Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries......Ashburn, Benjamin F., 1902 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ASHBURN SUDDENLY SUMMONED Mr. B.F. Ashburn, of Suffolk, Drops Dead in Norfolk Our community was greatly shocked on Thursday night, May 15, 1902, upon receiving the news that Mr. Benjamin F. Ashburn, one of Suffolk's best-known citizens, had dropped dead in Norfolk. Mr. Ashburn was a member of Tom Smith Camp, Confederate Veterans, and went to Norfolk with his comrades on Thursday to participate in the Confederate memorial exercises. He left home bright and cheerful, little dreaming of the fatal termination of his trip. About 7 o'clock in the evening, after the parade was over, and while on his way to the Norfolk and Western depot to take the train for Suffolk, he was attacked with heart trouble and fell on the street. Death was probably instantaneous, as he gasped but once after being raised from the pavement. He had been in failing health for two years, and his death, while a great shock, was not unexpected to his family, who knew he was suffering with heart trouble. Mr. Ashburn was born in Nansemond County, Va., October 16, 1842. He enlisted in the Confederate service at the age of seventeen, joining Company A of the Sixteenth Virginia regiment, which company was commanded by Captain Thomas W. Smith, of Suffolk. He was severely wounded at the second battle of Manassas, and was afterwards placed in charge of medical supplies, spending the remainder of the war in Mobile, Ala., and Charlotte, N..C. He was engaged in business in Baltimore from 1866 to 1890, and from the time of his death he was a resident of Suffolk. On the 13th of March, 1872, he was married in Henderson, N.C, to Miss Mollie Lassiter, who survives him. He leaves two sons and a daughter, all grown, namely: Mr. B.W. Ashburn, of Selotoville, Ohio; Mr. W. Robert Ashburn, of Hampton, Va., and Miss Kate Ashburn, of Suffolk. The deceased was confirmed in the Episcopal church at Henderson, N.C., in 1873. Mr. Ashburn's funeral took place last Sunday afternoon, at 3:30 o'clock, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rev. Joseph B. Dunn, the rector, conducting the services. Tom Smith Camp, C.V. attended in a body, to do honor to the beloved comrades, and a delegation was also present from the Pickett-Buchanan Camp, C.V., of Norfolk. A large number of friends also turned out to pay the last tribute of respect to the departed. The remains were interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery, the pallbearers being as follows: J.P. Bell, Charles P. Cramer, W.M. Crumpler, A.H. Hargrave, J.Q. Holladay, W.T. Johnson, Calvin Jones and T.O. Palmer. The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful. The deceased was a brave soldier, a devoted husband and father, and a faithful friend. After life's fitful fever may he sleep well. "Under the sod and the dew, Awaiting the judgment day, Lies the man to his colors true, The soldier who wore the gray." Benjamin Franklin ASHBURN, of Suffolk, retired Baltimore businessman, Confederate veteran, b. 16 Oct 1842, Nansemond Co., d. 15 May 1902, Norfolk, interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Block D, Lot 49*), Suffolk, 18 May 1902, donated obit, newpaper unknown - posted with Find a Grave Mem. #9797953 *Cedar Hill list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_a.txt A biographical sketch is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/military/civilwar/cw_vets.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/a216b1ob.txt