John Piersol Ash Jr (1795 - 1872)

Born 13 Jan 1795 in Chester, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Alice (Irwin) Ash — married about 1817 in Chester County, PA

Descendants

Died 7 Apr 1872 at age 77 in Alton, Madison, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Steven Ash [send private message] and Elizabeth Hopkins [send private message]

Biography

John Piersol Ash was the son of John Ash and Bathsheba Trego

John Ash, b. Abt 1770, , Chester, Pennsylvania, USA , d. 1837 Alton, Madison, Illinois Mother Bathsheba Trego, b. 16 Dec 1772, , Chester, Pennsylvania, USA

Married Alice Irwin d/o Isreal Irwin and Margaret Trego 30 Dec 1790 in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Source cited: The Ash Family of Chester and Lancaster Counties Pennsylvania, Ash, Richard H, (Gateway Press Inc., Baltimore MD, 1999)

She and John migrated from Chester County, PA to Alton, Illinois in 1837 with 6 or 7 minor children.

The Papers of his wife Alice's brother Jared P. Irwin were given to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Illinois. These include diaries kept by Jared Pinckney Irwin and many other documents relating to this family. The link to the Lincoln Library is http://www.state.il.us/hpa/lib/

One of Jared P Irwin's Diaries describes the trip from Chester County Pa from 04/15/1837 thru 05/11/1837 to Alton, IL. The traveling party was a total of 22 individuals of the Irwin, Pearce & Ash families, including John, Alice and their children.

On 04/28/1837, they traveled on the steam boat "Vermont" from Pittsburg to Wheeling West Va. On 05/06/1837 they boarded the steamship "Avalanche" and arrived in Alton, Il on 05/11/1837.

In a letter from Jared Irwin in the possession of a Hopkins descendant of his brother Isreal dated 25 Feb 1839 from Alton Il to his brother Isreal's widow Hannah Millard Irwin in Ohio he writes that his sister Margaret is dead, along with her daughter Mary and an infant. He says Margaret's husband Ned had not been heard of since the previous June and that he (Jared) is going to take the remaining children 'home'. (note: I am this means to Chester County, PA ). He also mentions Joseph ? his brother) and John being there and the Ash's, and J.P.. He says that Alice has not been well (this would be sister Alice who married John Ash)

This website lists the following children. Since this is not my line I have not verified this information. Hopefully a descendant of Alice can help here.

1. Martin Ash, d. 1918, Alton, Madison, Illinois, USA 2. John Wesley Ash, b. 12 Jul 1820, d. 26 Jan 1901 3. Israel Irwin Ash, b. 3 Jan 1823, d. 30 Jan 1864 4. Joseph L Ash, b. 31 Aug 1825, d. 10 Jul 1854 5. Jared P Ash, b. 22 Jan 1829, d. 24 Apr 1894 6. Absolam Trego Ash, b. 16 Aug 1831, d. 25 Nov 1881 7. William Ash

Biography of his grandson William Ash from: Centennial History of Madison County, Illinois, and Its People, 1812 to 1912—Volume 2 pg 746-747

http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/edpl/id/12591

>>WILLIAM M. ASH. A well-known and highly esteemed resident of Alton, William M. Ash rendered his country valuable service in her time of need, serving throughout three enlistments during the Civil war, and has since been equally as faithful in the discharge of his duties as a citizen of honor and integrity. A native of Alton, his birth occurred in this city March 19, 1844. His father, John Wesley Ash, was a son of John Pickney Ash, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and a grandson of John Ash who, as far as known, spent his entire life in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred in 1738. Joseph Ash, the founder of the family from which William M. Ash sprung, immigrated from Germany to America in colonial days, settling in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where his death occurred in,I836, at the remarkable age of ninety-eight years. John Pickney Ash learned the trade of a plasterer when young, and followed it in his native state until 1837, when he followed the march of civilization westward to Illinois, locating at Alton, which was then a small but flourishing village. Here, resuming his trade, he spent his remaining days, passing away in 1872. He was active in public affairs, serving in the City Council, and both he and his wife were trustworthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Alice Irwin, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1793, a daughter of Israel Irwin, a life- long resident of the Keystone state. Mr. Irwin married Margaret Trego, who was born in Chester coupty, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1767, a daughter of Joseph Trego, whose birth occurred in that state May 14, 1722. Her grandfather, William Trego, born in Pennsylvania, July 3, 1693, was a son of Peter Trego, who came to this country with William Penn, from whom he purchased fifty acres of land lying near Middletown, Pennsylvania <<

