The African-American Ashby family of Fulton and Tazewell Counties and their descendants – Part One:

By Jared Olar

Library Assistant

Previously here at “From the History Room,” we have recalled the African-American family of Ashby which lived in Pekin and provided four soldiers to the U.S. Colored Troops in the Civil War, three of whom were witnesses to the first Juneteenth in Galveston, Texas, in 1865. Having completed our review of the known descendants of Nance Legins-Costley, today we will commence a systematic account of the Ashby family and their known descendants.

The Ashbys arrived in Illinois circa 1837, coming here from Virginia where their ancestors were plantation slaves. Thanks to the results of a living Ashby descendant’s DNA test, we now know that the ancestry of the Ashby family reaches back to Cameroon in Africa, which was one of the main regions from which North American slavers obtained African slaves.

The recorded history of the Ashby family as far as it is currently known commences with five African-American men who appear to be brothers, John Ashby, James Ashby, Lewis Ashby, William Ashby, and Philip Ashby, all of whom appear in U.S. Census records as early settlers in Fulton County, Illinois. It is currently uncertain whether they were born into slavery and were later manumitted (granted freedom), or rather were free black men who were children or grandchildren of African slaves. Except for Lewis Ashby, all of these Ashby men are classified as “mulatto” (biracial) or “black” or “colored” in the U.S. census and other records. The research of William Ashby’s descendant Richard White of Missouri (to whose work on the possible origins of the African-American Ashbys this writer is greatly indebted) suggests that their mother was probably a “mulatto” woman named Rachel, who later married Austin Day of Fulton County and was mother of Morgan Day of Elm Grove Township, Tazewell County, who served in the 29th U.S. Colored Infantry during the Civil War.

A research lead for the possible parentage and ancestry of the four Ashby men of Fulton County is the enumeration of a “Wm Ashby” in Culpeper County, Virginia, in the 1830 U.S. Census, whose household consisted of 19 free white persons, one free colored person aged 24-35, and 18 slaves. This William Ashby of Culpeper County, Virginia, evidently was white, but it may be that the black Ashbys of Fulton County were among the slaves of this William Ashby. Another possible lead is an 1834 list of “free negroes” living in the district of James S. Lawson, commissioner of revenue for York County, Virginia – that list includes a William Ashby living on and working his own land.

Whatever their origins, by the time of the 1835 Illinois State Census we find James Ashby, Philip Ashby, and Lewis Ashby settled in Fulton County, and by the time of the 1840 U.S. Census Philip Ashby, John Ashby, and “our” William Ashby are recorded as “colored” settlers in Liverpool Township in Fulton County (the township being located east of Lewistown, bordering Mason and Tazewell Counties on the east, with its eastern boundary being the Illinois River), while John Ashby appears in William’s household in Liverpool Township at the time of the 1860 U.S. Census. It is interesting that there was also a white settler in Fulton County about this time named William Asbury Ashby (1817-1850), son of William and Annis (Whitehurst) Ashby, who belonged to an Ashby family from Prince William County, Virginia. It is possible that John and William were related to William Asbury Ashby.

Several members of this Ashby family are later found in Pekin and Peoria, but it is sometimes unclear which of the African-American Ashby men of Fulton County was their father. It appears most probable that William was their father. Therefore this genealogical account provisionally lists some these Ashbys as if James or William were their father, even though positive proof of that has not yet been found for the parentage for the probable older children in the family.

First Generation

John Ashby, b. c.1803 in Virginia, d. unknown, prob. in Mo. but perhaps in Ill. John first appears on record in the 1840 U.S. Census of Fulton County, in which he is listed as “John Ashby, Colored.” In the 1860 U.S. Census, John Ashby, 55, mulatto, is enumerated in the household of William Ashby, 45, mulatto, in Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., Ill. In the 1876 Missouri State Census, John and William again appear together as farmers in Stone County, Mo., and John, unlike William, is said to be unable to read and write. John last appears in the 1 June 1880 U.S. Census returns for Turnback, Lawrence Co., Mo., in which John Ashby, 77, black, widower, is shown as the next door neighbor of his brother William Ashby, 66, mulatto, and of his niece Clara (Ashby) Matney and her family. The identity of John’s wife or wives is unknown, and it is uncertain whether or not John had children – but he may have been the father of one or more of the Ashbys of Pekin and Peoria.

Dr. James Ashby, b. c.1808 in Virginia, d. of lung fever May 1850 in Liverpool Township, Fulton Co., Ill. James first appears on record as a Fulton County settler in the 1835 Illinois State Census. He is enumerated as “James Ashby, Colored” in the 1840 U.S. Census of Fulton County. The 1850 U.S. Census Mortality Schedules record James’ death from “lung fever” in May 1850 in Liverpool Township, Fulton Co. The same record says James, age 42, was black, married, and was a physician by profession. Dr. Ashby married Lavinia Shering, b. c.1800 in Ohio or Va., who was mother of Dr. Ashby’s dau. Lavinia and prob. all of his other children as well. Lavinia survived her husband and appears in the 18 Dec. 1850 U.S. Census for Liverpool Township, Fulton Co., as Livina [As]hby, 50, b. unknown, living in the household of Richard and Ann Hall, along with Morgan Day, who was son of Rachel Day and half-brother of William Ashby who are listed further down the page of that census record. Besides the dau. Lavinia, Dr. Ashby was prob. father of one or more of the African-American Ashbys of Pekin and Peoria, and likely had at least three sons and two daus. The 1879 “History of Fulton County,” pp. 821-823, record the tragic tale of the Asiatic cholera epidemic that struck Fulton County in 1849, and says, “The doctors whose services were tendered to these stricken ones were John B. McDowell, Thaddeus Nott, and a singular character named James Ashby, a mulatto. It is claimed they all did noble work and mutually saved many lives.“

