R. N. Ashmore (biography)

[genealogynut]

Taken from History of the State of Kansas, by William G. Cutler

R. N. ASHMORE, Probate Judge, was born in Clark County, Ill., in 1833, and was raised in Clark and Vermillion Counties until 1856, thence to Iowa, locating in Story County.  In March 1862, enlisted in the Fifteenth United States Infantry, serving three years as private. After coming out of the army returned to Vermillion County, Ill., remaining until 1866, thence to Kansas, locating in Neosho County, where he took a claim and improved it. Was a good ways from market.  In 1870 he came to Howard County and located in Wild Cat Township, and took a claim and lived there until 1877, when he was elected Probate Judge of Elk County, and has held the office continuously since, and is elected for the fourth term, giving universal satisfaction.  He was married in 1855 to Virginia Cooper, of Vermillion County, Ill.  They have four children--Hitchings, S.A., Ellen, and Elizabeth B.  He was married again in May 1877, to Miss Annie Payne, of Elk County.  They have three children--R.N., Jr., Annie, and Lee.  He is a member of the E. M. Stanton Post, No. 23, G.A.R., of which he is Commander.  He is a member of Elk Falls Lodge, A.F.& A.M. and of Howard Lodge, No 134, I.O.O.F., and Howard Chapter, No 49. Mr. Ashmore was elected President of the Elk County Sabbath School Association in 1878, and has beeen re-elected each year since and still holds the position, was elected Superintendent of the Howard Union Sabbath School in April 1877, and has been re-elected each year since, was elected Chairman of the Howard City School Board in August 1880, for three years; as Superintendent of the new school building built in 1882, 40 x 80 feet, two stories high.