Individual Details

This is apparently Aden's family in Kentucky. However, the bible page with Aden's birth, presented when Anna was trying to get her widow's pension, stated that the Bible had belonged to Uriah Ashley, father of Aden, and said to be in his handwriting. I think Uriah was not his father, but his eldest brother.

Aden was not yet born in 1840, but in 1850 and 1860, he was with John and Elizabeth. Is it possible something happened to Uriah and his wife and the children were living with John by 1850? I doubt that, see the following.

1850 Census. Adair Co KY, Hh 81
John Ashley, age 56, b. Ky as was the whole family
Elizabeth, age 53
Mary 20. James M. 16, Minerva 13. Thomas 11. Adam [Aden?] 10. Sarah age 7.
[Elizabeth would have been about 46 when Sarah was born - just possible.]

But I found a Uriah Ashley, living in Pulaski Co KY, 1850. He was age 33, and living with him was Diana, age 35, Gliby K. 14, male, Silas L. age 12, Lewis C 10, and Eliza age 8. This matches very well with the three young boys in the family in 1840.
John O. Ashley, age 31, was also in Pulaski Co, and he is seen as another son of John & Elizabeth.

Aden's mother is said to have been Elizabeth Montgomery - in another place, Elizabeth Montgomery is listed as the wife of John Ashley, not Uriah, and Elizabeth and John Ashley married 26 Jun 1813, Lincoln Co, KY. This database does list Aden as a son of John and Elizabeth, younger brother to Uriah. Perhaps Anna was mistaken about Aden's father.

1860 Census. Pulaski Co, KY, Hh 522
Elisabeth Ashley, age 65, b. KY
Adin J. 18. Sarah, age 17.

I did find online a reference to a Commissioner's Deed, 29 Mar 1865, presumably in Pulaski Co KY - a division of lands resulting from a suite among the heirs of John Ashley. John O. Ashley was administrator of John Ashley who had died in 1857. Heirs were Uriah, Robert, and Montgomery [James M.], Ashley; C. P. Miller & wife Emily, dec'd; Willis Adams & wife Eliza, dec'd; William Wilson & Mary, dec'd; Obed Bolinger & Minerva, dec'd; Aden, Sarah, Thomas & John Ashley, the last two being infant heirs. [Son Obediah does not appear in this list of heirs, but he did not seem to have sons named Thomas or John. The son Thomas, age 11 in 1850 is also not in this list - perhaps these lads were his sons and he is deceased. However, this deed would seem to prove conclusively that Aden's father was John; his older brother, Uriah.]


Aden served as a private in Company F, 61st Illinois Volunteers in the Civil War. He enlisted 21 Feb 1865 for the term of one year and was discharged at Nashville, on 8 Sep 1865. He drew his pension, Certificate 973334, as he was disabled with heart problems and rheumatism. He first filed 17 Mar 1897, while living in Chicago. Another address, when he sought an increase was Highland Park, Lake Co, Illinois, 28 Aug 1899. Ashley did state that he lived in Illinois until 1879, then Emporia, Kansas until 1890; in Chicago till 1900; and since then at various places in Missouri. In May of 1912, his address was 3409 Main St; Kansas City, MO. Anna then filed her widow's pension application 13 Apr 1914; her certificate was #778948. Anna filed in Fort Smith, AR, living at 501 Garrison Ave. [Many of the papers have the 103 Garrison Ave address as in the censuses - it was a hotel, apparently owned by her son-in-law John H. Jones. She had some difficulty both proving his date of death [he was buried in Missouri, although he was living in Overland Park, Kansas - they did not seem to understand that Overland Park was a suburb of Kansas city] and that she was married to him as his only wife.

Database of Illinois Veterans; Ancestry.com
Aden J. Ashley was a private, Co F, 61st IL Infantry. He was 6' tall with dark hair, blue eyes. He was a farmer born about 1842 in Kentucky. He entered the Civil War at age 23, 21 Feb 1865, at Jacksonville, IL, under Capt Hamilton, for one year. He was mustered in at that place the next day and mustered out at Nashville, TN on 8 Sep 1865. Residence said to be Miners Springs, Greene Co, IL

Mr. A. J. Ashley married Miss Annie Campbell, Scott Co, Illinois, 15 Jul 1869, by T. J. Bryant, Minister of the Gospel.

1870 Census. Carthage, Hancock Co IL, Hh 325
Aden J. Ashley, age 27, carpenter b. KY
Ann, age 21, b. KY
John B., 11 months, b. IL

1880 Census. Emporia, Lyon Co KS, Hh 255
Aden J. Ashley, age 35, carpenter, b. PA
Sarah A., 31, wife, b. KY
John W., 10, son, b. IL
Bertha M., 8, dau, b. IL
Olla, 4, dau, b. IL
Baby, 4 months, son, b. KS

Kansas State Census 1885, Ivy, Lyon Co, KS
A. J. Ashley, m, age 42, Architect
S. A., 34, f
John 15
Bertha 13
Olive 8
Eddie 5

Kansas State Census 1895, Emporia, Lyon Co, KS
A. J. Ashley, age 49, male, b. KY,, came to Kansas from IL, carpenter
S. A., 42, female, b. KY, came from IL
J. B., 24, male, b. IL, Electrician
O.E., age 18, b. IL, Clerk
E. M., age 14, b. Kansas


I have not been able to find Aden & Sarah Anna in 1900. The daughter Olive died in Jackson Co MO, in 1898 and that's where they should be. Likely the grandson, Joseph Chamberlain, was living with them in 1900. They also could have been in Chicago; they did move several times and possibly were missed.

Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1897
Serial Set, Vol. #3609, Session Vol. No. 20
Ashley, Aden J. assignor of one-half to J. L. Hontz, Chicago, IL. Adjustable sash-lock
No. 587,294. Aug. 3
......for the year 1904
Serial Set, Vol. #4856, Session Vol. No 77
Ashley, Aden J., Kansas City, Mo. Sash-lock. 767,677. Aug. 16.

City Directory, Kansas City, 1909
Ashley, Aden J. archt. 3409 Main

1910 Census. Kansas City Ward 4, Jackson Co MO
Oddin J. Ashley, age 69, married 1 time for 39 years, b. KY, parents b. NC, architect
S. Anna, wife, age 61, 5 children - 3 are living, b. KY, father b. VA, mother b. IL
Joseph L. Chamberlin, grandson, age 13, b. IL, parents b. IN
[There is a note in the database. Olive died, and the dad took off.]

1911 City Directory. Kansas City, Missouri
Ashley, Aden J. archt 3409 Main

27 Apr 1913. Letter posted on Ancestry tree. From Overland Park, Kansas to Mrs. Mary Gentian of Bethelridge, KY. [letter is not signed but states his age as 72, which assures this is Aden Jones Ashley]. Paraphrased: Aden reminisces about her childhood, her father's blacksmith shop, mentions her parents are both deceased and she should come to visit since he doesn't believe she's ever been out of Kentucky. She states that one of Oliver's sons lived five miles away in Kansas City as does one of Elizabeth's sons, Marion Green Adams, and one of her granddaughters, and two of Montgomery's sons. He mentions they live 3 miles from the Kentucky-Missouri line. Aden's grandfather was John who served under Washington as an officer in the Revolutionary War. His horse was shot out from under him in a battle in South Carolina - it broke his leg and he ws a cripple for life. Aden's father told him this story. His father was John, born in either Kentucky or North Carolina. Uncle Charles Ashley who lived near Somerset was born in North Carolina. Father and mother were married in Kentucky. Father was born Feb 1794 and served in the War of 1812. Montgomery and Elizabeth are both dead - Montgomery died Oct 1908, Marshall, MO, and Elizabeth in Sep 1910 at Columbia MO. Aden attended both funerals. There were 13 in the family besides father & mother - they were John and Elizabeth. The children were: Nancy - died in infancy, Uriah, Oliver, Obediah, Robert, Emily, Elizabeth, Mary, Sally - died in infancy, James M., Minerva, Aden, and Sarah. Only Aden left. I have an old family record and can send a copy to anyone interested. We have five children, the oldest a boy, John. John was an electrician, worked in Chicago, in 1898 went to New York and we never heard from again and fear he is dead. Our next child Bertha, married Mr. Jones, they live in Fort Smith, Ark. Our next child, Gussie, died at the age of fourteen months. Next Olive who married a Mr. Chamberlin - they had one child, a boy. Olive died in Kansas City in 1898, and left her baby seventeen months old. We took him to raise and he is now past sixteen. We have not heard from his father for fourteen years. Our last was Edwin, married with three children - two boys and a girl. He lives in Kansas City. So our family is myself, wife, and grandson.

From his Civil War Pension file:
Burial Permit by the State Board of Health, Missouri. Aden J. Ashley, age 73. Died of disease of heart; date not given. Buried Forest Hill Cemetery. 11 Feb 1914.

The Olathe Independent, Olathe, Kansas, 18 Feb 1914, Wednesday, p.7
OVERLAND PARK
Aden Jones Ashley, a respected citizen of Overland Park, departed this life Monday morning, Feb 9th. Mr. Ashley was born near Summerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky, on Jan 15, 1841, being 73 years and 24 days old at the time of his death. He moved to Winchester, Ill., in 1861 and enlisted in Company F, 61st Illinois Infantry, in 1864 and served until the close of the war. He was united in marriage to Miss Ann Campbell on Jul 15, 1869. This union was blessed with four children, two of whom preceeded him to the other world. Mr. Ashley was an architect by profession and was admitted to the Western Association of Architecture in 1886. He built the Brunswick Hotel in Lindsburg, Kansas, and was with the George A. Fuller Construction Co of Chicago, as one of the supervising architects. Mr. Ashley moved to Overland Park in the fall of 1912. He is survived by his widow, one son, one daughter, and seven grandchildren.