                Children:

• James W. Ashby, prob. son of Dr. James Ashby; b. c.1825 in Virginia, d. unknown; m. 23 Oct. 1845 in Knox Co., Ill., Margaret Beverly, b. c.1824 in Ohio, d. unknown; had issue six sons and three daus. James was a day laborer who lived in Knox County, but at the time of the 1850 U.S. Census he and his wife and children lived in Peoria — and at that time among their neighbors was the family of George and Abigail (Brown) Washington, in whose house then lived Mary Beverly, age 16, b. in Ohio (prob. sister of James W. Ashby’s wife Margaret), George Shipman, 17 (prob. brother-in-law of James W. Ashby), and Nathan Ashby, 14, b. in Ill. (prob. brother of James).
• Lavinia Ashby, dau. of Dr. James and Lavinia (Shering) Ashby; b. 4 March 1832 in Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., Ill., d. 14 Aug. 1920 in Chicago, Ill., buried 17 Aug. 1920 in Lincoln Cemetery, Blue Island, Ill.; m. 1st 3 Nov. 1848 in Peoria County, Ill., Abram Chavous, “a colored man,” (name in marriage record of poor legibility – looks like ‘Knam Charoule’), b. c.1823, had issue prob. two children; m. 2nd 30 March 1860 in Peoria Co., Ill., Henry Chase, b. c.1830 in Maryland, d. 31 March 1882 at the Peoria Co. Almshouse, Ill., buried in the Almshouse cemetery, had issue two sons and two daus., but Henry and Lavinia divorced c.1878; m. 3rd 10 March 1885 in La Salle Co., Ill., Hilliard H. Harris, b. April 1832 in Indiana (or North or South Carolina), d. 6 Sept. 1910 in Peoria, Ill., buried 8 Sept. 1910 in Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, no issue. The 1880 U.S. Census says Hilliard Harris was a gardener working for, and living in the household of, Moses Pettengill of Peoria.
• Elizabeth “Eliza” Ashby, prob. dau. of Dr. James Ashby; b. c.1834 perhaps in Ohio or Ky., d. after the 1880 census prob. in Peoria, Ill.; m. 1st 28 Jan. 1849 in Peoria Co., Ill., David Shipman, b. c.1826 in Ill., d. prob. c.1853 in Peoria, Ill., son of Moses and Milly Shipman of Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., Ill., had issue at least one son and one dau.; m. 2nd 8 March 1854 at African M. E. Church in Peoria Co., Ill., Henry Chase, b. c.1830 in Maryland, d. 31 March 1882 at the Peoria Co. Almshouse, Ill., buried in the Almshouse cemetery, had issue a dau. Elizabeth and Henry apparently divorced, for Henry m. 16 March 1859 in Peoria to Polly Portee, b. c.1827 in Ill., dau. of John Portee, while Elizabeth m. 3rd 8 Aug. 1859 in Peoria Edwin Howard, b. c.1831 in Kentucky, d. in or after 1887 prob. in Pekin, Ill.; she and Edwin had issue two daus. Elizabeth’s ex-husband Henry Chase rem. 30 March 1860 in Peoria Co., Ill., to Elizabeth’s probably sister Lavinia (see above).
• Pvt. Nathan Ashby, prob. son of Dr. James Ashby; b. c.1836 or c.1839 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 31 July 1899 in Bartonville, Peoria Co., Ill., buried in the former Moffatt Cemetery, Peoria, Ill.; m. 16 Aug. 1860 in Peoria, Ill., Elizabeth Warfield, b. 1831 in Ill. or Ohio, d. 26 July 1906 in Peoria, Ill., buried in Springdale Cemetery, Peoria; had issue prob. a son, and also had an adopted dau.; served in 29th U.S. Colored Infantry, Co. G., from 21 Sept. 1864 to 30 Sept. 1865; Juneteenth 1865 eyewitness. Nathan and Elizabeth moved back and forth between Pekin and Peoria, finally settling in Bartonville. Nathan’s occupation is given in Peoria city directories and censuses as “fireman” (a stoker of an industrial furnace) and a day laborer.
• Moses (‘Mose’) Ashby, prob. son of Dr. James Ashby; b. c.1837 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. unknown; m. 1 June 1870 in Pekin, Ill., Sarah Ellen (Hodge) Woodworth, b. c.1846 in Ill., d. unknown, dau. of Jerry and Jane Hodge(s) of Peoria. Mose, 23, and William Ashby, 21, both “mulatto,” were laborers in the household of Peter and Margaret Devore in Pekin at the time of the 1860 U.S. Census. Moses is listed in the 1861 Pekin City Directory as a livery hand residing on the south side of Ann Eliza St., 1st door west of Third St. In June 1870 he and his wife Ellen were indicted by a Tazewell Co. grand jury for interracial marriage. No further record of Moses, but his wife Ellen is listed in the 7 July 1870 U.S. Census for Pekin as a domestic living and working in the Tazewell County Jail, evidently serving her sentence for interracial marriage. Ellen had previously married 14 April 1863 in Peoria Co., Ill., to Eliziphen “Alex” Woodworth of Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., Ill., b. 25 May 1838 in Bloomington, Ind., d. 10 Sept. 1914 in Banner, Fulton Co., Ill. Ellen’s first child was Jefferson A. Woodworth, b. 30 Jan. 1863 in Banner, Ill., d. 13 Sept. 1937 in Pekin, Ill., and her second child was James Peter E. Woodworth, b. 13 June 1865 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 17 Oct. 1943 in Peoria, Ill. The 1880 U.S. Census for Pekin suggests that Eliziphen was prob. father of Peter but not of Jefferson. The U.S. Census returns for Pekin, dated 1 July 1870 (while Ellen was in jail), shows Ellen’s son Peter, age 5, living with Nathan and Elizabeth Ashby — this indicates that Moses was very prob. a brother (rather than cousin) of Nathan Ashby. Ellen later m. 3rdly on 14 Oct. 1874 in Pekin to Firman A. Van Nest, b. 1847 in Piscataway, Middlesex Co., New Jersey, d. 28 Nov. 1902 in Plainfield, Union Co., New Jersey, son of Peter Huff and Elizabeth (Clawson) Van Nest, a “mulatto” family. No issue of her 3rd. m.
• Sgt. Marshall Ashby, prob. son of Dr. James Ashby; b. c.1840 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. unknown; twice married; 1st marriage c.1860; Marshall served in 29th U.S. Colored Infantry, Co. G., from 21 Sept. 1864 to 30 Sept. 1865; Juneteenth 1865 eyewitness; m. 2nd 14 March 1866 in Pekin, Ill., Mary Jane Luce, b. c.1855 in Ohio, d. unknown. In March 1866, Marshall and Mary Jane were indicted by a Tazewell Co. grand jury for interracial marriage. Among the witnesses called by the grand jury was Mary Warfield, b. c.1849 in Ill., very prob. daughter of Elizabeth Warfield who later m. Pvt. Nathan Ashby (see above). No further record.

