Chapter 1. Elodewick Ash  

My Great-Great Grandfather

Elodewick Ash's Record of Marriages:

 First Marriage to Lucinda Roller

Children of Elodewick & Lucy (Roller) ASH

Husband: Eledowick Ash

Born: 09 Jun 1820        in:Virginia [1860 census Madison County AR]

Married: 10 Dec 1836              in:Hawkins Co., Tenn.

Died: 22 Dec 1882

Other Spouses: Sarah Weston

Lucinda Roller Wife:

Born: 1814 in: Tenn.

Died: Aft. 1853

Father: John (Johannes Jr) Roller

Mother: Montelany Trorobaugh

 

CHILDREN

1 Harriet Ash

Born: 1837

Married: 18 Sep 1853 in: Barry County, Missouri

Spouse: George W. Erwin

 

2 Jacob "Jack" Ash

Born: 20 Mar 1839 in: Virginia

Died: 23 Jan 1929

Married: 02 Mar 1860

Spouse: Nellie Henry

Married: Aug 1905

Spouse: Sarah Jane Wilber, Poends, Ash

 

3 William B. Ash

Born: 1840 in: Arkansas

Married:

Mary M. ? Spouse:

1860 Married:

Sarah J. Wilber Spouse:

 

4 Clabourn Ash

Born: 23 Apr 1843  in: Benton County, Arkansas

Died: 10 Apr 1924 in: Eureka Springs, AR, Carroll County, Cedar Township

Married: 16 Aug 1859 in: Gaskins, AR (by Rev. William Reed)

Mary Ann Gaskins Spouse:

06 Nov 1919 Married:

Mary [? Maiden] Gaskins Spouse:

 

5 Betsy A. Ash

Born: 1844 in: Arkansas

 

6 Irvin Ash

Born: 25 Oct 1844 Near Huntsville, Madison Co., Ark.

Died: 02 Feb 1925 in: Barry County, MO

Married: 26 Mar 1866

Spouse: Cynthia Benham

Married: 08 Apr 1875 in: Galena, Stone County, MO

Spouse: Martha Ruthie Stephens

Married: 03 Jul 1887 in: Galena, Stone County, Missouri at home of Oliver Gardner

Spouse: Sarah Frances Maples

 

7 Elvia C. "Elza" Ash

Born: 1847 in: Arkansas

 

8 Hugh Ash

Born: 1848 in: Arkansas

Died: Bef. 1850

 

9 Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ash

Born: 1850 in: Arkansas

 

10 Rebecca Ash

Born: 1853 in: Arkansas

 

Second Marriage to Sarah Weston

Children of Elodewick & Sarah (WESTON) ASH

ASH,      Adolim                    b. 1856

              G. Washington         b. 1858      Spouse: Mary A. UNKNOWN

              Sylvenous                 b. 1859                    Hannah HENTRY

              Samuel                      b. 1862

              Andrew Hurd            b. 1865                    Martha Elizabeth LEWIS

              Ezelectus [Eli W.]     b. 1867

              Franklin                     b. 1869

 Photos of the Tombstones of Elodewick Ash and his two wives:

Elodewick Ash in Census Records:

Remember that when Census Records were written the names were spelled the way they sounded to the person who was writing the information.  Names and spelling of names will vary considerably from time to time.

The given name of Elodewick Ash is spelled differently in different census records.  Example:

1850 it is Lodowic Ash age 33

1860        Elodwick Ash age 40

1870        Edrok Ash age 52

1880        E. W. Ash age  62

Ages of family members are not consistent in the different census records.  Therefore, it is difficult to determine correct dates of birth.

1850 Census Record   

1860 Census Record  

1870 Census Record of Ash_Edrok

 1880 Census Record of Ash_E.W.

1880 United States Census Record of Elodewick Ash

Search Performed at:

Date of Search: Aug 1980              Microfilm Copy Roll # 39       

Prepared by:  Betty Mae Daniel

Dwelling #: 

Family #:  283

Date of Enumeration:

Place of Enumeration: Arkansas                     Carroll County                      Clefty Township

Sir Name:                      Color /Sex/ Age:     Relationship :            Occupation:              R?   W?         B.P. /  BP F. / BP M.:       

1.  ASH         E. W.       W     M    62       Head                      Farmer                       no   no           VA       ?         ?                                                                   

2.                  Sarah        W     F      49       Wife                                                          no   no           VA     VA    VA

3.                  Salvena      W    M      19       son                      work farm                                          Ark.    VA   VA

4.                  Andrew       W    M      16       son                                                                                  Ark.    VA   VA

