Henderson County Texas

John F. Ash, Henderson Co., TX

Ash Switch is named for the John Ash family, who had a large and prosperous 100 acre peach orchard at the turn of the century. Since they did a lot of railroad shipping, the railroad built a special switch to their loading area. (A switch is a short stretch of railroad track).  Ash Switch, also known as Ash, is on Farm Road 1616 four miles northeast of Athens in north central Henderson County

The original land was purchased by John F Ash's step-father, James Louis Ash. J L Ash purchased on 19 Feb 1876 from T W House (of Houston), a league and labor of land (N R Mallon patent of 15 Aug 1854, Volume 11, #145). Ash paid $4,605 for approximately 5,100 acres. In 1880, James granted a 66' right-of-way to the Texas and St Louis Railway (later Cotton Belt RR), for $1.

James Ash had married in 1867 to the widow, Sarah Jane Finn Tislow, and they lived at Petersburg in SW Indiana. According to one newspaper account, "The father [James L Ash] was not only a farmer but a stock man and each year came south with a herd of horses and mules. On one of these trips he acquired a league and labour of land 5 miles from Athens northeast."

In the winter of 1882 James Ash died [details not known today]. As a young man the health of John Ash was not good and in health seeking it occurred to him and his mother as well, to come to Texas and develop the newly and carelessly acquired estate. He thought he had consumption. In the meantime he married to Anna Laura Stocks of Evansville Indiana in 1890, and they had their first son Richard Tislow Ash in 1892 at Petersburg Indiana.

In the spring of 1893 therefore they came to Athens to recover health and to see what was in the land. Mr Ash embarked in the merchantile business first in Athens but went to work at once to set his land in fruit trees and as they grew it became apparent that Mr. Ash must quit the store or give up the orchard. He chose wisely and abandoned the store not like the many careless investors and with true northern instinct. Mr. Ash had an expert fruit man to visit his farm and examine the soil and other conditions before he ventured to make the irrevocable leap. The land was pronounced first class and the conditions most favorable... Mr. Ash began shipping fruit in 1896 and has had no failure since.

In a 1908 newspaper story, J. F. Ash reported that 20 cars of peaches, 1 car of potatoes and 2 cars of melons have been shipped from Ash this season, and 175,000 crates of peaches by express. He added another 30 acres some time after that. In 1925 he ordered 30,000 peach trees for farmers of Henderson County, according to a newspaper ad. Three years earlier, 5,000 trees were planted in his 130 acres of orchards.

In "History of Henderson County", chapter about fruit (pp293-295), "Mr. John Ash deserves credit for introducing this industry in this county... His name will go down in history as a great benefactor to the people as demonstrating to them, that the best peaches can be grown here in the world, for home and market use... he handles a peach named and known as "John Ash". It has taken him many years to breed it up to where it is now, but he says it is superior to the Mamie Ross, Elberta, or any other of the first class brands."

The Ash homes are featured in the book "Old Homes of Henderson County" which says, "the Ash family owned two homes, one here on the farm and one in downtown Athens. The homes were almost identical. The Athens home, originally located on East Corsicana, had been moved to East Tyler Street and was at one time the Gingerbread House, a boutique [no longer exists].

According to the Southland, published in 1903, "the Ash home is rapidly becoming a model for comfort and elegance... The residence is new and elegant and the latest periodicals may be found on the table, the best hunter, shotgun is in the home, etc. A new windmill and tank have been placed in convenient proximity to the house which is furnished with a good water supply. Mr. Ash also arranged to easily irrigate about five acres which he will use for gardening and trucking.

A cemetery, known as the Ash Cemetery, serves the local community.

Notes about Frentress family and how they are associated with the Ash family:
We have the historical account of the Frentress family, in the 2 volume Henderson History book. It says, "But he [John Frentress] considered French Lick [Indiana] to be his home. While on a construction job at French Lick, he met John Ash and they became good friends. Mr. [John] Ash had purchased over 5,000 acres of land in Texas (6 miles NE of Athens) [in 1876]. In 1879, John (now aged 29) and Mr. Ash moved a train load of horses from Indiana to Houston Texas, and then drove the horses to Athens."

James Ash sold to John Frentress 100 acres on March 26, 1881. Another 82 acres was sold to John Frentress in January 1883, after James Ash's death.

The Ash family name comes from John's step-father, James Louis Ash, who adopted John at Pike County, Indiana. John's real father was Richard Daniels Tislow, of Pike County, Indiana, died in 1866 when John was 5 years old. This Ash family can be traced back to Frederick Co., Virgina:
1840 census Virginia, MONONGALIA, West Monongalia, p 95
1850 census Virginia, MONONGALIA, Roll 961 Book 1, Page 299b
1860 census Kentucky, UNION, Morganfield

Genealogy for John F Ash:

• Descendents of John F Ash and Anna Laura Stocks
• Ancestors of John F Ash
• Ancestors of his wife, Anna Laura Stocks

Special thanks to Joyce Loden (descendent of John Frentress), for her substantial efforts in obtaining research materials that help tell the Ash story.