Lewis Ashby, prob. born in Virginia, enumerated as a settler of Fulton County in the 1835 Illinois State Census. No further information. Lewis may have been the father of one or more of the African-American Ashbys of Pekin and Peoria.

William Ashby, b. c.1812 in Virginia, d. 24 May 1884 in Stone County, Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery, Kimberling City, Stone Co., Mo.; m. prob. twice, 1st say c.1835 (NN) and had issue prob. including no less than three sons; m. 2nd c.1851 in Fulton Co., Ill., Elizabeth (Macklin) Clark, b. c.1812 in Ohio, d. c.1853 in Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., Ill., ex-wife of Benjamin Clark of Liverpool Twp. William and Elizabeth had issue no less than three daus. and no less than two sons. William was enumerated as a resident of Fulton County in the 1840 U.S. Census. In the 1850 U.S. Census he was enumerated as a single farmer working $300 of land in Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., living next door to Benjamin and Elizabeth Clark and their children. Also living nearby was Elizabeth’s brother Tobi Macklin, 30, blacksmith, in whose house lived Rachel Day, 48, prob. mother of Elizabeth and Tobi. In the 1860 U.S. Census, William Ashby and his brother John are listed in Liverpool Twp. with William’s daus. Matilda, Clarissa, and Mary M., as well as Rachel Day, 65, prob. William’s mother-in-law. By the time of the 1870 U.S. Census, William’s household in Liverpool Twp. consisted of just him and his children Clarissa and Joseph. By 1876, William and his brother John were farmers in Stone County, Mo., and in the 1 June 1880 U.S. Census returns for Turnback, Lawrence Co., Mo., we find William, 66, mulatto, widower, and his brother John, 77, black, widower, enumerated as farmers living next door to the family of William’s dau. Clara/Clarissa. Cemetery records show that William is buried in Nickerson Cemetery in an unmarked grave on the right of the grave of his youngest dau. Mary Margaret (Clark-Ashby) Nickerson.

                Children:

