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

By Jared L. Olar, Library Assistant

This week we continue the genealogical account of the Ashby family of Fulton and Tazewell counties. In the third generation, this family grew very numerous and – apart from family members who remained in Central Illinois – spread beyond Illinois to the states of Missouri, Texas, and California.

Third Generation

Sarah A. Ashby, dau. of James W. and Margaret (Beverly) Ashby; b. c.1852 in Ill., d. unknown; m. 21 Oct. 1869 in Knox Co., Ill., (his 2nd m.) Frank Gash, b. c.1836 in Marion Co., Mo., had issue one dau. and three sons. Sarah’s husband Frank, a stonemason, served in the 29th U.S. Colored Infantry, Co. D, from 12 Jan. 1864 to 6 Nov. 1865, and was present with his regiment at Galveston, Texas, for Juneteenth in 1865. Frank filed for a Civil War pension on 31 Aug. 1883, and later his children filed for a continuation of the pension on 15 Dec. 1892, indicating that Frank and Sarah had died by then.

                Children:

• Nellie Gash, b. 26 Feb. 1870 in Galesburg, Ill., d. 2 Dec. 1932 in Moline, Ill., buried in Riverside Cemetery, Moline, Ill.; m. 1st in Knox Co., Ill., John Edward Jackson, b. July 1870 in Ill., d. unknown; issue if any unknown; m. 2nd Harry Peter Diesing, had issue one dau.
• Frank Gash, b. 22 Feb. 1878 in Macomb, Ill., d. unknown; unknown if ever married or had issue; served in U.S. Army in his youth, discharged 5 Jan. 1904; living in Chicago at time of his sister’s death; no further record.
• Fred Gash, b. c.1879 in Ill., d. unknown; prob. predeceased his sister Nellie as he is unmentioned in her obituary; no further record.

John Henry Stewart Ashby, son of James W. and Margaret (Beverly) 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.

                Children:

• Mary Ashby, b. c.1876 in Ill., d. unknown; enumerated with her parents and brothers in the 1800 U.S. Census of Galesburg, Ill.; no further record.
• Harry Ashby, b. 23 Jan. 1878 in Ill., d. 26 Feb. 1920 in Galesburg, Ill.; m. 7 Sept. 1901 in Warren Co, Ill., Bessie E. Frazier, b. c.1880 in Ill., d. unknown; had issue a dau.
• John Stewart Ashby Jr., b. 4 March 1879 in Galesburg, Ill., d. 3 Oct 1939 in Galesburg, Ill., buried in Linwood Cemetery, Galesburg, Ill.; m. 1900 Flora Guidley, b. Sept. 1881 in Ill., d. unknown; issue if any unknown. John was a teamster.
• Leroy (‘Roy’) Ashby, b. 18 June 1897 in Galesburg, Ill., d. 1 Feb. 1945 in Galesburg, Ill., m. 1917 in Knox Co., Ill., Marie Allcon, b. 1899, d. 1970, buried in East Linwood Cemetery, Galesburg, Ill.; Roy and Marie were div. by time of 1920 U.S. Census, issue if any unknown; m. 2nd 2 Sept. 1925 in Knox Co., Ill., Josie Easley, b. 23 July 1899, d. 1 Dec. 1962 in Galesburg, Ill., buried in East Linwood Cemetery, Galesburg, issue if any unknown.
• Arthur Ashby, b. 31 Oct. 1899 in Ill., d. Jan. 1966; m. 1st 24 Dec 1917 in Knox Co., Ill., Violet Brown, b. c.1899, d. unknown; had issue two sons; m. 2nd Mildred Estelle Sharp, b. 2 Jan. 1894 in Milford, Delaware, d. unknown, had issue one dau. Arthur was a hod carrier.
• Pearl Ashby, b. 18 Oct. 1903 in Galesburg, Ill., d. 9 July 1938 in Galesburg; m. 11 June 1924 in Knox Co., Ill., (her 2nd m.) Fannie Newbon, b. c.1902 in Tennessee; issue if any unknown. Pearl was a painter.

Catherine (‘Katie’) Clark-Ashby, dau. of William J. and Sarah Jane (Lowder) (Carroll) 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. Catherine was a dressmaker and housekeeper.

                Children:

• Jesse Bertie Hoover, b. 4 July 1886 in Pekin, Ill., d. of heart disease 22 Aug. 1968 in Chicago, Ill., buried in Elm Lawn Cemetery, Elmhurst, Ill.; m. 1st 18 April 1904 in Peoria County, Ill., Beryl Leontine Horine, b. 19 Feb. 1888 in Ill., d. 31 Jan. 1968 in Los Angeles Co., Calif., had issue two daus. and two sons; m 2nd 25 May 1918 in Terre Haute, Ind., Laura Ellen Markley, b. 3 Aug. 1886 in Astoria, Fulton Co., Ill., d. 3 Nov. 1944 in Peoria, Ill., no issue of this m.; m 3rd c.1925 Dorothy (NN), b. c.1890 in Iowa, d. unknown, no issue of this m. Jesse was a book keeper and a hotel clerk.

Sarah Lisabeth (‘Sadie’) Ashby, dau. of William J. and Sarah Jane (Lowder) (Carroll) Clark-Ashby; b. c.1873 in Pekin, Ill., d. 17 Aug. 1899 in New Mexico, where she had gone for her health; 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.

                Children:

• Vivian La Verle Byrnes, b. 10 Dec. 1894 in Ill., d. of heart disease 30 April 1924 in Peoria, Ill., buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin, Ill.; m. 11 April 1917 in LaSalle, Ill., Karl Wilbur Losch, b. 22 March 1896 in Pekin, Ill., d. 10 Dec. 1973 in Pekin, Ill., buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin. No issue. Karl was a groceries truck driver and later a grocery store owner.

George Lewis Oatman, son of William Henry and Matilda Jane (Clark-Ashby) Oatman; b. 1 Dec. 1868 in Fulton Co., Ill., d. 30 Jan. 1930 in Chicago, Ill., buried in Lincoln Cemetery, Worth, Cook Co., Ill.; m. c.1897 Jennie (NN), b. c.1872 in Missouri, d. 31 Dec. 1945 in Chicago, Ill., buried in Restvale Cemetery, Worth, Cook Co., Ill. They had issue one dau. George worked as a janitor and a night watchman.

                Children:

• Grace Oatman, b. c.1896 in Missouri, d. unknown, enumerated as Grace Oatman, 24, hotel housekeeper, with her parents in Chicago in the 1920 U.S. Census. No further record.

Sarah Anna (‘Annie’) Oatman, dau. of William Henry and Matilda Jane (Clark-Ashby) 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.

                Children:

• Harry Franklin Becker, b. 15 Oct. 1897 in Joplin, Mo., d. 6 June 1979 in Dustin, Okla., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Dustin, Okla.; m 1st c.1924 Lucile (NN), b. c.1902 in Ozark, Mo., d. unknown, no known issue of this m.; m. 2nd 26 Dec. 1941 in Carthage, Mo., (her 2nd m.) Pansy E. (Harmon) Poteet, b. 13 Aug. 1898 in Oklahoma, d. 26 Dec. 1974 in Fairview Cemetery, Dustin, Okla., no known issue of this m. Harry was a packinghouse machinery salesman.
• Clarence Becker, b. 10 Oct. 1899 in Joplin, Mo., d. 11 Feb. 1984 in Joplin, Mo. Clarence apparently never married. He was a baker.

Ida Frances Oatman, dau. of William Henry and Matilda Jane (Clark-Ashby) 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 at least one son, perhaps three sons; by an unknown father (said in certain Ancestry trees to be “Lane Oatman”), Ida had a dau.; 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 a man named Montgomery, said to have been b. c.1856 and d. c.1925, Ida may have had three sons and two daus. (whose paternity is uncertain); in or about 1909 Ida was in married to or in a relationship with Elmer Sapp, b. 1874, d.1944, but it is unclear is he is father of any of Ida’s children; 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.

