For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 54
FRANK ASHCRAFT. Frank Ashcraft, a native of Muscatine and for nearly forty years connected with its business interests, is today one of the best known men in Muscatine county. He was born July 15, 1852, and is a son of Thomas and Mary A. ( Dean ) Ashcraft, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in Indiana. The father was a mechanic and worked principally at carpentering. He came to Iowa in 1849 and settled in Muscatine, where he spent the remainder of his life except six years which he passed in Davenport. He died in 1895 at the age of seventy-one years, his wife having preceded him in 1881, when she was forty-nine years old. They were both members of the Methodist church.Joseph Ashcraft, the paternal grandfather, was also a native of Ohio. He was a farmer and was twice married, his first wife being Mary Reddington, who died in her young womanhood. She was the mother of one child, Thomas. By his second marriage he became the father of five sons. He lived until he was over eighty years of age, departing this life on a farm near Cincinnati. The maternal grandfather was Edward Dean, who was born in Ohio. He removed to Indiana and later settled at Henderson, near Galesburg, Illinois, where both died over ninety years old. There were ten children in their family, Charles, William, Thomas, Daniel, John, Nancy, Sarah, Eliza, Mary and Lavina. It is a remarkable fact that five brothers and four brothers -in-law of this family were soldiers in the Civil war and went with Sherman on his march to the sea. To Thomas and Mary A. Ashcraft ten children were born, five of whom grew to maturity: Edward, deceased; Frank; Alvah, of Little Falls, Minnesota; Harry, of Muscatine; and Jennie , now Mrs. Clark, living near Wahpeton, North Dakota.
Frank Ashcraft was educated in the public schools of Muscatine and received his home training under circumstances that were highly favorable for a successful career. After laying aside his text-books he became shipping clerk in the lumberyard of Chambers Brothers, continuing with the firm until 1878, when he accepted a position in similar capacity with the Musser Lumber Company and remained in that position from 1881 until the company went out of business. He then became identified with Kaiser Brothers as contractor and was with Roach & Musser until 1905, when he engaged in the plumbing business on his own account. For the past two years he has been dealing extensively in engine supplies and specialities and has made quite a success in this line. He is also a director in the Mira Hershey Lumber Company.
On the 30th of May, 1878, Mr. Ashcraft was united in marriage to Miss Ella Fisher and two children blessed that union, Linn and Ida, the former of whom died when one year old. Ida became the wife of Joseph A. Davidson, of Muscatine, and is the mother of two children, Joseph and William S. Mrs. Ashcraft having been called away in February, 1884, our subject was a second time married, the lady of his choice being Miss Clara Theressa Stevens, a native of Rippey, Greene county, Iowa, and a daughter of Alonzo C. and Sarah E. ( Clark ) Stevens. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens were early settlers in Muscatine. Mr. Stevens was a soldier in the Civil war. There were three children in the family: Ella B., now the wife of Dr. Turner, of Pasadena, California; Addie, the wife of John M. Culver, of Canada; and Clara Theressa, now Mrs. Ashcraft. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ashcraft, Lee R., who married Anna Wilson and is now in the employ of the Batterson Novelty Company.
Mr Ashcraft is not identified with any religious organization but his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a prominent worker in the Masonic order, holding membership in Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Washington Chapter, No.4, R. A. M.; and De Molay Commandery, No. 1, K. T., and also belongs to Muscatine Homestead, No. 336, of the Yeomen of America. Politically he affiliates with the republican party and is an earnest advocate of its principles. He served as alderman of the third ward for two years and was a member of the city council, when the bill for paving and sewerage of the city was introduced and passed, being very active in its promotion. He was contributor to the building of the first street railway in Muscatine and was on the building committee that erected the high school and two other city buildings. He served as school director for seven years and one year as chief of police, and in the discharge of his various duties, public and private, he has exercised a judgment and discrimination that have gained for him the respect of the entire community.
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