THE FLAVIOUS J. ASHBURN STORY
(In his own words)
This was Flavious Ashburn’s 3rd home, made of logs and now covered with weatherboards. The other 2 homes were also built on or near Piggin Run. Both others were of logs, and both burned. Glenda Childers, Opal Batton, and Eleanor Ireland are standing in front of the house. (Taken April 1993)
Last week I received a visit to the Doddridge County Museum from a descendent of Flavius Ashburn, David Lipscomb of Harrisville, WV. It brought to mind an article Dr. Alton Childers published on Flavious Joseph Ashburn’s diary in 1993.
Flavious Josephus Ashburn is the author. The original diary is in a Ledger Book, now in the State Historical Archives at Charleston. This diary was formerly in the possession of Delphia Ashburn, a long-time teacher in West Union. Her niece, Ruth Swentzel, placed it in Charleston.
The copy from which he wrote followed the original in spelling & punctuation. The faded condition of the ink in portions of the original makes it challenging to read. The copy is as accurate as it could be made. It was taken in part from his 1853-1853 diary.
“I have been desirous for several years of keeping an account of all the events of my life of any note in order that I may in days to come (if it is my lot to live a few years yet) have the satisfaction of perusing an account of past events which have transpired under my own notice & knowing the account to be true.
I commenced such a work on January 1, 1848 & continued to keep a Diary till June 2, 1853. At that time my house and library & nearly everything I possessed was burned to ashes & I have not kept any journal since. But now I have commenced another Diary preceded by a history of my past life.
I am not writing this journal for publick perusal but for my own gratification for it may never contain a paragraph that will interest any one but myself.
What time may bring forth I know not. My course on earth may be nearly at an end or perhaps I may live several years yet & witness many scenes & changes in life. The picture is enshrouded in misty darkness which the eyes of man cannot penetrate with any degree of certainty…
My father was William Ashburn (b. 1803) Mother was Ann Longstreet (b. 1796). They were married on March 10 A.D. 1829. They were then both very poor, but by frugality & industry they soon begin to gain —
They raised four children: Amaziah Ashburn (b. May 22, 1830); Flavious Josephus Ashburn (b. March 10, 1832); Sarah Ann Ashburn (b. Jan. 3, 1834); Alcinda Ashburn (b. April 10, 1837).
After several removes my Father purchased land on Dorrow’s Run in the spring of 1835, & lived there about four years. And in that time Amaziah went to school a part of two quarters & I went about one week, and mother took pains with us at home & taught us to spell & read a little.
And in the Autumn of ’38 Father sold his land & we moved to Pursley, a branch of Tenmile & lived with Grandmother Longstreet two years. And in that time Amaziah & I went to school nearly three months. Mother kept us at our books at home till we learned to read tolerable well & to cipher a little.
Then Father bough 275 (bought 275) acres of land on Piggin Run, a branch of Middle Island Creek in Harrison, now Doddridge County, Virginia (now WV). With the help of George and James King he cleared a few acres of land & built a small log cabin. And on April 4, 1841 we left Green county, Pennsylvania & after six days of tedious travel through mud & rain we arrived on our place on Piggin Run.
We then had no house to come into but the one Mr. King & Father built before we moved, which house is only 11 feet wide and 13 feet long & we lived in that more than a year till Father with some assistance built a comfortable sized hewed log house.
(Please note: All of the following are brief passages to give a picture of considerable local history in this diary. As you notice the dates: 1853-1866 cover the Civil War period.)
At this time (18862) there is the greatest agitation in this county (Doddridge) that has been since the war commenced. With the last few weeks upwards of a hundred volunteers have been raised at West Union among whom were Amaziah Ashburn, Simon Cumberledge, Grove Tucker and others of our neighbors.
Amaziah Ashburn, brother of Flavious enlisted with the Union Army during the Civil War and was taken prisoner of war and spent time in the infamous Andersonville Prison at Andersonville, GA (Officially named Camp Sumter).
(Another note: F. J. Ashburn was a minister also – often preaching throughout the area.)
On Monday night Aug. 18 about nine o’clock the late company of Doddridge volunteers known as Capt. Smith’s company left West Union on the cars (train) for Wheeling.
I received a letter from Amaziah (his brother) on the 26th informing me they have entered upon their ‘soldiers fare’ & that he has been appointed second sergeant in the company. And that there is a likelihood of me receiving the Chaplainship of the 14th Virginia regiment. If I knew it was God’s will for me to have the office I would desire it very much but if it is not I trust that I have not & will not receive the appointment.
October 6 (1862)- Today I visited a sick neighbor (H. Kinney). Yesterday Nancy went to see Charlotte Davis.
The war is still raging & every few days we hear fresh news of thousands being slain on both sides. Sorrow & distress have filled our land. When & where till the difficulty end? May God in his wisdom overrule it.
November 16 (1862)- Last Sunday I went to Mr. Pools on Hughes river & preached from 2nd Romans 4:7. At night I preached from John 14th & 27th. After which Bro. Duff & I went home with Bro. J.W. Dotson & stayed the night.
May 1863- The Doddridge Militia were called out last Saturday to guard West Union. I was not with them for have been discharged as unfit for military service as a consequence of deficiency of my eye sight. And I am informed that 400 soldiers came to West Union last night in case the rebels should make an attack.
Note: One of the earliest schools in Doddridge County was located on Turkey Run, a branch of Piggin Run, near Wabash of West Union. This was a subscription school & was taught by William Ashburn, the first Ashburn to settle on Piggin Run. At that time, we had no public school system in WV. William would have been one of the earliest teachers in this county. Some young men walked ten miles to his school.
William and Ann Ashburn’s family was the beginning from which numerous descendants became teachers. Their two sons were both teachers. Amaziah’s two sons were teachers. Flavious Josephus’ son was a teacher. William Ashburn II had five daughter & one son who became teachers. (Many of Doddridge County’s students throughout the years have had one or more of these teachers in school back then (Orpha, Delphia, Tensie, Jettie (Brissey), Laura Swentzel, & Clarence Ashburn.
Laura’s two daughters, Ruby & Ruth Swentzel were life-long teachers. Lewis Ashburn’s daughter, Chelsie, was a life-long teacher in West Union. Aaron Ashburn’s three daughters, Stella, Carrie & Marie were teachers. Stella lived on Piggin Run & taught 15 terms in this county. Stells’s daughter, Josie, has four teachers in her family. Elma was a teacher (earning $50 a month). Elma’s daughter, Janet Lynn Lipscomb Fraley taught at Middlebourne High School in Tyler County.
Next week we continue Flavious Ashburn’s diary and find the total distress of their newly finished beautiful home has burned to the ground. The absolute anguish can be felt through the words in his writings.
Until next week…. I hope you’ll stay tuned.
God Bless.
Patricia Richards Harris
Doddridge County Historical Society