• Pvt. William Henry Ashby, prob. son of William Ashby; b. c.1836 in Ohio or Fayette Co., Ky., d. post 15 Aug. 1890 perhaps in Peoria Co., Ill.; served in 29th U.S. Colored Infantry, Co. G., from 21 Sept. 1864 to 30 Sept. 1865; Juneteenth 1865 eyewitness; m. 18 July 1868 in Tazewell Co., Ill., Phoebe Smith, b. c.1850 in Ill., d. unknown. William and Phoebe were farming in Hollis Twp., Peoria Co., Ill. Issue, if any, unknown.
• Pvt. William J. Clark-Ashby, son of William and Elizabeth (Macklin-Clark) Ashby; b. 17 Jan. 1840 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 17 June 1925 in Ill., buried in Sunset Cemetery, Quincy, Ill.; served in 29th U.S. Colored Infantry, Co. G., from 21 Sept. 1864 to 6 Nov. 1865, but was sick in hospital from March 1865 on; m. 30 July 1866 in Peoria County, Ill., (her 2nd. m.) Sarah Jane (Lowder) Carroll, dau. of Samuel and Lucretia (Reynolds) Lowder of Hendricks Co., Ind., and Fulton Co., Ill., b. 29 Jan. 1835 in Indiana, d. 4 Nov. 1900 in Pekin, Ill., buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin. William and Sarah had issue two sons and two daus., besides two daus. and one son born of Sarah’s 1st m. to Samuel Carroll of Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., Ill. William worked as a laborer and coal miner.
• Malinda Ashby, prob. dau. of William and Elizabeth (Macklin-Clark) Ashby; b. c. 1845 prob. in Fulton Co., Ill., d. unknown; not to be confused with the Malinda (Furgurson) (Evans) Johnson who d. 7 March 1915 in Peoria, Ill., and was buried 10 March 1915 in Springdale Cemetery, Peoria. Malinda Ashby m. 6 July 1861 in Peoria Co., Ill., John Henry Johnson, b. say c.1840. No further record.
• Matilda Jane Clark-Ashby, dau. of William and Elizabeth (Macklin-Clark) Ashby; b. 17 Aug. 1846 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 29 Dec. 1927 in Jasper Co., Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; m. 1st 6 April 1862 in Fulton Co., Ill., William Henry Oatman, b. c.1827 in Ohio, d. after 1880 U.S. Census, had issue three sons and three daus.; m. 2nd c.1890 in Missouri (his 2nd m.) Daniel Messenger, b. Ohio, d. 27 June 1898 in Jasper Co., Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo., no issue of this m.
• Clarissa R. (‘Clara’) Clark-Ashby, dau. of William and Elizabeth (Macklin-Clark) Ashby; b. 11 March 1849 in Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., Ill., d. 6 July 1935 in Texas City, Galveston Co., Texas, buried 7 July 1935 in La Marque Cemetery, La Marque, Texas; m. 30 July 1875 in Fulton Co., Ill., John Matney, b. June 1853 in Indiana, d. 22 March 1916 in Texas City, Galveston Co., Texas, buried 24 March 1916 in La Marque Cemetery, La Marque, Texas, had issue three daus.
• Mary Margaret Clark-Ashby, dau. of William and Elizabeth (Macklin-Clark) Ashby; b. 14 Feb. 1851 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 29 Nov. 1938 in James Twp., Stone Co., Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery, Kimberling City, Stone Co., Mo.; m. 1 March 1870 in Fulton Co., Ill., Joshua Nickerson, b. 3 Feb. 1845 in Indiana, d. 10 March 1930 in Stone Co., Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery; had issue one dau. and one son.
• Joseph Ashby, son of William and Elizabeth (Macklin-Clark) Ashby; b. c.1854 in Fulton Co., Ill., enumerated in 1870 U.S. Census in the household of William Ashby, 54, farmer of Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., Ill., no further record.

Philip Ashby, prob. born in Virginia, enumerated as a settler of Fulton County in the 1835 Illinois State Census; enumerated as “Philip Ashby, Colored” in the 1840 U.S. Census of Fulton County, Ill. No further information. Philip may have been the father of one or more of the African-American Ashbys of Pekin and Peoria.

Second Generation

James W. Ashby, prob. son of Dr. James Ashby; b. c.1825 in Virginia, d. unknown; m. 23 Oct. 1845 in Knox Co., Ill., Margaret Beverly, b. c.1824 in Ohio, d. unknown; had issue six sons and three daus. James was a day laborer who lived in Knox County, but at the time of the 1850 U.S. Census he and his wife and children lived in Peoria — and at that time among their neighbors was the family of George and Abigail (Brown) Washington, in whose house then lived Mary Beverly, age 16, b. in Ohio (prob. sister of James W. Ashby’s wife Margaret), and Nathan Ashby, 14, b. in Ill. (prob. brother of James).

                Children:

• Robert Ashby, b. c.1845 in Ill., d. unknown; listed as “deaf mute” in the 1880 U.S. Census Schedule of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes for Oneida, Knox Co., Ill.; no further information.
• James A. Ashby, b. c.1847 in Ill., d. unknown; enumerated with his parents and siblings in Knox, Knox Co., Ill., in the 1860 U.S. Census; no subsequent record.
• Sarah A. Ashby, b. c.1852 in Ill., d. unknown; m. 21 Oct. 1869 in Knox Co., Ill., (his 2nd m.) Frank Gash, b. c.1837 in Mo., had issue one dau. and three sons.
• Mary Ashby, b. c.1854 in Ill., d. unknown; enumerated with her parents and siblings in Knox, Knox Co., Ill., in the 1860 U.S. Census; no subsequent record.
• John Henry Stewart Ashby, b. 10 Feb. 1855 in Peoria, Ill., d. 28 Feb. 1917 in Galesburg, Ill., buried in Linwood Cemetery, Galesburg; m. 1st 16 Dec.1875 in Knox Co., Ill., Mary Duke, b. 1 May 1859 in Ky., d. unknown; had issue one dau. and two sons; m. 2nd 27 Oct. 1881 in Knox Co., Ill., Sarah Duke, b. Sept. 1867 in Ky., d. 19 May 1953 in Galesburg, Ill.,; had issue three sons. John was a scavenger wagon teamster.
• Franklin T. (‘Frank’) Ashby, b. c.1857 in Ill., d. unknown; m. 1st 6 Nov. 1879 in Knox Co., Ill., (her 2nd m.) Sarah A. (Lewis) Curtis, b. c.1858 in Iowa, d. unknown; issue unknown; m. 2nd 1 Nov. 1888 in Knox Co., Ill., Hattie Dunlop, b. c.1860, d. unknown; issue unknown.
• Elizabeth Ada Ashby, b. May 1860 in Knox, Knox Co., Ill., d. unknown; enumerated with her parents and siblings in Knox, Knox Co., Ill., in the 1870 U.S. Census; no subsequent record.
• Abram (‘Abe’) Ashby, b. c.1862 in Knox Co., Ill., d. unknown; m. 6 Jan. 1910 in King Co., Wash., Zella M. Carter, b. c.1881 in Ohio; issue unknown.
• Lillie Ashby, b. c.1865 in Ill., d. unknown; m. 26 Aug. 1886 in Knox Co., Ill., Harry Monroe, b. c. 1864, d. unknown, son of Mike and Sarah (Gash) Monroe; issue if any unknown; no subsequent record.
• Alonzo M. Ashby, b. c.1872 in Ill., d. unknown; enumerated with his parents and siblings in Knox, Knox Co., Ill., in the 1880 U.S. Census; no subsequent record.

