The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-05-03
DEATH0F j.W. ASHLEY
OCCURRED SATURDAY
WAS ONE OF MOST WIDELY
KNOWN MEN IN STATE-MEM-
BER OF HOUSE 20 YEARS.

most widely known citizens Satur-
day morning in the death OF Hon.
Joshua Whitner Ashley, who for 70
wears was a member of the South
Carolina legislature. Mr.. Ashley
died on SATURDAY morning at 5.25
o'clock, at the no,.-e OF his son, Sher-
iff Joe M. H. Ashley, on Church
street, after an illness of three
months, his condition becoming criti-
cal about one. week ago.
The funeral services were held
at Mt. Bethel church Sunday at two
O'Clock, o. m. The body was taken
to the church, which is in Mar
tin township, leaving here at II
o'clock Sunday morning. The services
were conducted by the Rev. v.
B. Hawkins, assisted by the Rev.
N. G. Wright, and interment was
made in the adjoining cemetery.
The honorary pallbearers were
those gentlemen who served in the
Anderson county delegation in the
legislature with Mr.. Ashley and also
in the senate as follows: Ex-Sena-
tors J. K. Hood, Sr., and George w.
Sullivan and J. E. Breazeale, S. M.
Pearman, w. w. Scott, J. L. Jack
son, H. C. Summers, K. P. Smith, J.
r. Cox, o. D. Gray and H. F: Cely,
all members of the house at different
times. Ex-Governor Blease also at
tended the funeral.
The active pallbearers were:
Messrs. Joshua w. Ashley, Jr., j. L.
G. Ashley, Jr., Joshua Ashley, Jr.,
s. G. Murdoch, James Ashley, w.
J. Eaylors, James T. Murdock and
James Ashley, all nephews.
Sketch of Life
Mr.. Ashley was born December 16,
1s48. in Martin township, being the
son of Edward and Elizabeth Ash
lev. He was reared in this county
and continued to live in it until his
death, the place of his residence for
the greater part of his life being at
Honea Path.
was married to Miss Mahala Moore
of Abbeville county, and she with
six children also survive. The chill
dren are: M. j. Ashley of Abbeville
county, Mrs. w. H. Garfield, Mrs.
]. B. N. Ashley, Mrs. Jas. N. Pear
man, Joe M. H. Ashley and Orr
Ashley. He is also survived by "a
grandchildren and two great grand
children. -
Born and reared a poor boy, MIR.
Ashley had to work very hard IN his
early days. At the age of FL ne was
working at small salary on the
farm. Later he began farming for
himself and during his life time
succeeded in accumulating a com
paratively large fortune. In addl-
ton to running his large farm at
>Honea Path, he for a while engaged
in the mercantile business on a small
scale.
Mr.. Ashley's first entrance into
politics was in 1892. During. the
campaign of 1890 some of his trlends
put his name forward as a candl-
date for the house of representatives,
but he declined to run. However,
in 1892 he announced himself as
candidate for the house and was
elected. With the exception of two
wears, he served continuously for ~
wears, his last term expiring IN
1914. This record is one that IS
probably unequalled.
Upon his entrance into the house
of representatives, Mr.. Ashley soon
made a record for himself and was
from the start recognized as lead.
er. He was appointed a member OF
q number of the important commit
tees, and for long period was chair
man of the agricultural committee,
one of the most important in the
house. =,
Mr.. Ashley's record in the house
is known throughout the state. he
always entered into fight With his
whole soul, and there was never any
doubt in the minds of the people how
he stood on any measures before
the house. He was the first repre-
sentative in South Carolina to intro.
duce a bill regulating the hours OF
labor for the cotton mills, and his
bill ultimately became law. He
strived to do everything within his
power to secure legislation favorable
t othe farmers, laboring classes and
poor people. Because of his strong
opposition to extravagant appropria-
tions he was dubbed "The Watch Dog
of the Treasury" He was great
and strong advocate for liberal pen,
sions for Confederate veterans and
their widows. He always fought for
liberal appropriations for the state
hospital for tn einsane, and was re-
cognized as true friend of the in
stitute for the deaf and dumb. These
three things stand out preeminently
in Mr.. Ashley's record as a member
of the legislature.
Mr.. Ashley led the fight for the
repeal of the Lloyd Radical bonds,
which were issued during reconstruc-
ton times. There was sufficient evi-
dence to show that these bonds had
been paid, and yet they continued to
come up for redemption. For 10
years the legislature had the matter
of again redeeming these bnods, and
Mr.. Ashley was instrumental in hav-
ing these bonds written off the books
of the state.