Submitted by Dave Clark at cdave#austin.rr.com  (replace # with @)

Descendants of John F. Ash (TISLOW) and Anna Laura Stocks

Generation No. 1

1. JOHN F ASH (son of RICHARD DANIELS TISLOW, a son of German immigrant PAUL TISLOW) was born 12 August 1861 in Pike County, Indiana, and died 4 September 1931 in Athens, Henderson County, Texas. He married ANNA LAURA STOCKS 11 September 1890 in Vanderburgh Co, Indiana, daughter of immigrants from England JOHN STOCKS and EMMA ALLEN. She was born 7 December 1861 in Indiana, and died 17 June 1958 in Athens, Henderson County, Texas.

Notes for JOHN F ASH (TISLOW)
Buried at plot 1362 Section S, at Athens City Cemetery
Son of Richard Daniels Tislow (b abt 1825, d 13 June 1866 Pike County IN), adopted by James L Ash (b 1832 VA,
d December 1882 IN). His mother was Sarah Jane FINN Tislow Ash (b 29 July 1825, d 13 July 1896 Pike County IN)
Vanderburgh County, Indiana Book 15 p347 and Book 2 p128 John F Ash m Anna L Stocks on 11 Sep 1890, at age 30
1870 Census, Petersburgh, Washington Township, Pike County, Indiana, p 15
1880 census Indiana, PIKE, Roll 304 Book 1, Page 366a (Washington township)
1900 census Texas, Henderson County, Page 49A, J-Pct 1
1910 census Texas, HENDERSON, Roll 1563 Book 2, Page 60a, J-pct 1
1920 census Texas, HENDERSON, Roll 1818 Book 1, Page 68a
1930 census Texas, HENDERSON, Roll 2354 Book 2, Page 211b, Athens 2nd ED
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There is a John Frentress from Dubois Co, IN (adjacent to Pike Co) b Mar 1850 or 1853 who was there in Athens and died in 1911. His wife is Eliza J Thomas Frentess. Married in Athens in 1881. But his first marriage was in Pike County IN in 1871.

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Notes for ANNA LAURA STOCKS
Phone directory 1939: Ash, Mrs. John F. 400 E. Corsicana Street
Mrs. Libbie Bullen of Evansville, Ind. is visiting her sister Mrs. J. F. Ash. (Feb. 6, 1903]
Burial: Athens City Cemetery
Occupation: dressmaker when 17

Children of JOHN ASH (TISLOW) and ANNA LAURA STOCKS are:

2. i. RICHARD T ASH, b. June 25, 1892, Indiana; d. November 13, 1966, Athens, Henderson Co, Texas.
3. ii. HERBERT ASH, b. July 22, 1898, Athens, Texas; d. October 23, 1974, Austin, Texas.
iii. RUTH ASH, b. Abt. 1903, Athens, Texas; d. March 08, 1936, Wichita Falls, Texas; m. RAMEY R PRICE; b. Abt. 1899, Missouri.

Notes for RUTH ASH
(Obituary) A musician and served for a time as organist of the Methodist church here.
Born in Athens, the deceased attended the public schools and was a graduate of Athens High. Later she received her degree from Trinity University in 1924 and then was elected as a teacher in the Athens schools. After teaching here two years she accepted a position in the Clarksville schools and it was there she met Mr. Price. Since her marriage she has been living at Amarillo and Wichita Falls, her husband being connected with the Texas Casualty Company. She was living in Amarillo, Potter County, TX in 1930. Mrs. Price has been seriously ill for several days. Saturday her condition became critical and her mother and brother, Herbert Ash of Austin left for Wichita Falls. Mrs. Price was unconscious throughout the day Sunday and the end came Sunday night.

Generation No. 2

2. RICHARD T ASH (JOHN F ASH (TISLOW), RICHARD DANIELS TISLOW, PAUL TISLOW) was born June 25, 1892 in Indiana, and died November 13, 1966 in Athens, Henderson Co, Texas. He married GUSSIE MAE ASH Abt. 1917.
She was born June 01, 1893 in Texas, and died July 12, 1986 in Corpus Christi, Nueces Co, Texas.

