JACOB ASH, JR.

ASH, RAVER, NOBLE, CRANE, BURKE, IRVIN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 9/29/2019 at 15:24:24

JACOB ASH, JR. - Jacob Ash was born June 25, 1831, in Wayne County, Ohio, and was the eighth of eleven children. His parents were Jacob Ash and Mary Raver, who were both natives of Pennsylvania. They were farmers by occupation. The mother of Jacob was a woman distinguished for piety, and interest in the welfare of her children. The family on both sides were natives of America for some generations back, and although it is not on record that they all participated in the early struggle of the country for independence, it will be safe to assume that they bore and acted their part with patriotism and valor. The subject of this sketch was early inured to labor, and received but a moderate common-school education. About the year 1840, his father moved with his family from Ohio to Kosciusko County, Ind., where he resided as a farmer for the space of about four years. He then moved to Newton County Ind., where his wife, the mother of Jacob, died, lamented by all who knew her on account of her piety and moral worth. He lived in Newton County, Ind., for about twenty years, and then moved to Iowa, and resides now in Dallas City. On the ninth day of March, in the spring of 1850, our subject left the parentage in Indiana, and came to Fort Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, where he resided for two years engaged at his trade as a machinist. On the 31st date of August, in Fort Des Moines, Mr. Ash was united in marriage to Margaret J. Noble, who was a native of Pennsylvania. Her parents were John Noble and Elizabeth Crane, who were farmers in Huntington county, Pennsylvania, and people remarkable for piety and intelligence. She was born on the 20th day of March, 1832. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Ash came to Keokuk, where he was employed as a machinist for the space of about eight months. He then moved to Fort Madison, and was employed in steam machinery there for two years. He then went to Alba, Monroe County, Iowa, where he remained engaged at his trade for a space of five years. From Alba he removed back to Fort Madison, where he remained till 1862, when he renounced his trade and entered the service of his country to put down the rebellion, as Corporal of Company I, Thirtieth Iowa Infantry. He was in the army about eight months, when he was honorably discharged on account of a wound received in the battle of Arkansas-Post. He then returned to Fort Madison, and crippled from the wound received in the cause of his country, remained there about one year, when he moved on his farm in section 12, Green Bay Township, where he has since resided, engaged as a farmer, and where most likely he will pass the balance of his days. Mr. and Mrs. Ash are the parents of six children, five of whom are living. They are people very much respected, and take great interest in the welfare of their children. Politically, Mr. Ash is a Republican. He is enthusiastic in his admiration of the principles, that initiated by the Whigs, and carried out by the Republicans, have made the country what it is. It will be in taste to remark here that although Mr. Ash is not a member of any church, he is nevertheless, a respecter of all religious sects, and has always led a temperate and moral life. Mrs. Ash is a pious woman, and has been for seventeen years a devout member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Ash is a pleasant and unassuming man socially, and belongs to the secret order of Odd Fellows, for which he entertains the greatest respect. Mr. Ash’s experience in the army if the Union during the slave-holders’ rebellion may be briefly summed up as follows: He enlisted the 22d August in 1862, was sworn into the service on the 4th September, 1862, as a Corporal of company I, Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, then stationed at Keokuk, Lee County. On the 14th November he accompanied his regiment to St. Louis, Mo. After remaining in camp there one week, his regiment went to Helena, Ark. After remaining there about one month they went to Vicksburg. He was in the bloody battles before that place which soon followed, but escaped unhurt. His regiment was then ordered up the White River to Arkansas Post. It immediately went into the fight there on the eleventh of January, and on the same day he received the wound, which though a most honorable scar, has impaired his physical powers, that he will probably never entirely recover his former strength. It should however be a memory to be forever cherished by his family, that their father was wounded in the fight for his country on the field of battle. After being wounded he was taken to the field hospital, from which he was moved to the Memphis, Tenn. Hospital, where, after languishing for some time, on account of inability for service, he received an honorable discharge from the service, and was placed on the pension list of crippled soldiers. He has drawn his pension ever since. His discharge reads as follows: To all whom it may concern: Know ye, that Jacob Ash, Corporal of Captain Uley Burke’s Company I, Thirtieth Regiment Iowa Infantry Volunteers, who was enrolled on the 4th day of September, 1862, to serve three years, or during the war, is hereby discharged from service of the United States this 3rd day of April, 1863, at Memphis, Tenn., by reason of Surgeon's certificate. Said Jacob Ash was born in Wayne County, in the State of Ohio, is thirty-one years of age, five feet, nine inches high, light complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation when enrolled an engineer. Given at Memphis, Tenn., this 3rd day if April, 1863. J. D. Irvin, Surgeon U. S. A.

Source:
Illustrated Historical ATLAS of Lee County, IOWA
A. T. Andreas
Chicago, ILL.
1874

Transcription by Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer