Santa Clara County
Biographies
JOHN ASHLEY
JOHN ASHLEY. An early and honored pioneer of California,
John Ashley, late of San Jose, took part in the development and upbuilding
of this section of the state, and was an important factor in the promoting of
its growth and prosperity. Before the establishment of railroads he assisted in
the transportation of the people from one place to another, being one of the
proprietors of a stage line, and was subsequently associated with many of the
leading industries of the county. He was a man of enterprise and ability, and
was universally respected and esteemed for his many excellent traits of
character and manly virtues. A son of Jerris Ashley,
he was born in Toronto, Canada, and died at his home in San Jose in 1895, at
the venerable age of seventy-eight years. When three years of
age he went with the family to Buffalo, N. Y., where he grew to manhood,
completing his early education in the city schools. While there he
served an apprenticeship at the tin and copper business and after he was
married was a near neighbor of William G. Fargo, the founder of the
Wells-Fargo Express Company, who sent Mr. Ashley to California as the
first express messenger on the coast. In that capacity he made several trips
across the continent. His wife came with him to California on the last trip. In
1849 he had sent his brother, William Ashley, to California and they
embarked in mercantile pursuits in Sacramento, where they continued in business
for several years. He was subsequently employed in staging for a short time,
but, not content with that occupation, sold out and
removed to Napa, Cal., where he kept hotel for a while and also managed two
stage lines. Mr. and Mrs. Ashley located in San Jose in 1852, where
he, in partnership with William Hall and Major Hensley, at once
established a stage route from this place to Alviso, in connection with the
steamboats to San Francisco.
After the railroad company monopolized the business he
gave up his stage route and began boring artesian wells in this and adjoining
counties. Subsequently he accepted the James Campbell contracts for boring
artesian wells in Honolulu, on the Campbell estate, and for one year was thus
actively employed. Later he bored wells for other parties on the island.
Returning to San Jose he afterward lived retired from life’s activities until
his death, at a ripe old age.
When Mr. Ashley took up his residence in San Jose
the houses were few and far between, the land being largely covered with wild
mustard, which grew luxuriously, oftentimes higher than a horse’s head.
Mr. Ashley married Miss Hannah S. Smith, who was
born in England, near Leeds, February 19, 1822, a daughter of James
Smith. When a child she came with her parents to the United States and lived in
Buffalo, N. Y., where she met and married Mr. Ashley. Of the children
born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ashley, but one grew to years of
maturity: William G. Ashley, who was born and reared in San Jose, and
was engaged for some time in banking in Honolulu, and
later was employed on the Honolulu plantation as bookkeeper and assistant
manager. He married Kittie Talbot, and they are
the parents of six children: Belle H., William G., John A.,
Catherine M., Dorothy M. and Annie S. Mrs. Ashley is a very
bright and active woman, and although more than four score of life’s milestones
have been passed she takes great interest in local affairs, enjoying to the
utmost her large circle of friends and acquaintances. She is a generous
supporter of educational and religious institutions, and is noted for her
unostentatious benevolence and charity, alleviating the sufferings and
hardships of the needy being one of her greatest sources of happiness. She is
liberal in all her thoughts and actions.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 17 April 2016.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page
1074. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Marie Hassard.