Ashley Township

Ashley Township

Situated at the crossing of the Ill. Central and the St. Louis & South-Eastern railroads, was laid out on the west half of the north-east quarter of section (27) twenty-seven, in township (2) two, south range (1) one west, on the 10th day of May, 1854, by Darius Greenup, county surveyor. The plat of said town was recorded on the 27th day of May, 1854. The original proprietor was Dr. J. M. Lucas. Additions were made by J. Condit Smith, James Smith, and the Duckermann heirs. Dr. Lucas opened and run a small drug store on the place before it'was legally and formally laid out as a town in 1853.

First Stores

The first goods were sold in Ashley by Truman Gilbert, in 1854. He was followed by E. Mansfield, who opened a general store in the spring of 1855. Later in the same year T. H. Hobbs & Co. opened a general store; and some time during the same year Elias Gilbert opened a general stock oi goods.

In the year 1854, P. M. and E. McNail built the first mill in the town of Ashley. It was at first only a saw mill, but in 1855 a small grist-mill was attached, and later they erected a regular flouring-mill of two run of burrs. They also attached a woolen card-mill. These mills were afterwards sold out and removed to Pinkneyville, this state.

In 1866 Coffey, Brown & Harrison erected a large mill of four run of burrs. These mills do an extensive business, shipping large quantities of flour an¬ nually.

Blacksmith Shop Church Building8

The first church built in the town was in 1856, by the Methodists. A more detailed account of the churches will be found elsewhere in this book.

In July, 1877, a bank was opened by Pace Bros. The firm is composed of W. C. Pace, E. C. Pace and C. E. Hammond. W. C. Pace is president, and E. C. Pace is the cashier.

Southern Refugee8

During the war of the Rebellion there was an order that all persons whose fortunes had been destroyed by the contending armies, and who desired to leave their desolated homes in the South, and make their homes in the North, would be furnished free transportation for one hundred miles, into a free state. This town, being situated ninety-eight miles above Cairo, they were put off at this place in great numbers. This taxed the benevolence of the citizens; but on all occasions they proved themselves equal to the emer¬ gency, and notwithstanding it was regarded a great drawback to the place, all was done that was possible to relieve their suffering condition. " Old John Robinson," of circus fame, upon one occasion while in the place " showing," gave the refugees $200.00.

A. J. Hosmer, who fell in the war of the rebellion at the battle of Stone River, was the first lawyer who resided in the town. A more extended

First, the Ashley Gazette , by Hosmer & Pace, established in 1857 ; next, the Experiment , by Robert Fleming; the next, the Ashley Herald , by David Benton ; and then came the present Ashley Gazette , by J. W. O'Bryant See 'History of the Press in another chapter.

Schools Of Ashley

Mention has already been made of the log school-house, the first in town, and of the first teacher, Mr. Blair. He and John M. Hunter taught alter¬ nately in this building for a number of years, when a frame-building, with three rooms, was built on a lot near the present residence of Dr. Welch. Among the teachers who taught in this building as principals were: Mr. Lewis Newton, E. Way, Peter A. Smith, James H. Craig, T. W. Bates, and J. W. Hudson. Assistants - Miss Mattie B. Hamilton, Miss Jenkins, Miss T. R. Haynes, Miss Amanda J. Marten, Miss Mattie Marten, Mrs. Charles, Misses Sallie and Alice Erwin, Mrs. E. M. Stearns, and Mr. Hugh Mc- Caughn.

The present school building is a two-story brick building, and was erected in 1866. It has five departments. Edwin A. Hoyt was the first principal in this building; and the first who officiated as assistants were Misses Lydia A. Carter, Siddie, Nance and Cynthia C. Lacey. Since then the principals have been: Rev. Mr. Cole, C. W. Anderson, D. B. Van Syckle, Will L. Martin, J. S. Dervey, Hiram Force, C. H. Tatman, David Logan, and J. W. Hudson. Among the assistants who have taught in this building are: Mises Belle Troutt, Sallie C. Welch, Lizzie Welch, Pamelia Lacey, Alice Baugh, Lucy Anderson, Sophia Thon, and Messrs. John F. Showalter, George French, Charles McCubben, John W. White, G. W. Stotsenburg, and Richard Thatcher.

The present (1879) - Frank M. Harris, principal. Assistants: Miss Nan¬ nie C. Anderson, Mrs. R. W. Ridgeway, Miss F. C. Chase, and Miss Ella McCourtney.

Present Commercial Interests Dry Goods And General Stores

Harry Smith; G. E. Auglen; Skuer <fc Tuttle; N. R. Wheat; Monroe Kustim, who also makes the trade in custom-made clothing a specialty; Jonas Thon, also dealer in boots and shoes; Hiram Campbell, and W. L. Alden.

Millinery Store

Egypt Mills, by Coffey, Harrison & Co.; Ashley Mills, by P. W. Mc¬ Nail ; Pearl Mills, by Smith & Post A. T. Coleman; James Bell represent the Lumber trade.

City Government

At a meeting of Master Masons of Rich view and vicinity, on the 31st day of July, 1854, Dr. J. M. Lucas presented a dispensation empowering them to work as a Lodge of Master Masons, under the name of Clay Lodge, No. 153. J. W. Lucas was W. M.; George T. Hoke, S. W.; Dr. H. B. Lucas, J. W.

In the fall of 1857 the lodge was removed to Ashley, and its meetings have been held there since. Dr. J. M. Lucas, the first W. M., served con¬ tinuously in that capacity until 1860. Those that have been elected since that time are here given in the order of their election: A. M. Cundiff, James P. Haynes, Ed. C. Pace, James W. Hudson, Gen. C. Houghtaling, J. P. M. Harrison, W. M. Walker, Jonas Thon and Dr. David Berry.

Grant Lodge, at Richview, and Dubois Lodge, at Dubois, have been or¬ ganized, and are composed largely of a membership taken from Clay Lodge and of territory formerly belonging thereto.

Clay Lodge has in the past few years been called to plant the " sprig of Acacia " over the last resting-place of some of her prominent members; among them, Judge W. J. Stephenson, Dr. E. T. Ridgeway, John L. Post, John L. McBride, and William Goodaker.

Ashley Chapter 141 Royal Arch Masons

The Chapter has a pleasant hall; they occupy the same hall as the Blue Lodge, and are now in a flour ishing condition. Being out of debt and with little expenses, there is no reason why Ashley Chapter should not become the leading chapter in this part of the State.

Ashley Lodge No. 302 I. O. O. F.

was instituted on the 25th of March, 1862. Charter members are: G. M. Alden, W. D. Mitchell, W. L. Alden, L. J. Martin, J. Thon, W. D. Frost and R. Wheelis, all of whom are living.