5.                   Eli W.        W    M      14       son                                                                                    Ark.    VA   VA

6.                   Franklin      W   M       12      son                                                                                    Ark.    VA   VA

7.                   Thomas       W   M        7      son                                                                                    Ark.    VA   VA

8.                   Emarene       W   F         7      dau                                                                                     Ark.    VA   VA

Family #:  284

9.                  John W.         W    M      18    g. son                       work farm                                        Ark.   MO   MO

10.                Liza                W    F        36    s. dau                                                                                  MO     VA    VA

11.                Ellen F.          W    F          8    s. dau                                                                                 Ark       VA    VA

Group Photo including Elodewick's Nephew, Alexander ASH

This Photo was taken March 26, 1911.

Alexander is son of Daniel Ash who is believed to be a brother of Elodewick Ash.

Elodewick's Children by Sarah Weston:

Children of Elodewick & Sarah (Weston) ASH:

ASH,   Adolim                        b. 1856

            G. Washington           b. 1858            Spouse: Mary A. UNKNOWN

            Sylvenous                   b. 1859                             Hannah HENTRY

            Samuel                        b. 1862                           

            Andrew Hurd             b. 1865                             Martha Elizabeth LEWIS

            Ezelectus [Eli W.]     b. 1867

            Franklin                     b. 1869           

Photo of Sylvenous ASH

Sylvenous "Vean" Ash is thwe third child of Elodewick and Sarah (WESTON) ASH.

Sylvenous married Hanah Henry.

Copy of photo of Andrew Hurd ASH

Andrew "Andy" Hurd ASH 23 Nov 1865--03 Jan 1950

And Martha "Mattie" Elizabeth Lewis ASH 25 Feb 1873--18 Feb 1957.

Andrew Hurd ASH is son of Laudewick & Sarah (Weston) Ash.

Andy and Mattie are buried in Olympus Cemetery, Grove OK.

Elodewick's Children by Lucinda Roller:

ASH,   Harriet            b. 1837                        M: George W. ERWIN 18 Sep 1853, Barry County MO

            Jacob “Jack” b. 20 Mar 1839            M: Nellie HENRY 02 Mar 1860

                                    d. 23 Jan 1929             M: Sarah Jane WILBER, Poends, Ash in Aug 1905

            William B.       b. 1840 in AR              M : Mary M. UNKNOWN

                                                                        M: Sarah J. WILBER in 1860

            Clabourn         b. 23 Apr 1843 in Benton County AR

                                    d. 10 Apr 1924 in Eureka Springs, AR, Carroll County, Cedar Township

                                                                        M: Mary Ann GASKINS 16 Aug 1859 in Gaskins AR

                                                                        M: Mary UNKNOWN 06 Nov 1919

            Betsy A.          b. 1844 in Arkansas

            Irvin                b. 25 Oct 1844 in Madison County AR in or near Huntsville

                                    d. 02 Feb 1925 in Barry County MO

                                                                        M: 1, Cynthia BENHAM 26 Mar 1866

                                                                        M: 2, Martha Ruthie STEPHENS 08 Apr 1875 Stone County MO

                                                                        M: 3, Sarah Frances MAPLES 03 Jul 1887 Stone County MO at

                                                                                    Home of Oliver Gardner

ASH,   Elvia C. “Elza”                          b. 1847 in AR

            Hugh                                           b. 1848 in AR

                                                                d. Bef 1850

            Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie”        b. 1850 in AR

            Rebecca                                     b. 1853 in AR

Photo of Harriet (ASH) Erwin and Daughters

Harriet was daughter of Elodewick Ash & Lucinda Roller.

Photo of Jacob Ash Family

Jacob Ash is son of Elodewick & Lucinda (Roller) ASH

Photo of General Jackson Ash & Family

General Jackson Ash is son of Jacob Ash

Photo of Allen Ash Family

Allen Ash is son of Jacob Ash

Clabe Ash was another son of Elodewick & Lucinda (Roller) Ash

John Gaskins [The Great Bear Hunter] was Clabe's Father-In-Law.

In August of 1980 I saw a beautiful painting of John Gaskins housed then at Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Historical Mueseum.

