The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-03-31
OBITUARY.

claimed Oliver Ashley, VINO IOr many
years was a worthy citizen of Blue
Earth county. The past eight years
had been spent in Watonwan Co. in the
town of Madelia The funeral services
were held at the home of the deceased
on Thursday, from which place the re-
mains were carried to rest in Madelia
cemetery. The services were conduct
ed by J. r. Shellenberger, pastor of the
Christian church, The following is
what he said in part:
Oliver Ashley was born Nov, 81. 1929
in West Bloc nfeld, New York, died
March IA, $780, in Madelia, Mimi. aged
rs years, three months, twenty three
days.
He was eighth in the line of descent
from Robert Ashley who was one of the
earliest settlers in. Springfield, Mass
and whose records date back as early al
$780,
From this date forward the family
have been at the front in every move
! ment in their homes and country's in
terest The names of his forefathers ap-
pear on the records constantly as jurors,
selectmen, constables, ordinances, tith-
ing men, etc.
In Queen Anne's war Samuel Ashley s
house was one of the three houses that
was forted for the safety of the fnhabit-
ants of Springfield. He was third from
Robert Ashley.
Col. Samuel Ashley, fifth from
Robert and great grandfather to the de-
ceased. is worthy of especial notice.
He was one Of the original grantees of
Winchester. N. H. from Mass. At
twenty years of age he entered military
service under Josiah kellogg. At forty
years of age he had become an infiuen-
tial citizen, large land owner and a
wealthy man. At this time (1760) he
was an officer in the militia. justice of
the peace and recorder of deeds. These
offices signifed degree of promotion
much greater than they do today. In
1775 he espoused the cause of the
Revolution. He was delegate to the
first congress for provisional govern
ment. He was also one of the repre-
sentatives the famous first Continental
Congress. Was on the committee of
of safety, known to students of Revolu-
tionary times. After Oct. 1775 he was
in service of state almost constantly,
first as mastering officer, then as
colonel In 1776 he led his regiment in
defense of Ticonderoga Later he was
made brigade major on Gen Stark
staff He was at the battle of Benning-
ton Heights He served under Gates
until the surrender of Burgoyne. Fol-
his excellent servicesi he received the
special written thanks of Gen. Gates
The grandfather of the deceased, in
heriting the spirit of his father, also
enlisted in the American army and was
soon made Lieut.. of Capt. Hughton's
company. He was in the battle al
White Plains. He was in the Concord
convention, called for the framing of 6
new constitution.
The father of the deceased was &
prosperous business man in New York
In 1914 he came to Fox Lake, Wiscon
sin and settled on 700 acres of land al
tanner and farmer. He was three
times in the legislature of New York
Once, in 1924, he was elected on the
anti Mason ticket From '41-43 he was
postmaster at Minda, N. Y.
This brief review of his geneology
will help us to appreciate the character
of the one who SO lately was and is not
Mr. Ashley lived on his fathers farm
in New York until he was Is years Of
age. During the ten years following
he was clerk in a general store il
Minda, New York. When twenty five
years of age he came with his fathers
family to Fox Lake, Wisconsin, but
soon returned to N Y In 1847 hi
came again to Fox Lake Here he
builtla shanty and worked two years in
the woods among the Indians Durine
the Civil war he was an enrolling
officer.
He was member of the Wisconsin
legislature from '63 to '65.
In 1866 he was married to Mary Har
ris whom he now leaves widow,
In 1866 he went to Beaver Dam, Wis
and for six years was book keeper and
cashier in A P. Lawrence's general
store Not being able to stand the con
fine ment he left the store at the expira
tlon of this period.
In 1875 he went to Texas with view
to locating. Discouraged by southern
drouth, he returned north. In 1875 he
landed in Ceresco, MINI where he has
lived ever stree, excepting a few years
Here he bought $40 acres of land and
toiled for and reared up his family
Five children have been the fruit of his
message, four of whom have beer