Lavinia Ashby, dau. of Dr. James and Lavinia (Shering) Ashby; b.4 March 1832 in Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., Ill., d. 14 Aug. 1920 in Chicago, Ill., buried 17 Aug. 1920 in Lincoln Cemetery, Blue Island, Ill.; m. 1st 3 Nov. 1848 in Peoria County, Ill., Abram “Abe” Chavous, “a colored man,” (name in marriage record of poor legibility – looks like ‘Knam Charoule’), b. c.1823, had issue prob. two children; m. 2nd 30 March 1860 in Peoria Co., Ill., Henry Chase, b. c.1830 in Maryland, d. 31 March 1882 at the Peoria Co. Almshouse, Ill., buried in the Almshouse cemetery, had issue two sons and two daus., but Henry and Lavinia divorced c.1878; m. 3rd 10 March 1885 in La Salle Co., Ill., Hilliard H. Harris, b. April 1832 in Indiana (or North or South Carolina), d. 6 Sept. 1910 in Peoria, Ill., buried 8 Sept. 1910 in Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, no issue. The 1880 U.S. Census says Hilliard Harris was a gardener working for, and living in the household of, Moses Pettengill of Peoria. The 1900 U.S. Census says Lavinia had a total of six children, two of them still living in 1900 — six four of her children were born of her marriage to Henry Chase, the other two apparently were born of her first marriage.

Children:

• (NN) Chavous, son or dau. of Abram and Lavinia (Ashby) Chavous, may have died young.
• Mary A. Chavous, dau. of Abram and Lavinia (Ashby) Chavous, b. 2 Feb. 1858 in Peoria, Illinois, d. 27 April 1935 of pulmonary embolism in Traverse City, Mich., bur. Thompsonville Cemetery, Thompsonville, Mich.; m. John Turner. Mary is enumerated in the household of her stepfather Henry Chase of Peoria in the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses as Mary A. Chase.
• James Chase, b. c.1860 in Peoria, Ill., son of Henry and Lavinia (Ashby-Chavous) Chase, enumerated in 10 June 1870 U.S. Census of Peoria in the family of Henry and Lavinia. No further record. Prob. died before 1880 U.S. Census.
• John Chase, b. c.1863 in Peoria, Ill., son of Henry and Lavinia (Ashby-Chavous) Chase, enumerated in 10 June 1870 U.S. Census of Peoria in the family of Henry and Lavinia. No further record. Prob. died before 1880 U.S. Census.
• Louisa Chase, b. c.1870 in Peoria, Ill., dau. of Henry and Lavinia (Ashby-Chavous) Chase, enumerated in 10 June 1870 U.S. Census of Peoria in the family of Henry and Lavinia. No further record. Prob. died before 1880 U.S. Census.
• Lavinia Chase, b. c.1873 in Peoria, Ill., dau. of Henry and Lavinia (Ashby-Chavous) Chase, enumerated in 8 June 1880 U.S. Census of Peoria with her mother Lavinia. No further record.

Elizabeth (“Eliza”) Ashby, prob. dau. of Dr. James Ashby; b. c.1834 perhaps in Ohio or Ky., d. after the 1880 census prob. in Peoria, Ill.; m. 1st 28 Jan. 1849 in Peoria Co., Ill., David Shipman, b. c.1826 in Ill., d. prob. c.1853 in Peoria, Ill., had issue at least one son and a dau.; m. 2nd 8 March 1854 at African M. E. Church in Peoria Co., Ill., Henry Chase, b. c.1830 in Maryland, d. 31 March 1882 at the Peoria Co. Almshouse, Ill., buried in the Almshouse cemetery, had issue two daus. Elizabeth and Henry apparently divorced, for she m. 3rd 8 Aug. 1859 in Peoria Edwin Howard, b. c.1831 in Kentucky, d. in or after 1887 prob. in Pekin, Ill.; she and Edwin had issue two daus. Elizabeth’s ex-husband Henry rem. 30 March 1860 in Peoria Co., Ill., to Elizabeth’s probable sister Lavinia (see above).

