Ashmead, Issac – Astor, William Waldorf
Ashmead, Issac
printer, was born Dec. 22, 1790, in Germantown, Pa. He was apprenticed to William Bradford, and in 1821 founded what is now the oldest printing establishment in Philadelphia.
He set up the first power-presses ever used in that city, and introduced composition rollers. He was one of the founders of the American Sunday School union, and printed its publications. He also aided in establishing the American Presbyterian and the Presbyterian Quarterly. He died March 1, 1870, in Philadelphia.
Ashmore, John D
congressman, was born Aug. 7, 1819, in Greenville, S. C.
When quite young he filled various offices in the state militia; was a member of the South Carolina legislature in 1848, 1850, and 1852; in 1853 was elected comptroller-general of the state for two years and was re-elected for a second term.
He was subsequently elected a representative from South Carolina to the thirtysixth congress.
Ashmore, Otis
educator, astronomer, was born March 6, 1853, in Lincoln county, Ga. He has always been engaged in educational work. For ten years he was science teacher in the Savannah High school, and is now superintendent of schools of that city. He is the author of Grier's Almanac, the best known annual publication of the kind in the south; and has also attained prominence as a noted astronomer.
Ashmun, Eli Porter
lawyer, United States senator, was born June 24, 1770, in Blandford, Mass. He was a distinguished lawyer, and for several years a member of the house of representatives and senate of Massachusetts. In 1816 he was elected to succeed C. Gore as senator from that state in congress. He died May 10, 1819, in Northampton, Mass.
Ashmun, George
lawyer, congressman, was born Dec. 25, 1804, in Blandford, Mass. He graduated at Yale college in 1823; studied law, and settled in Springfield in 1828; served in the state legislature during the years 1833, 1835, 1836, 1838, and 1841, officiating as speaker of the house in the latter year. He was a representative in congress from 1845 to 1851. In 1860 he was president of the Chicago convention; and in 1866 was chosen a delegate to the Philadelphia National Union convention. He died July 17, 1870, in Springfield, Mass.
Ashmun, Jehudi
missionary, author, was born April, 1794, in Champlain, N. Y.
He was placed in charge of an expedition to reinforce the colony of Liberia; remained in the colony for six years, but in 1828 he was obliged to return home on account of ill-health. He was the author of a volume entitled Memoirs of Samuel Bacon. He died Aug. 25, 1828, in Boston, Mass.
Ashmun, John Hooker
jurist, was born July 3, 1800, in Blandford, Mass. He was the son of Senator Eli P. Ashmun, was graduated at Harvard in 1818, and, on the establishment of the law department of that university, appointed its first professor, under the endowment of Isaac Royall. Prior to this he was associated with Judge Howe and Elijah J. Mills in establishing a law school in Northampton. He died April 1, 1833, in Cambridge, Mass.
Ashton, J. Hubley
lawyer. He was a citizen of Pennsylvania, from which state he was, in 1864, appointed assistant attorney-general of the United States, serving three years. He was re-appointed in 1868, serving one year; and was subsequently associated with the court for the settlement of the Alabama claims.
Asper, Joel F
soldier, journalist, congressman, was born April 20, 1822, in Adams county, Pa. He studied law and came to the bar in 1844, writing frequently for the newspapers; was elected a justice of the peace in 1846, and in 1847 prosecuting attorney for his county. He was a delegate to the Buffalo convention of 1848; editor of the Western Reserve Chronicle in 1849, and of the Chardon Democrat in 1850. In 1861 he raised a company and was mustered into the volunteer army as captain, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1866 he started a paper at Chillicothe, Mo., called the Spectator, and, while editing that journal and practicing law, was, in 1868, elected a representative from Missouri to the forty-first congress. He died Oct. 1, 1872, in Chillicothe, Mo.
Aspinall, Novitas B
physician and surgeon, was born Oct. 28, 1857, in Liverpool, England. He studied medicine under his father, Doctor R. H. Aspinall, a practicing physician of Liverpool, England. He graduated in 1879 from the college of Physicians and Surgeons in London; and after doing hospital work for two years, came to the United States and practiced in Chicago, where he was a medical director in Dr. Borton's sanitarium. In 1892 he moved to Plymouth, Ind., where he is city physician, and surgeon in the county infirmary. Dr. Aspinall is a member of the Indiana State Medical society, the American Medical association, and other prominent medical bodies.
