ASHTON, T. H.

ASHTON, BAKER, ROMAN

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 3/28/2020 at 00:04:04

T. H. ASHTON is a dealer in general merchandise at Nira, his stock consisting of dry-goods, hats and caps, boots and shoes, clothing, groceries and queensware. He was born Jan. 28, 1850, in the town of Bainbridge, Lancaster County, Pa., and is the son of John and Frances (Baker) Ashton, both also natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a tailor by trade, and followed that occupation until his health failed, and then lived a retired life. The family moved from Pennsylvania in the spring of 1872, to Columbus City, Iowa, where the father bought a farm near the city, and remained there till the spring of 1874, and then bought eighty and one-half acres of land in Jefferson County, to which they moved in the same year. Our subject took charge of the farm until the death of his father. John Ashton was a charitable man, a devoted member of the Church of God, taking an active part in all Church work as far as his health would permit.

The subject of this sketch was an only child, and received his education in the common schools of his native town in Pennsylvania. After coming West he lived with his parents on the farm until he embarked in the general merchandise business under the firm name of Baker & Ashton, in South English, Keokuk Co., Iowa, in the fall of 1880. He continued at this business until the spring of 1881, when by mutual consent the partnership was dissolved, and in June of that year young Ashton came to Nira and established himself in the general merchandise trade at that place, where he since continued to reside. He carries a stock of about $5,000 worth of goods, and by close attention to business and honest dealing, he has built up a large trade and possesses the confidence of the entire community. His mother is still living, at the age of sixty-two years and makes her home with him at Nira. She is a devoted member of the Church of God.

Mr. Ashton was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Roman, the daughter of John and Mary Roman, and of this union there is one child, born Aug. 11, 1887. Mrs. Ashton is a member of the Catholic Church; Mr. Ashton is a member of the I.O.O.F.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of T. H. Ashton, pages 248-249.