The family was living in Overland Park, on the Kansas side of Kansas City when Aden died, but he was removed to Jackson County on the Missouri side for burial. His death certificate would therefore not be available within the online Missouri death certificates. Anna had some difficulty with the War Department and her widow's pension because she could not produce the exact date of his death - presumably no certificate was filed in Kansas, or she did not know how to get a copy. There apparently is no marked grave for Aden Ashley at Forest Hill Cemetery; since Anna was quite destitute and moved to Arkansas after his death, likely no stone was ever purchased.

1920 Census. Upper Township, Fort Smith, Sebastian Co, AR, Hh 10, 103 Garrison Ave
John H. Jones, age 60, b. Wisconsin, father b. Wales, mother b. Canada. Proprietor, Hotel
Bertha, wife, age 48, b. IL, parents b. KY
Odin, son, age 25, b. KS, father b. WI, mother b. IL, Proprietor, Candy Store
Helene, dau-in-law, age 15, b. AR, father b. PA, mother b. AR
Helen Bentley, dau, age 23, b. KS
Cecil Bentley, son-in-law, age 22, b. KS, baker
Helen May, Grand daughter, age 3, b. AR, parents b. KS
Anna Ashley, mother-in-law, age 69, Widow, b. KY, father b. VA, mother b. IL
after that there are several people listed as "Help" followed by the roomers.


Name: Aden J Ashley
Residence: Miner's Springs, Illinois
Enlistment Date: 21 Feb 1865
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: Illinois
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company F, Illinois 61st Infantry Regiment on 22 Feb 1865.
Mustered out on 08 Sep 1865 at Nashville, TN.
Sources: Illinois: Roster of Officers and Enlisted Men
National Archives: Index to Federal Pension Records

Kansas Wills & Probates.
Probate filed 24 Sep 1915, Johnson Co, KS
Vol. B, p.342
Petition for Letters of Administration
C. B. Halliday, Attorney, stated Aden J. Ashley died 9 Feb 1914, leaving no will and had an estate of about $500. He left the following heirs: Mrs. A. J. Ashley, widow, a son and a daughter, Mrs. Bertha Jones and certain grandchildren. There are claims against the estate not paid.
24 Sep 1915. Grant C. Conser received the administration.
May Term 1915. E. E. Voigts, Plaintiff vs. Estate of Aden J. Ashley.
Aden J. Ashley, died at Overland Park, Johnson Co, KS on 9 Feb 1914. Only the widow and one grandchild were then residents of Kansas; soon thereafter they removed from the State of Kansas and became non-residents. Deceased owned Lot 20 in Overland Heights and left debts and claims unsettled. 10 May 1913, deceased executed a promissory note to the Plaintiff for $30. With interest, now owing $34.55. On 10 Sep 1912, A. J. Ashley rented certain rooms from the Plaintiff until 20 Sep 1913 when the rooms were vacated - $16.81 still unpaid. Total $51.36.
Chas. B. Halliday, Attorney for Plaintiff. Copy of the lease included. It was Rooms 1, 2, & 3 on the second floor of a two story Brick store on Lot 19 - Overland Hill, west of tract in Overland Park for use as living rooms - month to mother beginning 20 Sep 1912, $15 per month to Carrie S. Voigt
May Term 1915. J. E. Murphy, Plaintiff. Promissory note date 10 Jan 1914 for $10.
Chas B. Halliday, Attorney for Plaintiff
May Term 1915 J. H. Stough, MD, Plaintiff Claim for medical attendance prior to the death of said decedent. $7;50 plus interest for $8.02. Wholly due and unpaid. Halliday, Atty.
May Term 1915. G. C. Conser. Claim for groceries, provision and family necessities sold to the deceased for $33.22 plus intester, $35.34. Halliday, Atty.
June Term 1915 Continuance of petitions above. Mrs. A. J. Ashley and heirs intend to dispose of the equity in the said estate's property and asked for continuance. Granted.
End of file - no further data.

Birth	15 Jan 1841	Casey County, Kentucky
Marriage	15 Jul 1869	Scott County, Illinois - Sarah Anna Campbell
Death	9 Feb 1914	Overland Park, Johnson County, Kansas

Spouse	Sarah Anna Campbell (1849 - 1927)
Child	John B. Ashley (1869 - )
Child	Bertha Mae Ashley (1872 - 1950)
Child	Laura Augusta Ashley (1874 - )
Child	Olive Ashley (1876 - 1898)
Child	Edwin Mortimer Ashley (1880 - 1957)

Father	John Ashley (1794 - 1858)
Mother	Elizabeth Montgomery (1797 - 1871)
Sibling	Uriah J. Ashley (1816 - 1882)
Sibling	John O. Ashley (1819 - 1890)
Sibling	Obediah Ashley (1821 - )
Sibling	Robert Smith Ashley (1823 - 1896)
Sibling	Elizabeth Ashley (1828 - 1911)
Sibling	Emily Ashley (1830 - 1870)
Sibling	Mary Ashley (1832 - 1865)
Sibling	James Montgomery Ashley (1834 - 1907)
Sibling	Minerva I. Ashley (1837 - )
Sibling	Thomas J. Ashley (1839 - )
Sibling	Sarah B Ashley (1843 - 1880)