An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 356-357
	
	
	JOHN K. ASHLEY, County Surveyor, Spokane, Washington, was born in Washington
county, Ohio, in 1853, son of William and Mary J. (Muhlnix) Ashley. His father
was a native of Portsmouth, Ohio, and was by profession a civil engineer. The
Ashleys were many of them prominent men. James M. Ashley represented the Tenth
Ohio Congressional District, and moved the impeachment of President Andrew
Johnson; was afterward Territorial Governor of Montana, serving from 1869 to
1871.
	The subject of our sketch as the oldest in a family of six children, and
received his early education in the public schools of Denver, Colorado. He took
a college course at Antioch, Ohio, where he graduated in 1876 with the degree of
A.B. Returning to Denver, he was employed as civil engineer until 1886, when he
came to Spokane. While in Colorado he served as a member of the State
Legislature during the years of 1884 and 1885. He was elected County Surveyor of
Arapahoe county, receiving 8,000 out of 12,000 votes. On coming to Washington he
resigned this position in favor of his deputy, who still fills the office.
Before being elected to his present office, Mr. Ashley served as City Engineer.
His term as County Surveyor will expire January 1, 1893.
	Mr. Ashley has invested largely in real estate in both Washington and Idaho.
His pretty home in Spokane is valued at about $3,000. He is thoroughly posted in
every department of his profession, and is a quiet, affable and pleasant
gentleman. Among the members of his profession he ranks high, and is regarded
with esteem by all who know him. Politically he is a Republican. In 1892 he
served as chairman of the Spokane County Republican Committee. He is a Knight
Templar having his membership with Denver No. 5.
	Mr. Ashley is a man of family. In 1879 he married the oldest daughter of
Arternas Carter, of Chicago, Illinois. She died at Denver in 1885, leaving two
children, Helen and John K. In 1888 he married Miss Lillian Hodder, at Boston,
Massachusetts. Her father is president of the American Promoting Company at that
place, and is a prominent man in business circles.
	Mr. Ashley is a member of the Unitarian Church.
	
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
	
	
* * * * 

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.