                Children:

• Charles T. Shipman, son of David and Elizabeth (Ashby) Shipman, b. c.1850 in Peoria Co., Ill., d. 18 Nov. 1929 in Hennepin Co., Minn. Charles was very prob. the free colored male under age 10 enumerated in the 1855 Illinois State Census as living in the household of Henry Chase in Peoria. The 1860 U.S. Census shows Charles, 11, mulatto, living in the household of Hilliard Harris of Peoria (see above); m. 1st 5 Sept. 1877 in Polk Co., Iowa, Fanny Johnson, b. c.1858 in Iowa, issue, if any, unknown;. m. 2nd 23 Oct. 1899 in Minneapolis, Minn., Josephine Anna “Johanna” (James) McIntosh, b. 2 May 1852 in Minnesota, d. 2 Feb. 1920 in Minneapolis, Minn., buried 1 March 1920 in Hillside Cemetery, Minneapolis, widow of Isaac McIntosh; no issue of this m., though Johanna and Isaac had had 11 children together. In the 1900 U.S. Census of Minneapolis, Charles and Johanna are listed in the same domicile as James Willis Costley, youngest child of Benjamin and Nance (Legins) Costley.
• Henry Shipman, perhaps son of David and Elizabeth (Ashby) Shipman, or else a nephew of David Shipman, b. Jan. 1850 in Peoria, Ill., d. Feb. 1850 in Peoria, Ill. Henry’s death in Peoria at 1 month of age is recorded in the 1850 Federal Mortality Schedule.
• Sarah Jane Shipman, dau. of David and Elizabeth (Ashby) Shipman, b. c.1853 in Pekin, Ill.. Sarah is very prob. the free colored female under age 10 enumerated in the 1855 Illinois State Census as living in the household of Henry Chase in Peoria; m. 1st 1 Nov. 1869 in Tazewell Co., Ill., Pvt. Allen Travis Davison (a.ka. Travers Davidson), b. Aug. 1843 in Alabama, d. 27 June 1902 in or near Sparland, Marshall Co.. Ill., buried in Sparland Cemetery, son of Chapman and Charlotte (Andrews) Davis, a Civil War veteran who saw action in the 47th U.S. Colored Infantry, Co. D, and was present at the first Juneteenth in Galveston, Texas, issue of this m., if any, unknown; Sarah and Travis divorced, and she afterwards m. 2nd 27 Aug. 1880 in Peoria, Ill., Charles Smith, b. c. 1854 in Hamilton, Hancock Co., Ill., son of Cester and Elizabeth Smith, issue of this m., if any, unknown. The marriage record for Sarah and Charles misspells her father’s surname as “Christman,” and her mother’s maiden name as “Ashwood,” but the record also says Sarah’s maiden name was “Shipman.” Sarah is almost certainly the “Sarah Smith” who d. June 1893 of pneumonia in Peoria was was buried in Moffatt Cemetery, Peoria.
• Josephine Chase, b. c.1855 in Peoria, Ill., dau. of Henry and Elizabeth (Ashby) Chase, enumerated in the household of Henry Chase of Peoria in the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses, and in the household of her step-father Hilliard Harris of Peoria in the 1900 U.S. Census; m. (NN) Lee.
• Mary Melinda Howard, b. May 1860 in Pekin, Ill., dau. of Edwin and Elizabeth (Ashby-Shipman) Howard, enumerated in the household of Edward and Elizabeth Howard of Pekin in the 1870 U.S. Census. No further record.
• Elizabeth (‘Liza’) Howard, b. Dec. 1869 in Pekin, Ill., d. prob. before 24 May 1893 prob. in Peoria, Ill., dau. of Edwin and Elizabeth (Ashby-Shipman) Howard, enumerated in the household of Edward and Elizabeth Howard of Pekin in the 1870 and 1880 U.S. Censuses; m. 21 Feb. 1883 in Peoria, Ill., Edward Phillip Ewing, b. 10 Nov. 1850 in Nashville, Tenn., d. 22 April 1926 in Peoria (Limestone Township), Ill., a distillery fireman, son of Edward and Margaret (Chavers) Ewing. Issue of this m., if any, unknown. Edward subsequently rem. 24 May 1893 in Peoria Laura Smith, b. c.1869 in Missouri, enumerated in the 1900 U.S. Census in Peoria as Edward’s wife; issue of this m., if any, unknown. Edward m. 3rd 15 Feb. 1909 in Peoria Willie Brewer, b. c.1882 in Macon, Miss., dau. of Dallas and Malinda (Pope) Brewer, enumerated in the 1910 U.S. Census in Peoria as Edward’s wife, with one child noted who apparently had died in infancy.

Pvt. Nathan Ashby, prob. son of Dr. James Ashby; b. c.1836 or c.1839 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 31 July 1899 in Bartonville, Peoria Co., Ill., buried in the former Moffatt Cemetery, Peoria, Ill.; m. 16 Aug. 1860 in Peoria, Ill., Elizabeth Warfield, b. 1831 in Ill. or Ohio, d. 26 July 1906 in Peoria, Ill., buried in Springdale Cemetery, Peoria; had issue prob. a son, and also an adopted dau.; served in 29th U.S. Colored Infantry, Co. G., from 21 Sept. 1864 to 30 Sept. 1865; Juneteenth 1865 eyewitness. Nathan and Elizabeth moved back and forth between Pekin and Peoria, finally settling in Bartonville. Nathan’s occupation is given in Peoria city directories and censuses as “fireman” (a stoker of an industrial furnace) and a day laborer.

