U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Ashburn, George W. (1851-1929) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 837-839, GEORGE W. ASHBURN. The Ashburn family, of Preston county, is of Scotch-Irish descent. William, the grandfather, went from Greene county, Pennsylvania, to Cook county, Illinois, when a little boy. His parents settled on the Wabash Railroad, about twelve miles from Chicago, which place and settlement became known as Ashburn. His children were Jessie, William, Joseph and Aaron, and all became educated people. William was a teacher twenty-one years in Doddridge county, West Virginia. He was also a member of the State Legislature at one time. Aaron came to West Virginia in 1830 and settled on the Jacob Moody farm, near Reedsville. This tract of land was taken up by William Menear from a patent in 1783, when John Page was governor. It was a large tract, originally covering 2,000 acres. Menear sold his portion to Moody for a cow and an old flintlock musket. This was the Ashburn homestead, which for beauty of situation, fertility of soil and picturesque beauty is hardly equaled in Preston county. Aaron Ashburn was a man of considerable force and character. He was born January 1, 1807, and died November 24, 1861. It fell to his lot, as a frontiersman, to blaze the pioneer way through Preston county in several particulars. He was a carpenter, as well as a farmer, and put up the first frame house in the county. This was his own dwelling- house, erected in 1841. The next year he built his frame barn. In those days, when deer and other game were plenty, skill in marksmanship was one of the considered excellencies of pioneer life, and it is said of Aaron Ashburn that his rifle was the most unerring of any that could be found in West Virginia. It was not difficult for him to hit the center of the mark one hundred yards distant. Some of his exploits in the chase equalled those of Meshach Browning, an account of which may be found in another part of this work. Mr. Ashburn was also a very successful crier at public sales. His services as an auctioneer were in great demand. It was on a return trip from an auction sale that he was killed by being thrown from his horse. The horse was a vicious animal, and after throwing his rider bit off his hand, and in this condition he was found, having bled to death. Mr. Aaron Ashburn married Hannah Coleman. She was the daughter of Elijah Coleman, who lived on Carter's Run, near Winchester, Virginia, and was born on Lincoln's birthday. Her marriage to Mr. Ashburn took place before 1830. To them were born four boys and three girls, namely: (1) William, born in 1830, died in Parkersburg, West Virginia, having been burned to death in a big mill. (2) Ephraim distinguished himself as a veteran soldier in the late Civil War. Afterwards he became one of General Custer's staff officers on the Western plains. His death took place at Fort Casper, December 6, 1866. While in the South he was captured and sent to Andersonville prison, but in the exchange of officers was released. He was orderly sergeant of his company. (3) Enos, whose recent death, April 14, 1902, in Reedsville, is well remembered. Pie married Phoebe Parks and lived on the old Ashburn homestead, where he raised three children. His wife died in 1903. He was a very successful farmer and a philanthropist. The lot on which the present school building now stands was given by Enos Ashburn to the village. (4) James, the next son, was also a soldier in the late war with the South. He enlisted in the 14th West Virginia Infantry in 1862; was wounded at the battle of Cedar Creek, in that renowned raid of Sheridan, and died March 2, 1866. July 4, 1865, he married Elizabeth Dill. He died after an amputation of his leg. (5) Louisiana, the oldest daughter of Aaron Ashburn, married George Spurgeon, and lives in Dallas, Texas. (6) Elizabeth married Miles H. Orr, and lives at Masontown. (7) Amanda married Simon Snyder, They had three boys and five girls. She is dead. He lives in Morgantown. (8) Catherine married Daniel Orr, and they have four children. They live at Independence. (9) George Washington Ashburn, the subject of this sketch, was born August 28, 1851. His education was obtained in the district school. He is a great reader, is a careful observer, and is well informed and an intelligent citizen of the great commonwealth. As an agriculturist, his attentions have been confined to farming, which he has conducted on a scientific basis. As a breeder of fine stock, the record made is an enviable one. Of cattle, the Angus and Hereford blood predominate; hogs are of the Polland China breed; chickens, Rhode Island Reds; sheep are Shropshire; while some of the finest specimens of draught horses in the state are found in his stables. Moody Bliss Auburn owns two heavy jet blacks, each weighing 1,700 pounds and over. They are very high spirited, once ugly, vicious, but now docile as lambs. The writer saw Mr. Ashburn plowing corn without lines. The team is as responsive to the word of command as an affectionate child is to its mother, proving that by patience and kindness any horse can be brought under subjection by his master. Mr. Ashburn has proven himself a master tamer of horses, equal to Rarey, the great horse- tamer. Mr. George W. Ashburn married Jane Jenkins in 1879. She was born February 14, 1851. By this marriage Mary Ellen, their first child, was born July 3, 1879. She married Amos Guseman, of Reedsville. Their children are: Ruth, Freda and Thelma. He is a carpenter. (2) Moody Bliss was born February 2, 18__. He married Gertrude Ellen Zinn. Their children are Edward Warren, Mary Syrena and Frederick Loar. Being the only son, Moody Bliss lives with his parents and is in charge of the farm. He and his family are members of the Methodist Church and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias also. (3) Lelia Dortha, married A. J. Clarkson in 1906, and lives in Hardy county. South Dakota. They have one child, Evan. Mr. Clarkson is a large landowner, a great sheep raiser, and a wool grower, and nearly a millionaire, though but a few years since he started in life with only $500. Recognized as a man of considerable force and character, he has been made Commissioner of his county. (4) Bessie Sybell, the next daughter, married S. B. Clarkson, a cousin of A. J. Clarkson. He is a man also of considerable force of character. They were married in 1906. He was a government clerk at first, and afterwards helped to survey the Bellefouche Valley. They have two children. Flossie Gertrude married George Stone in 1908. They came from Colorado but recently and settled near Reedsville. They have a beautiful home and two bright children, Kenneth and Agnus Capitolina Jane. Their farm is near Reedsville, having been a part of the old Menear tract, and was bought in 1902. The original homestead of the Ashburns was erected in 1841. It was torn down in 1910. The present house was built in 1861. The farm is well adapted for grazing, and dealing in stock is carried on somewhat extensively. Mr. Ashburn and his son, Moody Bliss, have shipped eighteen droves of cattle to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, alone. --------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #10522 FULL-NAME: George Washington Ashburn BIRTH-DATE: August 28, 1850 BIRTH-PLACE: Reedsville, Preston Co. DEATH-DATE: July 28, 1929 DEATH-PLACE: Reedsville, Valley District, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widowed (Lucinda Jane Jenkins) OCCUPATION: retired 8 years, Farmer FATHER: Aaron Ashburn (born in Harrisburg, Pa.) MOTHER: Hanna Coleman (born in Winchester, Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Cerebral Apoplexy, sudden INFORMANT: M. B. Ashburn (of Reedsville, W.Va.) BURIAL: Reedsville Cemetery --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------