BIO: Sigel ASHMAN, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dave Wilson <davwilson@worldnet.att.net> Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************************** __________________________________________________________ McElroy, James Thomas Jr., McElroy's Family Memories, Huntingdon, PA: (Author), 1930, page 5. __________________________________________________________ SIGEL ASHMAN Saltillo, Pa. Retired: The Ashmans represent the oldest families in Huntingdon county. Originally came from England. Members of the Ashman family left their native soil about the middle of the seventeenth century and landed in Maryland. The great-grandfather of Sigel Ashman succeeded to this large estate and carried on the plantation for many years. He was a kind master and greatly beloved by his slaves. He became noted throughout the country for his activity in military affairs, having organized a militia regiment of which he was colonel. When the War of the Revolution broke out he, with his regiment enlisted and served with valor all through that struggle for freedom. He later disposed of his plantation, freed his slaves, and removed to what was then called Bedford Furnace, and is now Orbisonia, Pa. Many of his slaves refused to leave him and followed him to his new home. Among these was an old man who lived to the age of one hundred and five years, remaining in the service of Colonel Ashman up to his death. Colonel Ashman operated the first furnace west of the Susquehanna river. Sigel Ashman owns the house his great- grandfather built in 1793, the house still standing and in use. Richard Ashman, the father of Sigel Ashman, was born on the old homestead in Clay township in 1827. He died June 5th, 1894. He was married at Clearfield, Pa., Oct. 29, 1850, to Mary J., daughter of Dr. Henry Lorriane, a well known physician of Clearfield county. He was postmaster at Three Springs for many years, was a merchant, and operated a grist mill. He was sixty-seven years of age at death. His wife died June 27th, 1879, aged forty-nine years. Sigel Ashman was born at Three Springs, or better known as Clay township; attended Indiana State Normal, taught school for one term. At present is retired, but very active. For forty years a farmer; has one hundred and fifty acres. Both he and his wife are Methodists. He has two brothers, H.H., married to Mary Ellen Kestler, Philipsburg, Pa., retired. George, married to Mary Hamlin, New Orleans, La. One sister, Lillian, married to Dr. Barnhardt, deceased. She resides at Huntingdon, Pa. Mr. Ashman takes an interest in community affairs, has served on school board, election board, and for four years served on town council. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity for forty years, Cromwell Lodge, No. 572, Orbisonia, Pa. An Independent Republican. He was married to Ida Stevens. One son, Paul, married to Anna Kimmel, of Saltillo, Pa. Sigel Ashman re-married to Minnie Shore, daughter of Shade and Caroline Shore, of Maddensville, Pa. The Ashmans have given to this country and county a foundation stock that has reared and raised a strong strain of American blood. The photo of Mr. Sigel Ashman was taken at the age of nineteen years.