William Haemer Ashford Fact List

William Ashford’s death certificate says he was born in 1851 in Kentucky; his father’s name was also William, and his mother’s maiden name was “Butsher.” His grandson, my father Delbert Ashford, said his real name was Haemer, not William.

Documented Census Facts

Fact 1 · 1850 Census — Ravenswood, Virginia

The 1850 census lists a Maria Ashford, born about 1813, with sons Geo B. (born about 1845) and Rufus (born about 1848). Rufus’ Find A Grave page (100954068) gives his date of birth as April 18, 1849. Maria and Rufus were born in Virginia; George was born in Illinois. The same census also lists a Maria, born about 1813, in Wood County, Virginia, with sons John (born about 1835), George (born about 1844), and Rufus (born about 1848). Maria, John, and Rufus were born in Virginia; George was born in Illinois. Apparently, she was counted twice.

Fact 2 · 1860 Census — Wheelersburg, Ohio

The 1860 census lists a Mariah Ashford, born about 1822, with a son named Haemer, born about 1848. William Ashford’s death certificate gives his birth year as 1851. Also listed are another son, George (born about 1843), and a daughter, Hazen (born about 1852). Mariah and George were born in Virginia; Haemer and Hazen were born in Kentucky.

Fact 3 · 1870 Census — Wheelersburg, Ohio

The 1870 census lists a Maria Ashford, born about 1820, with sons Rufus K. (born about 1848), Hayes E. (born about 1855), and grandson Lorenzo E. (born about 1860). Next door to Maria is a George Ashford, born about 1844, with his wife Sarah, son Sheridan (born about 1869), and daughter Maggie, age 11 months. Maria and Rufus were born in Virginia; Hayes E. was born in Kentucky; Lorenzo was born in Ohio. George was born in Illinois; Sarah, Sheridan, and Maggie were born in Ohio.

Fact 4 · 1880 Census — Wheelersburg, Ohio

The 1880 census lists a Maria Ashford, born about 1816, with grandsons Lorenzo D. (born about 1859) and Sheridan (born about 1869). Maria and her father were born in Virginia; her mother was born in New Jersey. Lorenzo and Sheridan were born in Ohio. The census records Sheridan’s mother and father as both born in Ohio, while elsewhere his father is listed as born in Illinois and his mother in Ohio—an illustration of the limits of census accuracy.

Fact 5 · 1880 Census — Hamilton Warren, Ohio

The 1880 Hamilton Warren census lists George B. Ashford, born about 1845; his wife Sarah, born about 1850; son Sheridan D., born about 1868; daughters Ella L., born about 1870, Lora D., born about 1871, and Lucy D., born about 1876. George and both his parents were born in Virginia. His wife and children were all born in Ohio.

Working Conclusions

A father is never listed in these census records. The first census in which William Ashford appears is the 1880 census for Oregon. His age is listed as 29 (born 1851); he was born in Kentucky, and both parents were born in Virginia.

There is a Mariah Butcher, born to Eli Butcher in 1815 in Virginia, who married John Ashford of Kentucky on September 12, 1833. Eli Butcher was the son of Samuel Butcher Jr.

Read about William Haemer Ashford’s mother · Explore Haemer Ashford’s parents · Read the Chenoweth Connection