Notes for RICHARD T ASH

Buried at plot 1349 Section S in Athens City Cemetery
Occupation: Manager, fruit farm

Children of RICHARD ASH and GUSSIE ASH are

i. SARAH LOUISE ASH, b. 4 Oct 1917, Texas, d 07 Jul 1998 Houston TX.
Married to Charles French Thomas, and they had 2 children.

ii. MARY FINN ASH, b. 20 Apr 1919, Texas, d 25 Dec 1998 Dublin, Erath Co., TX.
Married 1st to Louis C Augustine Tyler in 1939 and had 2 children. Married 2nd to Kirk Pettit.
Notes for MARY FINN ASH
Graduated Athens High School 1935
on honor roll at Baylor University, 16 Apr 1936
on Dean's List at Baylor University, 14 Jan 1937
named member Kappa Delta Pi, 27 Jan 1938
Occupation: school teacher

iii. (LIVING) ASH, b. 1925, Athens, Texas. Married, 2 children

3. HERBERT ASH (JOHN F ASH (TISLOW), RICHARD DANIELS TISLOW, PAUL TISLOW) was born 22 July 1898, in Athens, Texas, and died 23 October 1974 in Austin, Texas. He married ELISABETH THEOBALD BARRICKMAN 1925. She was born 8 January 1900 in Herrods Creek, Kentucky, and died 7 June 1979 in Austin, Texas.

Notes for HERBERT ASH
Taught science at Athens High School Athens, Texas, in 1922
Graduated UT Austin
car salesman in Austin
Child of HERBERT ASH and ELISABETH BARRICKMAN is

i. (LIVING) ASH, b. 1927, Austin, Texas. Married CLARK, 4 children

Ancestors of John F Ash (TISLOW)

His grandfather was Paul Tislow (abt 1755 - 1852), the Tislow family immigrant from Germany. Paul was the start of all Tislows in Indiana. One of Pike County's pioneer families, he came to America in 1776 just before he was 21 to evade military service in the German Army. A stow-away on a ship, he was sold to a Virginian planter for a period of three years to pay for his passage. He worked for one year and then married the boss' daughter, Matilda Nay. He came with her to White Oak Springs in l778 or 1779 with one horse and sled, and built a fortified cabin in what is now Madison Township, Pike Co, Indiana. On 12 Apr 1821 he married Ellenor Ashby (b 1797 IN), who was John's grandmother.

John's mother, Sarah Jane FINN (Tislow Ash), was the daughter of John FINN (b 30 Mar 1793 NY or SC, d 01 May 1829 IN) and Elizabeth OSBORNE (Finn Miley) (b 22 Jun 1806 NY, d 24 Dec 1896 IN). The Osborne's are an old original family going back to the late 1600s at Fairfield CT.

Reverend Peter BULKELEY (b 31 January 1581 OS Odell, Beds, England, d 9 March 1658 OS Concord, Massachusetts) is John's 6th great-grandfather (through Elizabeth Osborne). He came in "Susan and Ellen" ship to Cambridge Massachusetts, 1635, first settler and minister at Concord, Massachusetts, founder of 12th church in the colony, his library formed nucleus of Harvard College Library.
Along with his wife, Lady Grace CHETWOODE, their distinguished European ancestors are described in "Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700".

Everardus (Dominie) BOGARDUS (b 1607 Woerden, Utrecht, Netherlands, d 27 September 1647 at sea, off coast Wales, Bristol Channel ) is John's 7th great-grandfather (through Elizabeth Osborne). He was sent to New Amsterdam NY as a (Dutch Reformed) minister and arrived on the ship de Soutberg in April 1633. He was married to widow Anneke Jans JANSEN (b 1605 Vleckere Flekkeroy, Norway, d 19 March 1662 OS Albany, NY). This family was significant in the history of New Amsterdam, which is now downtown Manhattan NY. Their home can be seen in a picture at:http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~windmill/html/markveld.html

Children of Richard Daniels TISLOW and Sarah Jane FINN (John Ash's parents) are:
i. ELIZABETH ELENOR TISLOW, b. 16 Dec 1855, Pike County, Indiana; d. 01 Apr 1949, Marin, CA., m. on 01 Mar 1877 at Pike Co. IN to Orlando E. HART. Lived in IA and KS.
ii. SARAH (SALLY) JANE TISLOW, b. 03 Feb 1858, Pike Co, IN. m. on 28 Apr 1887 at Pike Co., IN to William Hayes RUSSELL. Lived in AR and MO.
iii. MARY ADALINE (ADA) TISLOW, b. 23 Jul 1859, Pike Co, IN.; m on 09 Apr 1878 at Pike Co, IN to James B. B. BARKER. Lived in KY and IN.
iv. JOHN F (TISLOW) ASH, b. 12 Aug 1861, Pike Co, Indiana; d. 04 Sep 1931, Athens, Henderson Co., Texas.
v. RICHARD H TISLOW, b. 18 Dec 1863, Pike Co, IN; d. 27 Feb 1865, Pike Co, IN.

