THOMPSON D. ASHBY
For
over half a century Thompson D. Ashby has been a resident of
Otter Creek township, Lucas county, and for the past
thirty-four years he has been a successful agriculturist,
stock-raiser and shipper of live stock. A man of acute
observation, he has been an interested witness of the changes
that have occurred here, and there is hardly another person in
the community who can so readily recall all the events that
have brought about the present prosperous conditions. He is an
interesting conversationalist, who in ready flow of language
can give a complete picture of the last forty years of the
county’s history, being especially well acquainted with that
part concerning western Lucas county.
Born
in Montgomery county, Indiana, on April 8, 1854, Thompson D.
Ashby accompanied his parents on their overland trip to Iowa,
starting on April 10, 1861, and reaching Otter Creek township
May 3d of that year. Both
of his parents have passed away. The father, William H. Ashby, a native
of Kentucky, was born December, 1821, dying in Otter Creek
township on April 26, 1875; and the mother, Margaretta (Boyer)
Ashby, a native of Pennsylvania, born November 28, 1823, died
in the same township on December 30, 1902, in her
seventy-ninth year. The
latter became a resident of Indiana when a small girl,
removing to that state with her parents. In the family of
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Ashby were nine children: Mrs. Elizabeth L.
Yenawine, born August 10, 1846, and died in Illinois in March,
1872; Mrs. Mary C. Long, born December 18, 1848, residing at
Twin Falls, Idaho; A. C., born July 21, 1850, a resident of
New Market, Tennessee; John B., who was born June 7, 1852 and
died in 1870; Thompson D., our subject; Newton B., born July
7, 1856, a resident of Des Moines, this state and for eight
years United States consul to Ireland, with residence in
Dublin, Ireland, being appointed by President Grover
Cleveland; George Lucky, born December 18, 1858, residing at
St. Paul, Texas; Lewis S., born September 7, 1861, engaged in
general merchandising at Norwood, Iowa; and William E., born
February 11, 1864, a resident of Des Moines, where he is
interested in the telephone business, with which he formerly
was connected in Chariton.
The seven oldest children of the family were born in
Indiana and the remaining two in Lucas county, Iowa.
Thompson D. Ashby was reared under the parental roof and received such educational advantages as the vicinity afforded, there being but few pupils in the community in the early days when he went to school. At that time the post office was still at Tallahoma and most of the trading had to be done at that place and Chariton. As yet no railroads traversed this section. He early became acquainted with agricultural work, and acquiring the thorough methods of his father laid the foundation of his latter day success. He now owns a valuable farm of one hundred and twenty acres of section 26, Otter Creek township, under high cultivation and well improved. All modern equipments and machinery can be found upon the home place. His barns and outbuildings are kept in good repair and his residence is comfortable and commodious. For the past thirty-four years he has divided his attention between farming, stock-raising and the shipping of live stock, and from these occupations has received gratifying returns.
On March 18, 1880, Mr. Ashby was married to Miss Lel L. Pfrimmer, who was born in Indiana on November 10, 1856. Her father George Pfrimmer was born in France on February 19, 1825, and still makes his home with Mrs. Ashby, having passed his eighty-eighth birthday. Her mother, Mrs. Lydia Ann Pfrimmer, who was born in Indiana in 1829, died in Otter Creek township, this county, June 21, 1900. In their family were five children: Charles W., born in 1846, who resides in Mena, Arkansas; Samuel, deceased; Francis M., born in 1850, who resides in Stratton, Nebraska, where for a number of years he served as postmaster; Mrs. Thompson D. Ashby; and A. C., a resident of Otter Creek township. To Mr. and Mrs. Ashby were born nine children, all of whom are living: Dr. Mary Edith, born March 13, 1881, who practices osteopathy in Texas; Mrs. Iola L. Primm, born November 8, 1882, residing in Otter Creek township; Thompson D., born September 16, 1884, a resident of St. Paul, Texas; George E., born September 15, 1886, residing in Lucas county; Nina M., born April 2, 1889, a school teacher of Lucas county; Lydia M., born May 30, 1891, teaching school in her home district; William H., born December 29, 1893, also teaching school in his native county; Charles F., born April 15, 1896, at home; and Albert Olyn, born December 16, 1899, attending school in the vicinity. All of the children received the best educational advantages. Edith and Nina attended school at Bloomfield and Thompson D., Jr., and George attended Simpson College at Indianola, while Lydia took a course at the Chariton high school.
Thompson D. Ashby preserves independence in regard to political matters and votes for whatever candidate and measure he considers of greatest benefit under the circumstances. He has efficiently filled the office of assessor of Otter Creek township, and fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of Norwood Lodge, No. 490, and is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America as a member of Camp No. 5040 of Norwood. A man well read and well informed, Mr. Ashby is highly esteemed in his community, not only for his material attainments, but for his intellectual accomplishments. He possesses an extensive knowledge on a great range of subjects and is acquainted with the best literature of the present and the past. Of high qualities of character, he is a man who receives the confidence and good will of all who know him and his standing is high in the community, where he has not only been a witness of the changes that have occurred, but a helpful and cooperant factor in the general advancement.