Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 330
W. E. ASHTON, Treasurer and Secretary of the Ashton Flour and Feed Company of Muscatine, was born in the city of London, Province of Ontario, Canada, March 12, 1848, and is a son of George W. and Mary ( Madifer ) Ashton. HIs parents were of English birth, who had settled in Canada in early life, where they resided until 1858, when, with their children, they emigrated to the United States, and settled in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa, where they now reside.

The subject of this sketch accompanied his parents from Canada to Iowa, spent eleven years on a farm in Johnson County, and in 1869 removed to Muscatine County, where he engaged in farming until 1876, when he formed a partnership with H. P. Jones and C. Walton in the milling business, under the firm name of Ashton, Jones & Walton. They rented the pioneer flour and feed mill of the city of Muscatine, which is said to have been built by W. T. Kirk, in the early settlement of the town. They carried on business successfully as a private firm until 1883, when the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, after which Mr. Ashton took his brother Harry M. into partnership, and conducted the business under the name of W. E. Ashton & Bro. until January, 1887, when they joined with others in incorporating the present Ashton Flour and Feed Company, of which William Huttig is President, and W. E. Ashton, Secretary and Treasurer. This company has a complete establishment, and does an annual business amounting to $30,000.

Mr. Ashton was married at Muscatine, on the 31st of January,1880, to Miss Mary Springer, daughter of George Springer. She was born in Muscatine County, where her parents were among the early settlers. Two children have been born to them, a son and a daughter, Glen W., and Florence I. Mrs. Ashton is a member of the Baptist Church, and is activelt identified with the religious interests of the city. Politically, Mr. Ashton is a Republican, and has served as a member of the Muscatine City Council. He is a member of Muscatine Lodge No. 10 A.O.U.W., and of Muscatine Camp No. 106, M. W. of A. One of the active business men of Muscatine, Mr. Ashton is ever ready to do his part in advancing the interests of his adopted City.

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