                Children:

• Olive Jane Ashby, adopted dau., b. c.1872 prob. in Pekin, Ill., no further record.
• Nathan Ashby Jr., prob. son of Nathan and Elizabeth Ashby, b. perhaps c.1880 prob. in Pekin, Ill., or Mapleton, Ill. The Peoria City Directories of 1903, 1904, and 1905 show Nathan Ashby living in south Bartonville, Ill., and working at Keystone Fence Co. and American Milling Co., both in Bartonville. The 1903 Peoria directory also lists Elizabeth Ashby, widow of Nathan Ashby, as a resident of south Bartonville. These are the only Ashbys living in south Bartonville in those years, lending support to identifying the laborer Nathan Ashby of 1903-1905 as a son of Pvt. Nathan Ashby and his wife Elizabeth. No further record.

Pvt. William J. Clark-Ashby, son of William and Elizabeth (Macklin-Clark) Ashby; b. 17 Jan. 1840 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 17 June 1925 in Ill., buried in Sunset Cemetery, Quincy, Ill.; served in 29th U.S. Colored Infantry, Co. G., from 21 Sept. 1864 to 6 Nov. 1865, but was sick in hospital from March 1865 on; m. 30 July 1866 in Peoria County, Ill., (her 2nd. m.) Sarah Jane (Lowder) Carroll, dau. of Samuel and Lucretia (Reynolds) Lowder of Hendricks Co., Ind., and Fulton Co., Ill., b. 29 Jan. 1835 in Indiana, d. 4 Nov. 1900 in Pekin, Ill., buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin. William and Sarah had issue two sons and two daus., besides two daus. and one son born of Sarah’s 1st m. to Samuel Carroll of Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., Ill. William worked as a laborer and coal miner. In 1870, William was indicted by a Tazewell Co. grand jury for allegedly murdering his stepson Alfred Carroll on 12 Aug. 1870, but he was acquitted of the charge.

                Children:

• Louis N. Ashby, b. c.1867 prob. in Pekin, Ill., d. unknown; enumerated with his parents and siblings in Pekin in 1880 U.S. Census; listed as “Ashby Louis N, lab, r 129 Caroline” in 1887 Pekin City Directory; perhaps the “Ashby Louis, plaster, bds R. R. Exchange” in 1906 Peoria City Directory. No further record.
• Catherine Clark-Ashby, b. 14 July 1869 in Pekin, Ill., d. 28 May 1938 in Summum, Fulton Co., Ill., buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin; m. 1st 20 Jan. 1886 in Tazewell Co., Ill., (his 1st m.) Leonard B. Hoover, b. 1 Sept. 1871 in Wawpecung, Ind., d. 6 May 1934 in Peoria, Ill., b. in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin; had issue one son; m. 2nd 1904 in Henry Co., Ill., William B. Clark, b. 2 Aug. 1862 in New York State, d. 11 Aug. 1921 in Limestone Twp., Peoria Co., Ill., buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin; no issue of this m.
• Charles Ashby, b. c.1873 in Pekin, Ill., d. unknown; enumerated with his parents and siblings in Pekin in 1880 U.S. Census; listed as “Ashby Charles, cigar mkr. Moenkemoeller & Schlottmann, res. 127 Caroline” in 1887 Pekin City Directory. No further record.
• Sarah Lisabeth (‘Sadie’) Ashby, b. c.1873 in Pekin, Ill., d. 17 Aug. 1899 in New Mexico; buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin; m. 30 July 1894 in Peoria Co., Ill., Richard Emmett (‘Dick’) Byrnes, b. 6 Oct. 1862 in Pekin, Ill., d. mysteriously 15 Oct. 1927 in Havana, Mason Co., Ill., buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin; had issue one dau.

Matilda Jane Clark-Ashby, dau. of William and Elizabeth (Macklin-Clark) Ashby; b. 17 Aug. 1846 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 29 Dec. 1927 in Jasper Co., Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; m. 1st 6 April 1862 in Fulton Co., Ill., William Henry Oatman, b. c.1827 in Ohio, d. after 1880 U.S. Census, had issue three sons and three daus.; m. 2nd c.1890 in Missouri (his 2nd m.) Daniel Messenger, b. Ohio, d. 27 June 1898 in Jasper Co., Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo., no issue of this m.

                Children:

