Shirley B. Ashby MONTANA ARCHIVES May be copied for non-profit purposes. History of Montana, Joaquim MiIler, 1894 Shirley B. Ashby, president of the Helena National Bank, was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, August 10, 1843. Mr. Ashby is a descendant of English and Scotch ancestors who were early settlers in Virginia, they having located there previous to the Revolution. His mother's side of the house, the Carters, are descendants of the Stewarts of Scotland. They were among the first settlers of Virginia. Mr. Ashby's grandfather, Captain John Ashby served in the War of 1812, and lived to a ripe old age. His son, George William Ashby, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1800; married Phebe G. Carter, also a native of Virginia, born in 1807. They had a family of five children: three of whom died when young. One son W.Wirt Ashby, died at St. Louis Missouri, when in his fifty-seventh year. Thus Shirley C. Ashby is the only one of the family left. He was reared in his native state and at the commencement of the Civil War he enlisted in Company D, Sixth Virginia Cavalry, under Colonel Firz Hugh, in Lee's division. Mr. Ashby was then a youth of seventeen years. He served gallantly during the war, being in many hard-fought battles and having several horses killed under him, but always escaping serious injury himself. The ravages of war having swept away nearly all their property, the Ashbys found themselves almost penniless. Shirley C. Ashby then went to St. Louis and was employed as clerk on a steamboat. In 1867 we find him in Montana, in the employ of I.G. Baker and Brothers, dealers in general merchandise at Ft. Benton. This firm also did a large freighting business. While with them he became a very efficient assistant. He made many excursions to trade with the Indians, these trips extending all along the Missouri River and frequently being attended with great danger to him. Thus he became acquainted with all the Indian chiefs at the various posts where he traded, and was often compelled to camp and eat with the Indians. He proved himself of great value to his employers and they, appreciating his efforts in their behalf, gave him an interst in the business, and thus by his courage and business enterprise he gained a start in life. He continued to make Ft. Benton his headquarters until 1870, when he came to Helena and was employed as clerk, having loaned his surplus funds. After a time he was elected to the office of County Assessor, in which capacity he served five years. In the meantime he also embarked in the real estate and insurance business in both of which he was successful, continuing the same and working his way up until 1889. That year he sold out. Then he turned his attention to the sale of agricultural implements, wagons and carriages, in which he did a large business, his operations covering a wide extend of territory. This business also proved a success and he still continues it. In 1890 the Helena National Bank was started by John T. Murphey and Frank Baird, Mr. Murphey being elected president. Mr. Ashby became a stockholder in this institution, and in August 1892 upon Mr. Murphey's retiring from the presidency, Mr. Ashby was elected to succeed him. Since coming to Helena, Mr. Ashby has interested himself in all that pertains to the well-being and growth of the city, having erected several business blocks, as well as a fine residence for himself and his family. Politically, he has been a life-long Democrat, religiously he gives his prefernece to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.