Family Histories of Coleman County, Texas

Ashley Family
by Mrs. Darrell Ashley

From A History of Coleman County and Its People, 1985 
edited by Judia and Ralph Terry, and Vena Bob Gates - used by permission
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     Mark C. Ashley, born December 7, 1832, and Miss Hannah Woodard, born March born 1840, were married June 24, 1864.  He died only a few years before his wife Hannah, who died in 1915, both buried in Santa Anna.  To this union were born; Sarah, March 29, 1865; Will M., November 17, 1867; Molly, November 15, 1869; Mattie, November 30, 1871; Ellen, August 6, 1874; Alice, December 28, 1877; Albert James, August 27, 1880; John Willis, December 27, 1882.  At this time the family decided to move from Lamar County and the last part of 1883, Mark C. brought his famiy to Santa Anna.  Two more children were born; Lillie Maud, January 2, 1885 and Ida May, July 6, 1887.  Mark C. was in the 29th Cavalry, Confederate Army, Company C.  He was the first man to ride horseback to deliver the U. S. Mail from the Trickham Post Office to Santa Anna.

     John Willis married Miss Myrtle Lee Sparks on December 16, 1906, born August 16, 1889 (see Abner Calvin Sparks).  They had one son, Darrel Dan, born May 30, 1908, at Gouldbusk.  At the age of five, he was brought to Santa Anna, where he lived until his death, August 10, 1979.  John Willis died October 13, 1931, and Myrtle Lee died January 9, 1977, both buried at Santa Anna.  Darrel Dan married Ruth Elizabeth Huggins in the First Baptist Church in Coleman, February 1, 1929.  They had no children.  Ruth Elizabeth was born December 9, 1910, in Comanche County, near the community of Zephyr in Brown County.  She and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Huggins, moved to Comanche and in 1928, she moved to Santa Anna.  Darrel Van is buried at Santa Anna.  Ruth still lives in her home in Santa Anna.



(Images to be added)

John and Myrtle Sparks Ashley

Ruth Huggins and Darrel Dan Ashley



 
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