                Children:

• Everett Oatman, perhaps son of William Wesley Walkenshaw; b. 1891, d. 1892 in Joplin, Mo.
• Lester Oatman, perhaps son of William Wesley Walkenshaw; b. 1893 in Joplin, Mo., d. 1895 in Joplin, Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.
• Thomas Oatman Walkenshaw, son of William Wesley Walkenshaw; b. March 1895 in Missouri, d. 12 Sept. 1900 in Joplin, Mo., buried under the name “Thomas Oatman” in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.
• Bessie Shelby Oatman, dau. of Jesse Jabez Shelby; b. June 1899 in Missouri, d. April 1927 in Nevada State Hospital, Nevada, Mo.; m. c.1918 Lee Wood, b. c.1897, d. unknown, a retail tea salesman; issue if any unknown.
• Loretta Delores Oatman, said in some Ancestry trees to be dau. of a “Lane Oatman”; b. 30 Oct. 1901 in Galena, Mo., d. 12 Dec. 1982 in Joplin, Mo., buried in Carterville Cemetery, Carterville, Mo.; m. c.1918 Jesse Levi Dipley, b. 26 Aug. 1898 in Crane, Stone Co., Mo., d. 1 May 1940 in Webb City, Jasper Co., Mo., buried in Carterville Cemetery, Carterville, Mo.; had issue six daus. and three sons; m. 2nd 1945 Albert Slaughter, b. 22 Oct. 1880 in Neosho, Newton Co., Mo., d. 1 May 1953 in Webb City, Jasper Co., Mo., buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Neosho, Mo., no issue of this m.
• James Emmett Oatman, alias Joseph Oatman, alias James E. Moore, perhaps son of a man named Montgomery; b. 10 Feb. 1904 in Joplin, Mo., d. 1960 in Seattle, Wash.; sentenced in his youth to Missouri Reform School for stealing; imprisoned Sept. 1925 in Idaho State Penitentiary, Boise, Idaho, for robbery, pardoned 11 July 1930 and released 18 Sept. 1930; during the 1940s was employed as a trucker on the crew of the S.S. Border King out of Seattle, Wash.; unknown if ever married, issue if any unknown.
• Eva May Oatman, perhaps dau. of a man named Montgomery; b. c.1906 in Missouri, d. 17 June 1949, buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; m. 1st 20 Oct. 1920 in Joplin, Mo., Edward Clare Wilfong, issue of this m., if any, unknown; m. 2 nd perhaps c.1930 William Verne Rickel, b. 13 July 1900 in Ontario, Calif., d. 15 Feb. 1970 in Anaheim, Calif., issue of this m., if any, unknown.
• Albert Oatman, perhaps son of a man named Montgomery; b. 13 Feb. 1907 in Joplin, Mo., d. 2 July 1907 in Joplin, Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.
• Dorothy Frances Oatman, perhaps dau. of a man named Montgomery; b. 17 Oct. 1909 in Joplin, Mo., d. of a stroke 29 Oct. 1969 at University of Missouri Medical Center in Columbia, Mo., buried in Osborne Memorial Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; m 1st 8 June 1945 in Joplin, Mo., (his 2nd m.) Leon Wesley Tomlinson, b. 28 Oct 1903 in Joplin, Mo., d. 2 May 1971 in Joplin, Mo., buried in Forest Park Cemetery, Joplin, Mo., issue of this m., if any, unknown; m. 2nd (his 2nd m.) John Bloss Napper, b. 5 Nov. 1902 in Hico, Louisiana, d. 27 Dec. 1961 in Joplin, Mo., buried in Osborne Memorial Cemetery, Joplin, Mo., issue of this m., if any, unknown.
• Robert Otis Oatman, son of C. E. Martin; b. 1 Oct. 1911 in Joplin, Mo., d. 9 July 1912 in Joplin, Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.
• William L. Oatman, perhaps son of a man named Montgomery; b. 6 April 1912 in Joplin, Mo., d. 14 Jan. 1915 in Joplin, Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.
• Benjamin Franklin (‘Benny’) Oatman-Copher, son of Edward Franklin Copher; b. 25 March 1914 in Joplin, Mo., d. 3 April 1988 in Joplin, Mo., buried in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; m. c.1934 Margaret J. Smith, b. 8 Jan. 1908 in Missouri, d. 27 Aug. 1992 in Joplin, Mo., issue two sons.
• Theodore Arthur (‘Teddy’ or ‘Ted’) Oatman-Copher, son of Edward Franklin Copher; b. 9 Nov. 1915 in Joplin, Mo., d. 10 May 1978 in Joplin, Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; m. 30 May 1935 in Joplin, Mo., Flossie Garoutte, b. 30 May 1916 in Mount Vernon, Mo., d. 21 June 1985 in Springfield, Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; issue three daus.
• Nellie Verdenia Copher, dau. of Edward Franklin Copher; b. 12 March 1920 in Joplin, Mo., d. 14 Dec. 2001 in Joplin, Mo., buried in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin, Mo.; m. 1st c.1938 Orval Benson Noe, b. 7 Nov. 1917 in Joplin, Mo., d. 25 Jan. 1969 in Butte, Montana, buried in Hill Crest Cemetery, Galena, Kansas, issue of this m., if any, unknown; m. 2 nd 1 May 1948 in Joplin, Mo., John Ona Rowe, b. 4 Oct. 1917 in Williamstown Junction, Lewis Co., Mo., d. 23 June 1982 in Missouri, buried in Providence Cemetery, Williamstown, Mo., issue of this m., if any, unknown.

