Biography of: Maj. James H. Ashcraft  McCracken County, Kentucky

Source; Biographical Sketches from, "Kentucky, History of the State"
Main Author; William Henry Perrin 1887
    
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Submitted by: Vera Burnham vburnham@metrocast.net
Date: April 9, 2002

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Maj. James H. Ashcraft was born on May 4, 1840, in Brandenburg, Meade Co.,Ky.
His father, Absalom Ashcraft, died when James H. was an infant, he being the
youngest of a family of eleven children. His mother, whose maiden name was
Delilah A. Allen, is still living and resides with her son James H. in
Paducah. In consequence of her widowhood, with a large family she was unable
to do more than to instill habits of honor and industry into her children. 
James had the privileges of the common schools, and in early life engaged in
the wharf-boat business in his native county, until the breaking out of the
war, when he responded to the first call of the President for troops, and 
became a member of Company G.,Twenty-sixth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, 
and in the organization was elected first Lieutenant of that company. He
took the field in the fall of 1861, serving until the close of the war. In
May, 1862, he was promoted to Captain, and in April, 1865, was promoted 
to Major of the regiment, with which commisson he was mustered out at the 
close of the war. He shared the vicissitudes and fortunes of his command 
through all their varied experience, including the battles of Shiloh, Siege
of Corinth, battle of Nashville, Saltville, raid of West Virginia, and the
campaign to the Atlantic Coast. While on detached duty in Kentucky, he was 
ambushed and wounded in Meade County, near his old home and birthplace. At
the close of the war, he returned to Brandenburg and for two years was
engaged in mercantile pursuits; thence went to Louisville, Ky., and for a
short time engaged in the grocery buisness, but in 1869 was appointed
United States Revenue Storekeeper, which he filled one year; was then made
deputy United States Marshall, under Gen. Murray, serving six years, of 
which time he was also deputy revenue collector for the First Kentucky
District. In February, 1876, he was appointed by President Grant to the
official honors of postmaster at Paducah; reappointed by President Arthur, 
in 1884. Maj. Ashcraft is a man of fine personal appearance, of a military
bearing and a true gentleman; to all polite and kind. He is a member of the
Plainfield Lodge, No. 449, A.F.& A.M.; Paducah Chapter, No. 30, R.A.M.;
Paducah Commandery, No. 11,K.T.; Freindship Lodge, No.61, A.O.U.W.; Rapidan
Lodge, No. 341, K.of H.. In December 1865, in Louisville, Ky., he was
married to Miss Mary E. Brown, daughter of Dr. E.O.Brown of that city. They
have three children; Erasmus B., James H., and Allen M. Ashcraft.