William S. Ashby Struck by Lightning, 1883 ~ 52 Ancestors #24

William Shrewsbury Ashby was born November 18, 1859, in Barren County, Kentucky, to Napoleon Bonaparte Ashby and Juliet Shrewsbury, the eldest of their six children. He was a first cousin of my great-grandmother, Mary Bowman (Ashby) Adsit (1863-1956) so my first cousin three times removed.

Napoleon Ashby was in Russellville, Logan County in 1850, but by 1860, he was married and living in Barren County where it appears all of his children were born. (His younger brother, Daniel Morgan Ashby, my second great-grandfather, lived in Barren County for many years.)

By 1880, Napoleon B. Ashby's family returned to Russellville. His six children were living with him: Willie S. (age 20), Linda (18), Henry C. (16), Mary (14), Emma (12), and Benjamin M. (10). Two boarders in the household were Willie Hughes and Permelia Hall, age 78, who should have been listed as his mother; she was twice-widowed Permelia (Christian) (Ashby) Hall, whose death date I still have not identified.

1880 US Census, Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, ED 164, p 443B,
dwelling 232, family 232, Napolion [sic] B. Ashby household.

By 1883, son William was setting out on his own. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for his parents and younger siblings when they heard the following news.

"Struck By Lightning," The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), 16 August 1883,
p. 5, col 1; digital images, Newspapers.com.

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

A Young Man in Muhlenberg County is Instantly Killed During a Storm

Briggsville, Aug. 14 - Yesterday about 2 o'clock, during the prevalence of a terrific wind and rain storm, lightning struck the platform at this railroad station, on which were standing several men and boys, prostrating all and killing instantly Mr. W. S. Ashby, who was a clerk in J. B. Briggs' store and acting at the time railroad agent. Not a thread of his clothing was damaged, and only by some blood marks on the neck, chest and body was it known where the fatal bolt struck. Mr. Ashby was from Russellville, Ky., where he has a father and mother now living. His remains will be forwarded there to-morrow for interment.

There are a few Ashby relatives buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Russellville, including William's three youngest siblings, but there is no burial record of Napoleon B. Ashby, his wife Juliet, or his son William, who died so suddenly at the age of 23. Perhaps they were buried in a family cemetery on their farm property.

I am related to William Shrewsbury Ashby as follows:

Stephen Ashby  =  Permelia Christian

|                                            |

Napoleon Bonaparte Ashby               Daniel Morgan Ashby

|                                            |

William S. Ashby                     Mary Bowman Ashby

|                                            |

.                                                 Elizabeth Adsit

|                                            |

.                                                Charles McAlpin Pyle, Jr.
|                                            |

.                                             Me

This week's theme is Hard Times.