Margaret J. (‘Maggie’) Matney, dau. of John and Clarissa R. (Clark-Ashby) Matney; b. Feb. 1877 in Illinois, d. unknown; m. 1888 (per 1900 U.S. Census) 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.

                Children:

• Walter Theodore Smith, b. 30 Oct. 1889 in Springfield, Mo., d. 8 Feb. 1958 in La Grange, Fayette Co., Texas, buried in La Grange Cemetery, La Grange, Texas; m. c.1935 Grace Violet Higginbotham, b. 28 Jan. 1891 in Crawford Co., Arkansas, d. 17 Sept. 1967 in La Grange, Fayette Co., Texas, buried in La Grange Cemetery, La Grange, Texas; had issue one son. Walter was a seaman in his youth and later worked in construction.
• Clara A. Smith, b. 14 Aug. 1896 in Springfield, Mo., d. 16 Jan. 1972 in Galveston, Texas, buried in Galveston Memorial Park, Hitchcock, Texas; m 1st c.1912 Thomas Bernard Reilley, b. 15 Nov. 1888 in Galveston, Texas, d. 16 Oct. 1972 in San Antonio, Texas, buried in San Fernando Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas; had issue one dau.; m. 2 nd c.1923 in Texas, Charles Herbert Kellner, b. 1 Oct. 1895 in Galveston, Texas, d. 7 Nov. 1985 in Galveston, Texas; no issue of this m.

Bessie Kathryn Matney, dau. of John and Clarissa R. (Clark-Ashby) 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.

                Children:

• William Robert (‘Billy’) Conway Jr., b. 15 Jan. 1921 in Texas, d. 24 Dec. 2001, buried in Prairie Grove Cemetery, Mexia, Texas; m. c.1943 Cleo Beatrice Smart, b. 7 March 1923 in Mexia, Texas, d. 25 Feb. 2002 in Breckenridge, Texas, buried in Prairie Grove Cemetery, Mexia, Texas; had issue a son.

America Frances Nickerson, dau. of Joshua and Mary Margaret (Clark-Ashby) 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.

