Biographical Sketch of Rev. John M. Ashlock, Dent County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas,
 Pulaski, Phelps & Dent Counties, Missouri, Published 1889, Goodspeed
 Publishing Company.

Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

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Rev. John M. Ashlock, assistant manager and wood receiver of Sligo
Furnace, was born in Washington County, MO., in 1842, and is the son
of Benjamin and Mary (Robinson) Ashlock, the father born in Obion Co.,
TN., about 1823, and the mother in St. Francois County, MO.  They were
married in Washington County, and there the father died in 1846.  The
mother afterward married William Polk.  She was a member of the Baptist
Church, and died in October, 1883.  Mr. Ashlock was a mason by occupa-
tion, and the son of Col. James Ashlock, who was of German origin, and
who was reared in Obion County, Tenn.  He was a mason and furnace 
builder, and a colonel in the War of 1812, under Jackson.  His father,
William Ashlock, was a native of Germany, and came as a soldier to the
American colonies with Gen. Braddock, being with him in his defeat in 
the French and Indian War.  He served with Gen. Washington all through
the Revolutionary Wary, serving as national guard, and was present at
the Declaration of Independence.  He was a firm friend and associate of
Gen. Washington.  John Robinson, the maternal grandfather of subject,
was a native of Ireland, and came to the United States when young.  He
settled in St. Francois County, MO., at quite an early date, followed
farming, and finally died in Washington County, where he had moved.  
Rev. John M. Ashlock was the eldest of three children, and received a
limited education in the common schools, being obliged to go six miles,
that being the nearest school.  At the age of about eighteen or twenty
he began for himself as a farm hand, but soon after was employed by an
iron company at Irondale, and has been connected with the iron works
more or less ever since.  In 1861 he married Miss Henrietta Brooks, who
was born in Kentucky, and who died in 1880, leaving three children. In
1881 Mr. Ashlock took for his second wife Miss Lizzie, daughter of 
Henry and Mary Benson, of Kentucky and Iowa, respectively. Mrs. Ashlock
was born in Phelps County, MO., where her father died.  Her mother is 
still living.  Mr. Ashlock's last union resulted in the birth of two
children.  Mr. Ashlock has always been a great reader of good literature,
and although his education was rather limited, he has, by his own efforts
become a well-informed man.  In 1864 he joined Company B, Fifth Missouri
Volunteer Infantry, as a regular color bearer with the rank of corporal.
He operated in Missouri and Tennessee, and was mustered out at St. Louis
in August, 1865.  Soon after the war he united with the Missionary
Baptist church, and began to apply himself to the study of the Scriptures,
with which he soon became familiar, and then chose a higher calling, 
being ordained as a minister in 1868.  He then devoted his entire time 
for many years to his ministerial duties in Washington, Maries and 
Crawford Counties.  He was located at Osage for nearly two years, and
was pastor of several churches from there to Midland, and was pastor
of the church at Sligo the first six years there.  Since his residence
at Sligo he has married 101 couples, and a great many before coming
there.  Politically a Republican, his first presidential vote was cast
for Hancock in 1880.  He is an ardent advocate of the prohibition of
the liquor traffic.  Mrs. Ashlock has been a member of the Baptist 
Church since 1880.

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