Ancestors of Anna Laura Stocks

Anna Laura STOCKS, wife of John F ASH, was born on 7 December 1861 likely at Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

Anna's father is John S STOCKS, born Abt. 1825 in England died 26 Jul 1879 at Evansville. He is the son of Frederick STOCKS and Elizabeth TAYLOR of Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, England, who remained in England. John married his 2nd wife, Emma* ALLEN on 11 September 1860 in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

Anna's mother is Emma ALLEN, born 12 Apr 1840 at Chatteris, Cambridgeshire Co., England and died 08 Dec 1905 at Petersburg, Pike Co., Indiana. Anna immigrated on the ship John Dught, arriving 12 Jun 1857 at NY with her brothers and sisters (and brother-in-law Thomas Feast). Her parents are Levi and Dorcas ALLEN, who lived at Chatteris, Cambridgeshire Co., England and immigrated to the US on the ship Boston, arriving NY on 26 Apr 1866. They died at Allen, Kingman Co., Kansas.

Notes for John S Stocks:

1850 census Indiana, VANDERBURGH, Roll 176 Book 1, Page 399a, Pigeon Ward 1 Just before his 1st marriage. Same household as Thomas Bullman/Bowman and Pheba, all from England. Thomas Allen is married (1849) to Mary Bullman/Bowman Pheba is daughter of John's brother Samuel Stocks.
1860 census Indiana, VANDERBURGH, Roll 302 Book 1, Page 486 Evansville (in Crisp household)
1870 census, Indiana, VANDERBURGH, Roll 364 Book 1, Page 391a, 9 Wd Evansville

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Notes for Emma Allen:

It appears that Thomas Allen, brother of Emma Allen, married Mary Bowman, sister of Thomas Bowman... whose house John Stocks is living in 1850... and John later marries Emma Allen.

1860 census in Evansville, Indiana, VANDERBURGH, Roll 302 Book 1, Page 448
With married sister (prev page) Elizabeth (28), and her shoemaker husband Thomas Feast (29). Also with sister Jane(18)... Jenny (27) is shown in 1870 w/other sister Elizabeth.
1880 census Indiana, VANDERBURGH, Roll 317 Book 1, Page 527b, Evansville
Listed by herself (widowed) in 1880, w children Listed by herself
1900 census Indiana, Pike County, Washington Township, Petersburg, p204
(living with other daughters).

Children of John STOCKS and Emma ALLEN (Anna Laura's parents) are:
iii. ANNA LAURA STOCKS, b. 07 Dec 1861, Indiana; d. 17 Jun 1958, Athens, Henderson Co., Texas.
iv. RUTH A STOCKS, b. Jan 1866, Indiana; m. Abt. 1906 to OSCAR FREDERICK, b. Abt. 1848, MD.; both living St Louis MO in 1930.
v. HARVEY G STOCKS, b. Feb 1868, Indiana; d. 09 Sep 1945, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. m. 1890 to LOUISE C MEEKER, b Oct 1866 NJ
vi. JANE (JENNIE) STOCKS, b. Sep 1871, Indiana; d. 02 Jun 1926, Athens, Texas.
vii. MARGARET M STOCKS, b. Jun 1873, Indiana. Lived with sister Ruth.

Children of Levi and Dorcas ALLEN (Emma's parents) are:
i. ELIZABETH ALLEN, b. Abt. 1832, England; d. 10 May 1876, Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana; m. to THOMAS FEAST; b. Abt. 1829, England; d. 31 Dec 1876, Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.
ii. JOHN ALLEN, b. Abt. 1834, England.
iii. THOMAS (GEORGE) ALLEN, b. Abt. 1836, England.
iv. WILLIAM ALLEN, b. 1837, North Witchford, Cambridgeshire, England; d. US.
v. EMMA* ALLEN, b. 12 Apr 1840, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire Co., England; d. 08 Dec 1905, Petersburg, Pike Co., Indiana.
vi. JANE ALLEN, b. 1842, North Witchford, Cambridgeshire, England.
vii. LEVI ALLEN, b. 05 Mar 1844, England; d. 13 Jan 1939, Kingman Co., Kansas.
viii. ANN ALLEN, b. 1846, North Witchford, Cambridgeshire, England.
ix. MARY ALLEN, b. 1848, North Witchford, Cambridgeshire, England.

Children of Richard STOCKS and Elizabeth TAYLOR (John Stock's parents) are:
i. ANN STOCKS, b. 10 Oct 1817, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England; m. to JOSEPH IBBOT; d. 04 Feb 1875, Manea?.
ii. MARY STOCKS, b. Abt. 1821, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England.
iii. JOHN* S STOCKS, b. Abt. 1825, England; d. 26 Jul 1879, Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN.
iv. SAMUEL STOCKS, b. Abt. 1827, England.
v. NEOMA STOCKS, b. Abt. 1829, England.
vi. SUSAN STOCKS, b. Abt. 1832, England.
vii. RHODA STOCKS, b. Abt. 1838, England.

Henderson County, Texas - Pioneer Families

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