Photo of Betsy Ann Ash and Irvin Ash

Children of Elodewick & Lucinda (Roller) ASH

Chapter 2. Irvin Ash

My Great Grandfather

Marriage First to Cynthia BENHAM

Marriage Second to Ruthia STEPHENS

 Marriage Third to Sarah Frances MAPLES

Sarah Maples

A Biographical Sketch of Irvin Ash

Compiled by Betty Mae (Daniel) Coyne

It was early afternoon in mid-July, too hot to be out in the scorching sun especially for Irvin Ash.  So, he sat in an old rocking chair somewhere in the shade and rocked a child while the mother attended to her duties of caring for the rest of the family.  “Rock-O-Bay-bee…” His voice rang out so clear and loud the neighbors over the hill stopped to listen to “Grandpap” Ash’s lullaby.[1]  “Rock-O-Bay-bee…” he continued glancing over his shoulder to see who had tapped it.  It was Pearl Benham “Sweet” they called her and appropriately so.  Pearl Benham was a niece of Irvin’s first wife Cynthia Benham Ash.  “Uncle Irv,” said Sweet, “What happened to your finger?  Why is it gone?”  “That one?” he asked, holding up his left hand so as to give her a full view of it.  The middle finger was off between the first and second joints.  “Well,” said he, “I caught a possum and was holdin’ her by the tail and she just reached up her head and bit off my finger!”  With that he gave that same hearty laugh that Sweet knew so well meant she could discount 99% of his tale as tall and not for real.  “Hold on there white man!” she said, as she hurried off to join the other kids at play.[2]  “Rock-O-Bay-bee…” Irvin resumed his lullaby glancing down at the child who was already asleep, he saw his hand with the missing finger.  “Kids are curious about such things” he said to himself.  And in his mind he recalled his experiences of Civil War days.

Just a young man, he was, and living in Carroll County, Arkansas when the war began.[3]  Sixteen or maybe seventeen (In those days it was not a major concern to keep close track of one’s age).  But, he remembered well the fall of 1862 when he, his brother Clabe, James Gaskins and John Gaskins (the great bear hunter)[4] had “arranged to go to Springfield or to Ozark, Missouri to join the Union Army.”[5]  However, when the time came to go, “The times was so squally,” as Clabe would say, and the Confederates were all through the country.  Living some two miles away[6] Clabe and the Gaskins apparently thought it too risky to go for Irvin so they slipped away in the night without him.[7] 

War department records show that Irvin Ash enlisted 7 August 1862 at Keetsville, Missouri as private in Capt. Peevey’s Co. B. 11^th (also called 2 & 8) Missouri Infantry, Confederate States Army.  That he is reported present on the roll to Oct 31, 1862 and received $50 bounty for re-enlisting.  Roll from Feb 28, 1863—Apr 30, 1863, next on file, present.  July 28, 1863, left sick at Des Arc, Arkansas.  “Wounded at Helena, Arkansas….”  Aug 31, 1863, absent.

Force of circumstance, it was, and not his own free will that landed Irvin Ash in the CSA.[8] 

His step-mother, Sarah (Weston) Ash, at age 75 years, described the “circumstance” of his forced service in the CSA:  “…The Confederates came to her home and took him away against his will.  They got him to go with them as a pilot to show them the way and never let him return but forced him into their service.  They kept him for about ten months when he came home wounded and the Federal Army came along and took him prisoner and he willingly and anxiously joined the Federal Army….”[9] 

It was around Oct 20, 1862, after Clabe and the Gaskins men left for the Union Army that Irvin enlisted in Colonel Burnes Regt., Capt. Joseph Peevey’s Co.[10] 

What happened to his missing finger?  “Why is it gone?” Pearl Benham had asked.  On the Fourth of July 1863, at the defense of Helena, Arkansas, he received—not a possum bite as he liked to tell the kids, but a gunshot wound (as he told Dr. L. Henson) in the middle finger of his left hand and afterward had the wounded finger amputated “because he did not want to carry a wound inflicted by a Union soldier whom he considered his friend….”[11] 

Besides having his left middle finger off at the second joint, he was thrown from a horse in May 1877 and “struck the stump of his finger against the hard road, dislocating a joint from which hurt it never thoroughly recovered.”[12]  On his right hand, the index finger was stiff in the two last joints caused from blood poison which resulted from a cut with a fish’s tooth around the 20th of January 1887.[13]  Hands—the story of one’s life is often told by the appearance of them!

Other physical misfortunes of past days had left their mark on Irvin Ash.  Again, we look back into his experiences of Civil War days.  Capt. George W. Moore’s command was on a scout near the Arkansas line when Irvin Ash came to him to volunteer his service in the Union Army.  Capt. Moore states that he “…immediately rendered important service to my command and his flag by acting as guide to my command.”[14] 

A young man of nearly 20 years Irvin Ash stood 5′ 11″ tall; dark and no doubt handsome with his gray eyes and brown hair.  Having been born in Madison County Arkansas, near Huntsville, he always celebrated October 25 as his birthday and counted the year of his birth at 1844.