• William Henry Oatman Jr., b. c.1863 in Fulton Co., Ill., perhaps is the William H. Oatman who m. 1st 7 May 1885 in Greene Co., Mo., Jennie Williams, m. 2nd 31 Oct. 1892 in Springfield, Green Co., Mo., Polly D. Brown, and m. 3rd 17 July 1896 in Springfield, Greene Co., Mo., Emma Oliver, and d. 22 May 1899, buried in Hazelwood Cemetery, Springfield, Mo. No further record.
• Francis Marion (‘Frank’) Oatman, b. Oct. 1866 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. post 1934 prob. in Missouri; m. 1st 29 May 1902 in Jackson Co., Mo., Mamie A. Smith, b. Aug. 1877 in Mo., d. prob. bef. 1920 U.S. Census; m. 2nd Lena (NN), b. c.1871 in Arkansas, d. unknown. Issue, if any, unknown. Frank was a farm laborer.
• George Lewis Oatman, b. 1 Dec. 1868 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 30 Jan. 1930 in Chicago, Ill.; m. c.1897 Jennie (NN), b. c.1872 in Missouri, d. 31 Dec. 1945 in Chicago, Ill.; had issue one dau.
• Sarah Anna (‘Annie’) Oatman, b. 5. Jan. 1871 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 7 Jan. 1929 in Joplin, Mo.. buried 9 Jan. 1929 in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; m. c.1897 in Joplin, Mo., (his 2nd m.) Jacob F. (‘Jake’) Becker, a butcher supplies retail salesman, b. 13 March 1854 in Indiana, d. 23 Sept. 1921 in Joplin, Mo., buried 23 Sept. 1921 in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; had issue two sons.
• Adaline Oatman, b. c.1872 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. ante the 17 June 1880 U.S. Census; enumerated with her parents and siblings and her grandfather William Ashby and great-uncle John Ashby in the 1876 Missouri State Census for Stone Co., Mo.
• Ida Frances Oatman, b. 5 Aug. 1875 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 20 Sept. 1959 in Joplin, Mo., buried 22 Sept. 1959 in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; by William Wesley Walkenshaw, b. 14 May 1879 in Kansas, d. 22 Oct. 1941 in Dallas, Texas, Ida had issue one son; by Jesse Jabez Shelby, b. 31 July 1875 in Butler Co., Mo., d. 30 Oct. 1955 in Joplin, Mo., Ida had issue one dau.; by various unknown fathers, Ida had issue three daus. and two sons; by C. E. Martin, Ida had issue one son; by her husband Edward Franklin Copher, b. 26 Oct. 187 in Eureka Springs, Carroll Co., Arkansas, d. 10 Oct. 1950 in Joplin, Mo., buried 12 Oct. 1950 in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo., Ida had two sons and one dau.

Clarissa R. (‘Clara’) Clark-Ashby, dau. of William and Elizabeth (Macklin-Clark) Ashby; b. 11 March 1849 in Liverpool Twp., Fulton Co., Ill., d. 6 July 1935 in Texas City, Galveston Co., Texas, buried 7 July 1935 in La Marque Cemetery, La Marque, Texas; m. 30 July 1875 in Fulton Co., Ill., John Matney, b. June 1853 in Indiana, d. 22 March 1916 in Texas City, Galveston Co., Texas, buried 24 March 1916 in La Marque Cemetery, La Marque, Texas, had issue three daus.

                Children:

• Margaret J. (‘Maggie’) Matney, b. Feb. 1877 in Illinois, d. unknown; m. William T. Smith, b. Nov. 1848 in Vermont, prob. d. ante 16 May 1910 U.S. Census; had issue a son and a dau. Maggie ran a boarding house in Texas City, Texas.
• Emeley Ellen Matney, b. 14 Oct. 1880 in Missouri, d. 22 July 1943 in Galveston, Texas, buried 24 July 1943 in South Park Cemetery, Pearland, Texas; m. (NN) Jacobs, issue if any unknown.
• Fred Thomas Matney, b. 7 July 1883 in Springfield, Greene Co., Mo., d. unknown, but ante 10 Sept. 1976 when a Social Security Claim was paid; m. 1st c.1906 in Missouri, Maud (NN), b. c.1885 in Nebraska; m. 2nd 12 Dec. 1919 in Louisville, Jefferson Co., Ky., Dorothy M. McKinley, b. c. 1901 in Pa. Issue if any unknown. Fred was a theater stage hand in New York City and elsewhere.
• Bessie Kathryn Matney, b. 30 Sept. 1887 in Missouri, d. 3 Aug. 1944 in Houston, Texas, buried in South Park Cemetery, Pearland, Texas; m. c. 1914 William Robert Conway, b. 13 Jan. 1886 in Pa., d. 16 Oct. 1959 in Houston, Texas, buried in South Park Cemetery, Pearland Texas; had issue one son.

Mary Margaret Clark-Ashby, dau. of William and Elizabeth (Macklin-Clark) Ashby; b. 14 Feb. 1851 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 29 Nov. 1938 in James Twp., Stone Co., Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery, Kimberling City, Stone Co., Mo.; m. 1 March 1870 in Fulton Co., Ill., Joshua Nickerson, b. 3 Feb. 1845 in Indiana, d. 10 March 1930 in Stone Co., Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery; had issue one dau. and one son.

                Children:

• America Frances Nickerson, b. 15 June 1874 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 18 Nov. 1943 in Stone Co., Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery, Kimberling City, Stone Co., Mo.; m. 9 May 1891 in Stone Co., Mo., John L. White, b. 1865 in Carroll, Boone Co., Arkansas, d. 27 Oct. 1946 in Stone Co.. Mo.; had issue three daus. and four sons.
• William Albert Nickerson, b. 28 Jan. 1877 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 1 June 1952 in Butte Co., Calif.; m. 2 March 1897 in Stone Co., Mo., Dellah Pearl Harris, b. 21 Feb. 1879 in Henderson Co., Tenn., d. 22 Nov. 1948 in Oroville, Butte Co., Calif.; had issue one dau. and one son.

The account of the descendants of William Ashby of Liverpool Township, Fulton County, Illinois, will continue next week.