                Children:

• Maggie Elizabeth White, b. Nov. 1894 in Stone Co., Mo., d. Aug. 1917 in Stone Co., Mo., buried in Joseph Philibert Cemetery, Kimberling City, Mo.; m. 7 Aug. 1908 in Galena, Mo., Jesse Thomas Garrigus, b. 9 Oct. 1885 in Missouri, d. 20 June 1930 in Sedalia, Mo., buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Sedalia, Mo.; had issue a son and three daus.
• Menerva A. B. (‘Allie’) White, b. Jan. 1898 in Stone Co., Mo., d. in Stone Co., Mo.; m. (NN) Moore and had a child. No further information.
• Melvin White, b. 8 Sept. 1903 in Reeds Spring, Stone Co., Mo., d. 25 May 1973 in Siloam Springs, Benton Co., Arkansas, buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Gentry, Arkansas; m. 1st Isa Dora Dunn, b. June 1912 in Arkansas, d. 17 Jan. 1985, buried in Nickerson Cemetery, Kimberling City, Stone Co., Mo.; had issue two sons and six daus.; m. 2nd Hazel Olive (Reading) Rakich, b. 24 May 1906 in Gentry, Benton Co., Arkansas, d. 13 March 1993 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Gentry, Arkansas, no issue of this m.
• Le Roy James (‘Rod’) White, b. 24 June 1907 in Stone Co., Mo., d. of pancreatic cancer 16 Nov. 1967 near Mount Vernon, Lawrence Co., Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery, Kimberling City, Stone Co., Mo.; m. 21 June 1932 in Jackson Co., Mo., Hattie Susan Martin, b. 3 Sept. 1911 in Culp, Baxter Co., Arkansas, d. 16 March 1959 in Reeds Spring, Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery, Kimberling City, Mo.; had issue three sons.
• Orvil White, b. Jan. 1910 in Stone Co., Mo., d. of typhoid fever 31 Aug. 1931 in Stone Co. Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery, Kimberling City, Stone Co., Mo. Never married and no issue.
• Alpha L. White, b. 14 Sept. 1914 in Reeds Spring, Stone Co., Mo., d. 24 May 1999 in Oroville, Butte Co., Calif.; m. Lawson Walter (‘Loss’) White, b. 3 Sept. 1905 in Harrison, Boone Co., Arkansas, d. 30 April 1955 in Oroville, Butte Co., Calif.; had issue three daus. and two sons.
• Birche White, b. 21 Aug. 1917 in Reeds Spring, Stone Co., Mo., d. 14 April 2003 Reeds Spring, Stone Co., Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery, Kimberling City, Mo.; m. 1st 6 Oct. 1936 in Stone Co., Mo., Flossie Mae Horn, b. 29 Nov. 1921 in Stone Co., Mo., d. 19 Jan. 1993 in Reeds Spring, Stone Co., Mo., buried in Nickerson Cemetery, Kimberling City, Mo.; had issue four sons; m. 2nd Oma Holt, who survived him.

William Albert Nickerson, son of Joshua and Mary Margaret (Clark-Ashby) 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.

                Children:

• Viola Frances Nickerson, b. 17 Oct. 1898 in Reeds Spring, Stone Co., Mo., d. 31 Oct. 1984 in Oroville, Butte Co., Calif., buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Oroville, Calif., m. 10 June 1917 in Galena, Stone Co., Mo., Arthur Lee Crabtree, b. 17 Jan. 1897 in Galena, Stone Co., Mo., d. 9 Sept. 1984 in Oroville, Butte Co., Calif., buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Oroville, Calif.; had issue nine daus. and two sons.
• Isaac J. Nickerson, b. 19 Aug. 1901 in Stone Co., Mo., d. 19 July 1904 in Reeds Spring, Stone Co., Mo., buried in Joseph Philibert Cemetery, Kimberling City, Stone Co., Mo.

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