John Ashby migrated to Illinois from Halifax Co., VA. With a sheepskin from Andrew Jackson and having 8 children on the trail thru NC and TN, he first settled in Crawford Co., IL from which Coles Co., IL originated. He was a Blacksmith and drew many to seek apprenticeship with him. In early days of Coles Co., IL the post office box was Ashby just south of present day Charleston, IL in Hutton, IL. He set up his home there and had 9 more children before he died at the end of the civil war. No stranger to the ravages of war, John gave a blacksmithed coin to his son Edwin of his likeness no doubt as a crude form of identification to carry with him. I am interested in learning more about his father, Joseph Ashby in Halifax VA, and mother, Abecca McGinnis also from Halifax Co., VA. and John Ashby's wife, Elizabeth Readen/Redding.

• Edwin Ashby Family Tree (11 KB)
  The Ashbys from Illinois back to Virginia.

Lani Ashby
cd_romana@sbcglobal.net

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