Aspinwall, Thomas
soldier, was born May 23, 1786, in Brookline, Mass. He was graduated at Harvard in 1804, and studied law with William Sullivan. He was major of the ninth United States infantry in the war of 1812, and for gallant conduct at Sackett's Harbor received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel, and that of colonel for the sortie from Fort Erie, in which he lost an arm. From 1815 to 1853 he was United States consul at London. He died Aug. 11, 1876.
Astor, John Jacob
merchant, was born July 17, 1763, in Germany. His occupation was the purchase of furs from the Indian tribes and the shipment of them to Europe. The greatest venture of Mr. Astor was the founding of Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia river in 1809. He planted there a fort and a settlement, in person, won the friendship of the Indian tribes, and, during his four years of control, carried on a large trade.
He also founded the Astor library of New York by his bequest of $400,000. At an early period it became necessary for Mr. Astor to employ ships of his own in exporting furs to Europe. The return of these vessels laden with merchandise led him into an extensive foreign trade.
He gradually acquired a large fleet, and his ships ploughed every ocean of the globe and carried cargoes both to and from England, Germany, France, Russia, China and America, the cargoes usually being purchased and sold on Mr. Astor's account. He died March 29, 1848, in New York city.
Astor, John Jacob
third of the name, soldier, capitalist, was born June 10, 1823, in New York city, and was a son of William B. Astor. At the outbreak of the civil war Mr. Astor enlisted as a volunteer, and served with credit on the staff of General McClellan. After the war he remained in business with his father. After his father's death in 1875, Mr. Astor increased his inheritance by continuing the purchase and improvement of real estate. At his death he was the largest owner of real estate in New York city, aside from the Trinity Church corporation. His estate was estimated variously between $75,000,000 and $100,- 000,000, the bulk of it going to his son, William Waldorf Astor, now the head of the family. He gave legacies of $400,000 to The Astor library, $100,000 each to St.
Luke's and the Cancer hospitals, and other sums to kindred public objects. He died Feb. 22, 1890, in New York city.
Astor, John Jacob
fourth of the name, capitalist, was born July 13, 1864, at Ferncliff, N. Y., and a son of William Astor. The influence of his name has been sought by financial institutions and he is a director in The National Park bank, The Title Guarantee and Trust Co., The Mercantile Trust Co., The Illinois Central railway, The Second National bank, and The Plaza bank. Already the possessor of many buildings in this city, Mr. Astor's civic pride, energy and business sagacity combined promise to place upon the island of Manhattan several splendid buildings during the long business career which is before him. Various plans are now in contemplation. He is fond of the study of science and philosophy, and he has written a book entitled A Journey in Other Worlds: A Romance of the Future, which was superbly illustrated.
Astor, William
capitalist, was born July 12, 1829, in New York city, and a son of William B. Astor. In 1875 a visit to Florida awoke his interest in the vast undeveloped resources of that state; and it is believed that his enterprise, during the next ten years, accomplished more for Florida than that of any of his contemporaries. He built a railroad from St. Augustine to Palatka, constructed several modern blocks of buildings in Jacksonville, and led other men of means to join in the work of re-creating a new Florida in place of the old one. His services were so valuable that the state government voted him a grant of eighty thousand acres of land. He died April 25, 1892, in Paris, France.
Astor, William Backhouse
merchant, was born Sept. 19, 1792, in New York. Upon his father's death Mr. Astor became the sole heir of an immense estate. Thereafter he devoted himself to the preservation and growth of his property. He was a progressive man and one of the most active builders of his generation. It was said in 1867 that he had inherited and built seven hundred and twenty dwellings and stores in this city. He had also promoted important railroad and insurance enterprises. He added $250,000 to the endowment of the Astor library, and made a total of $550,000 in gifts to that institution. His estate was divided mainly and equally between his sons, John Jacob and William Astor.
He died Nov. 24, 1875, in New York city.
Astor, William Waldorf
millionaire, was born March 31, 1848, in New York city, N. Y. He was chiefly educated by private tutors at his home, and in Europe; and graduated from Columbia college law school in 1875. He was a representative in the state legislature in 1878; a state senator in 1880 and 1881; and was appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to Italy in 1882-85. He is the proprietor of the Pall Mall Gazette, of London, England; and the author of two books.