John Wesley Ash was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1820, and came with his parents to Alton, Illinois, in 1837. He learned the trade of a plasterer, which he fol- lowed for some time, although many of the later years of his life were devoted to public service. Elected city clerk in 1854, he held the position nine successive years. In 1862 he was appointed clerk of the City Court, and served faithfully eleven years, and had the distinction of being the first Market Master in the city. From 1871 until 1874 he representer the Fourth ward as an alderman, rendering his constituents excellent service. While employed as city clerk, he engaged in the abstract business, which he subsequently continued until his death which occurred at his home, on the corner of Langdon and Thir- teenth streets at the advanced age of eighty- one years. He was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Colflesh, died in 1876, leaving two children, namely: William M., the special subject of this brief personal record; and Lucy A. He married for his second wife Margaret Howard, by whom he had seven children, Annie, Ellen, Fanny, Samuel, Elizabeth, John W. and Hal Baker. At the breaking out of the Civil war William M. Ash left school and, at the call for three months' men, enlisted in Company G, Fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the expiration of his term of en- listment, when he received his honorable dis- charge. Returning hime, he enlisted in Com- pany D, Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for a period of three years, and in 1864 he veteranized, re-enlisting for the full period of the war. Continuing with his regiment, Mr. Ash followed Sherman in his march to the sea, and then on through the Carolinas. In March, 1865, he was captured by the enemy, and was confined at Libby Prison and Castle Thunder for twenty-eight days, suffering in the meantime all the hardships and horrors of prison life. He was then released on parole, allowed to return home, and later was honor- ably discharged from the service. Mr. Ash subsequently learned the brick- layer's trade, which he followed successfully for forty years, when a fall from a building necessitated the amputation of a leg, and he has since retired from active pursuits. In 1908 and 1909 he served as police magistrate, filling the office ably and acceptably. He is a member of Alton Post G. A. R, Mr. Ash married, in 1867, Martha Alice Cummings, who was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, a daughter of George W. Cummings, who was born, reared and educated in Kentucky, where he followed the carpenter's trade until removing to, Illinois. Mr. Cummings lived for two years in Jacksonville, and then moved to Springfield, Illinois, where he con- tinued at his trade until his death, at the age of forty-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Angeline Hearst, was a daughter of Nathaniel Hearst, a life-long resident of Kentucky, where he followed the trade of a stone mason. Mrs. Cummings survived her husband, passing away at the age of fifty-six years. To her seven children were born, as follows: William M., Louisa, Mary, Jackson, Rachel, Zachariah, and Martha Alice. Twelve children have been born into the home of .Mr. and Mrs. Ash, namely: J. Edward, Lucy, William, Angeline, Bessie, Esther, Bertie, Joseph F., Horace, Millard, Harry, and one that died in infancy. J. Edward married Emma Stein, and they have eight children. Lucy, wife of Isaac Baker, has two children. William married Kate Young, and they are the parents of nine children. Angeline, wife of Herman La Pelle; has four daughters. Bessie, who married Matthew Freeman, died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving one daughter. Esther is the wife of William L. Ward, Bertie married Edward Muhlke.

John Piersol Ash was born in 1795. He was the son of John Ash and Bathsheba Trego. John passed away in 1872.

Sources

• Jared Irwin Collection - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library http://www.state.il.us/hpa/lib/
• Letter: Jared Irwin to Hannah Millard Irwin dated 25 Feb 1839 from Alton Il In possession of D.S. Hopkins
• Trego Family history by Jean Lutz
• Pearce Geneology http://www.pearceology.com/pearce/TNG/getperson.php?personID=I2630&tree=pearce
• The Ash Family of Chester and Lancaster Counties Pennsylvania, Ash, Richard H, (Gateway Press Inc., Baltimore MD, 1999)
• Centennial History of Madison County, Illinois, and Its People, 1812 to 1912—Volume 2 pg 746-747
• http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/edpl/id/12591
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M85C-D77 : 1 March 2020), John P Ash, Alton, Madison, Illinois, United States; citing family 414, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Arch...
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXCH-4FS : 18 March 2020), John Ash in entry for John Ash, 1860.
• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6HH-7BW : 6 March 2020), John P Ash, 1870.
• "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCW5-SRC : 3 November 2017), John F. Ash in entry for William Lloyd Ash and Maggie Smith Foreman, 27 Oct 1881, Chariton, Lucas, Iowa, United States; citing reference 1...
• Find A Grave: Memorial #89721833

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Elizabeth Hopkins for starting this profile.