Ashton Glassell, Caddo Parish, Louisiana

Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000




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Ashton Glassell entered the contracting and building business soon after he 

attained his majority, and for a young man has made a, remarkable record in 

that line in Northwest Louisiana.  He is a native of this state. and is 

president of the Glassell-Wilson Company, Inc., builders, of Shreveport.  

He is also vice president and secretary of the Associated General Contractors 

of that city.



Mr. Glassell was born at Belcher, in Caddo Parish, in 1898, son of John and 

Annie Grey (Curry) Glassell.  The Glassells came many years ago from Virginia 

to Caddo Parish, and have many prominent connections with the business and 

social affairs in that community.  John Glasell is still active as a planter 

and merchant at Belcher.



Ashton Glassell was liberally educated, attending Southwestern University at 

Clarksville, Tennessee, and the Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge.  

He is a capable business executive as well as a master of much of the technical 

details that goes into the building industry.  He began contracting at Shreveport 

in 1920, and for several years was associated with Mr. Tom Green in the G. & G. 

Construction Company, which was incorporated.  This company erected the Rendall 

business block, at the corner of Texas and McNeil streets, and they were the 

contractors of the Shreve Memorial Public Library, a piece of public architecture 

of which Shreveport is particularly proud.  After retiring from this firm, Mr. 

Glassell on February 1, 1924, formed his present partnership with K. C. Wilson.  

They have a complete organization and facilities, and under the push and enterprise 

of the partners and owners they have set records in building construction in 

Shreveport.  In forty-seven working days they completed the Frank Grocery Company 

Building, in less than half the time allotted under the contract, and they completed 

the Highland Sanitarium addition six weeks ahead of schedule. They were also the 

contractors for the Youree Roof Garden, and an addition to the American National 

Bank Building.  It is also worthy of mention that the firm is now constructing 

the Y. M. C. A. building and the new First Presbyterian Church, both of which are 

beautiful buildings and will stand for many years to come.



Mr. Glassell married Miss Wesley Drane of Glarksville, Tennessee.  They have one 

daughter, named Wesley Drane Glassell.  Mr. Glassell is a thirty-second degree 

Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine and of the Grotto, and holds 

membership in the First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport.



A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 117-118, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published 

by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.