Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... Ashley, James R
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

James R. ASHLEY, Secretary Joliet Wire Fence Co., Joliet; was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., 
in February, 1825; in 1837, his father came West with his family and settled in Plainfield, 
Will Co., Ill. He was a minister in the Baptist Church: and labored many years for the churches 
in Plainfield, Naperville, Downer's Grove, and organized the church in Joliet; he still resides 
in Plainfield, having almost completed his fourscore years. James enjoyed a good common-school 
education, and was at an early age introduced to business life; after his majority he began 
mercantile life in Plainfield, which he followed twenty years; in 1871, he sold out his store 
and in the sping of 1874, began business in Joliet in company with A. B. Sharp, in the manufacture 
and sale of the Excelsior Axle Grease; this he continued till January, 1876, when he formed a 
co-partnership with Scutt & Watkins, under the firm name of H. P. Scutt &. Co., and engaged in 
the manufacture of barbed fence; in October, 1876, he purchased the interest of Mr. WATKINS in 
the firm, and a stock company was formed under the name of the Joliet Wire Fence Company, of which 
he was chosen Secretary, a position he still holds. He was married Oct. 27, 1850, to Julia F. 
TYLER, a native of Troy, N. Y.; has one child living---Ellie M.; three deceased---Alice E., 
Christina, and Nellie.

Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

File at: http://will.illinoisgenweb.org/bios/ashleyjr.txt


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