Continued -----  Fourth Installment

By sheer force of will, ambition and industry he earned all the honors that 
came to him.  Prosperity never changed him in any way.  His was a happy 
disposition - he loved people.  He could call almost every person in the 
County by name.  He was especially concerned about the person who was 
struggling to pull himself up from poverty and want.  He was always ready to 
help those in need - no one was ever turned from his door.  He took them in 
as a stranger and he and "Aunt Holley" fed, housed and clothed them until a 
job could be found suited to their ability.  He saw to it that the sick were 
cared for and the dead buried.  He gave generously to those less fortunate.  
He had a trigger temper and frequently lost it.  He would hit first - then 
take the vicim to the doctor, pay the bill and help them any way he could to 
get adjusted.

There are two favorite stories of his family.  First one is:  A fellow 
legislator said to him, "Uncle Josh, I'll bet you could be President of these 
United States if you had had an education."  His reply was, "I don't know - I 
may have been a damn fool -- I know some who are."  The second one came about 
when the House was deliberating a compulsory school law.  He was out of the 
chamber of most of the debate and came in just in time to hear, this 
compulsory law is essential. "Josh Ashley" stopped dead in his tracks and 
bellowed, " Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker! I'm a'gin anything compulsory. This is 
a free land awe are living it.  Ain't nobody got a right to force nobody else 
to do what he don't want to do.  I move that this bill, whatever is be 
tabled."  This was reported by former Governor Heyward as his story about one 
of the most colorful characters that he had ever known.
Mr. Ashley was a proud and handsome man, not too tall - about average in 
height. (Although he carried himself tall).  He had a florid face, dark 
auburn curly hair, flashing grey-green eyes.  His hands and feet were 
unusually small but his neck and shoulders were heavy set, thick and 
muscular, expressive of power and strength.  He never dressed informally.  
His daughter, Savannah Pearman, said she never remembered seeing him dressed 
in anything other than white shirts, conservative tie and a dark business 
suit or in a cut-a-way.
Mr. Ashley spent part of his life in merchandizing.  He had a store or 
commissary on his farm and he then opened a store on Main Street of Honea 
Path, which he sold several years prior to his death.  On his farm he also 
had a saw-mill and cotton gin. He loved fast horses and game chickens.
The largest crown on record that ever attended a funeral in Anderson was that 
in honor of Mr. Ashley.  About 100 of these were blacks - all of whom wept 
copiously for the loss of the "best friend they had ever had."  Truly he was 
a good friend to all who worked with and for him.  He expected the best from 
others - because he gave the best.
Mr. Ashley suffered a stroke of facial paralysis soon after the 1912 primary. 
 A second and more serious stroke came in 1913 and he voluntarily retired 
From politics because of this condition.  When he was stricken with the 
second big stroke people from all over the State came to see him and his 
family in droves.  There were no available hotels or eating places, so, his 
family took care of these needs.  As a grandchild I can report that the 
children ate at the 9th table most days.  The table would seat more than a 
dozen.
Josh Ashley was survived by his wife and three sons and three daughters.  
They are as follows:  Melvin Joshua, who lived south of Honea Path in 
Abbeville County.  He also served as a representative in the House for almost 
as many terms as did his father.  He and his father were the first father-son 
representatives to serve in the House: Joe M. H. Ashley, who at the time of 
his father's death was sheriff of Anderson County.  Joe had taken his father 
to Anderson for better medical treatment after he was bed ridden.  It was in 
his home that his father died; Orr Ashley who lived near Honea Path; Mrs. 
Millie C. Canfield, who lived between Honea Path and Belton; Mrs. Ella Ashley 
who lived near Honea Path; Mrs. Savannah Pearman, wife of James N. Pearman, 
who was the clerk of court in Anderson County.
Aside from his political live Joshua W. Ashley was connected with many 
organizations of the farmer.  He always gave farming as his occupation.  He 
was a leader in "The Grange," out of which the Farmers Alliance grew.  He was 
a member of Keowee Baptist Church, for which he gave the land and sawed out 
the lumber of the first church.  He and his wife are buried in the church 
cemetery of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church.




~~~~~

Joy~

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