Joseph Ash

JOSEPH ASH, who resides on a farm of forty-four acres in Forward Township, Butler, County, Penna., is a well known citizen of the community and has had a varied experience in the field of business. He was born on the old home farm in Forward Township, September 29, 1832, and is a son of Sylvester and Martha (Boggs) Ash, and grandson of Joseph Ash.
Joseph Ash, the grandfatlier, was born in Wales and early in life came to the United States, settling in the woods of Forward Township, Butler Country, Penna., where he acquired 200 acres of uncleared land. In the early days, when Indians were yet numerous in this section and the dangers many, he carried the mail from Pittsburg to Franklin on foot. He cleared a small part of his farm, but died when comparatively young, leaving his widow and their children in poor circumstances. Four of their children grew to maturity and lived to ripe old ages, namely: Rachel, Elizabeth, Isaac and Sylvester.
Sylvester Ash was but five years old when his father died, and it became necessary for him and his brother to go to work at very youthful ages, and notwithstanding this strain they both grew to be men of large stature and great physical strength. He aided in clearing the home farm, and came into possession of 100 acres of it. He farmed and followed carpentering during all his active days, and died in 1883 at the age of seventy-three years, having spent his entire life in Butler County. He was survived some eight years by his widow, who in maiden life was Martha Boggs; she was born in Evans City, and was a daughter of Robert Boggs, one of the very earliest settlers of the community. They were parents of five children who grew up, namely: Joseph; Isaac, a lawyer of Oil City, Penna.; Robert; Anderson, who is on the old home farm, and Elizabeth, widow of Lewis Gansz.
Isaac Ash was reared to manhood on the home farm and attended school in the primitive log school-house which was located about a mile and a half from his home. The pathway lay through almost unbroken woods, and it was the custom of the older boys to take their axes and cut wood for old Prof. McMillen, to be burned in the old fashioned fire place at one end of the room. After his marriage, Mr. Ash went to Evans City and opened a general store, which he conducted for four years, then sold out to his brother-in-law, Milton White. He had, in the meantime, come into possession of a farm of sixty-six acres in Forward Township, and on this he located, clearing and farming it. He learned the trade of a carpenter under his father, with whom he worked many years, and they erected most of the farm-houses and buildings of the neighborhood at that period. Later he went into the lightning rod business, which he followed successfully for thirty-two years, rodding some 3,600 buildings in this section of Pennsylvania, many of the rods being in use and good condition at the present day. Retiring from that business he purchased a valuable tract of forty-four acres in Forward Township, located along the traction line about twelve miles southwest of Butler, where he now lives and engages in farming. He cleared the place, on which he operated a sawmill, cutting up over 900 logs.
Mr. Ash was first married to Susan Gansz, who died about one year later, and he formed a second union with Susan E. White. They expect to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in June, 1909. Seven children were born to them, three of whom died voung. Those living are: Ada, wife of Dr. F. V. Brooks of Washington, D. C.; Jessie, wife of W. A. Pearce; Josephine, wife of W. D. Riggs, and Catherine, wife of George Starkey, a banker of Washington, D. C. Religiously, they are Methodists.
Source: 20th century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and respresentative citizens, McKee, James A., 1909, page 982-983.