until August, 1861, at which time
he was a member of Company E, Third Iowa Cavalry. He enlisted at Bloomfield and
was honorably discharged in October, 1862.

Mr. Asbury then returned home and farmed for awhile. He then went to Blakesburg,
where he entered the drug business with his older brother, continuing in that
line for three vears. He next came to Ottumwa and on the 1st of January, 1870,
was made deputy sheriff, which position he capably filled. Later he was made
deputy treasurer, and at the close of the term was elected county treasurer for
four years. Subsequently he again accepted the position of deputy treasurer,
remaining for ten years in the court house. In 1880 he entered the insurance and
real estate business and in 1889 he was appointed internal revenue collector for
this district. When his term in that office expired he resumed active connection
with the real estate business, in which he has since been engaged. In 1910 he
was again called to public, office, when he was made supervisor of the census
for the sixth congressional district, in which position he had 160 men and women
under him. Lie has always given his political support to the republican party
and has been most loyal to its principles. 

On the 5th of May, 1867, Mr. Asbury was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Jay,
who was born in Miami county, Ohio, July 26, 1841, and in 1854 was brought to
Wapello county by her parents, Jabe P. and Rachel (Commons) Jay, who were
natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. They were of the Quaker faith, and
their lives were of the highest integrity. They continued residents of this
county until called to the home beyond. In their family were ten children, six
of whom reached adult age. Mrs. Asbury attended a Quaker school until she came
to Iowa, where she has made her home continuously for sixty years. Mr. and Mrs.
Asbury have lost three children, who died in infancy, while Bertha, who was born
May 8, 1881, passed away April 8, 1903, when almost twenty-two years of age.

Mr. Asbury belongs to the Unitarian church, while his wife is a member of the
Presbyterian church. He holds membership in Cloutman Post, G. A. R., also in the
Masonic lodge, anti with the Sons of the American Revolution. Progress and
patriotism might be termed his salient characteristics. It may be that he
inherited the spirit with his name; at any rate, he has many of the substantial
qualities which made the hero of Tippecanoe famous.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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