THE FLAVIUS J. ASHBURN STORY
(In his own words) – Part 6
Last week I shared excerpts of an article Dr. Alton Childers published on Flavius Joseph Ashburn’s diary in 1993 Part 5. This week, I am submitting a continuation of Flavius Josephus Ashburn’s diary in Part 6.
Dr. Childers notes that at this point, he decided to leave out some of the entries that only described the weather. He continued to include entries that described his way of life as well as others who lived in the county.
Flavius Ashburn continues to write:
(On the Civil War)
“At this time there is the greatest agitation in this county that has been since the war commenced. With the last few weeks upwards of a hundred volunteers have been raised at West Union. Among them are Amaziah Ashburn, Simon Cumberledge & others of our neighbors. And there are now about sixty of our citizens under guard at West Union who are reported as having taken part against the government…
Last Sunday I visited the prisoners & soldiers in West Union. Today Nancy & I to a meeting on Little Flint & heard William James preach William J. Spencer’s funeral.
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… May God in his wisdom overrule it.
October 12. I have been engaged during the last three weeks building my cane mill. I employed Charles Royse & with his assistance for seven days got my mill started. But as soon as we commenced crushing cane the iron round the top of the main shaft burst & I was forced to quit & can do no good.
On the 13th, 14th, & 15th, Oct., by going twice to the blacksmith’s shop & a half besides my labour (labor), I got my cane mill repaired. But after grinding cane enough for about three gallons of molasses, I entirely abandoned the hope of its ever doing any good. For, although it run so good when empty that I could propel it with one finger the horse could not force it round when there was a single stalk of large cane in it.
So, on the 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st, & 22nd, Father & I made a new mill. Since then, Alcinda, Nancy & I have made eighteen or twenty gallons of molasses.”
Dec. 9, Saturday – War between the two sections of our country is now in progress. Hostility, strife & bloodshed has filled our land. Worldly governments & earthly kingdoms are the chief subjects of thought with the multitude while the kingdom of Christ is but seldom the subject of consideration.
“Conclusion of A.D. 1861 – The close of 1861is in some respects unlike the close of any year in my recollection. Our nation, once prosperous & happy is now in agitation & confusion. Strife & enmity, war, & bloodshed fill our land. The cause of Christ is sadly neglected. Churches have become luke warm & careless. Because iniquity abounds the love of many have waxed cold.
January 2, A.D. 1862 – The Lord has watched over & protected now for nearly 30 years. And through his grace, I am permitted to see the dawn of the New Year’s Morning. If it is his will that I shall see the close of the present year, my heart’s desire & earnest prayer is that I may spend it devoted to his cause & be instrumental in his hands in doing at least some good in winning souls to Christ.
Sunday, March 2nd – My chief physical labor in January & February was building my porch. Owing to stormy weather & other causes it took much longer than I expected. I nailed on the roof & I made my stairs.
On Sunday, Feb. 9 – I preached at Victory Church. After which I refused to be pastor of the church any longer. I did this in part through fear of the Church breaking up in my hands in a consequence of a serious difficulty that has long existed between certain members & in part because some members’ dissatisfaction respecting my call to the Pastoral charge of the church.
On Friday, Feb. 14 – at three o’clock I went with Eli T. Drummond to Mr. John Hurst’s to wedding & witnessed the marriage of John Kile & Elizabeth Hurst. The next morning we continued our journey through a violet snow storm & about eleven o’clock we reached the old round-log schoolhouse in which Bingamin Church meets. (Please note: At this point several pages of the diary describe a series of revival meetings held at the Bingamin Church. Rev. Ashburn tells how an impertinent individual arose while he was speaking & said he had heard he was of Confederate sentiment & if so, was liable to be arrested. Rev. Ashburn’s reply was: “I have revealed my national proclivities in the private circle & I have not come to make political speeches but to preach the gospel & to work in the vineyard of the Lord & to win souls to Christ.”)
Monday, April 7, 1862. “Since I came from Bingamin my health has been so poor that I have got but little work done. I have been engaged most of my time building fence, grubbing out brush and making rails… I have got about two a half acre of new ground grubbed & picked & about 800 rails made, besides about half the string of fence between my orchard & calf pasture.
April 6, Sunday – Nancy and I went to Victory Church & heard Eli Samuel Davis (a Seventh Day Baptist) preach to a large audience, after which he baptized Fenton F. Randolph, Vanburn Davis, Err Davis, Sylvania Davis, Alvin Davis, Orlando Davis, Olonzo Ford, Festus Ford, Charles Bunnell, Nathaniel Bunnell, Harriet Davis, Adaline Davis, Sarah Ann Davis, Leah Ellen Davis, Clementina Davis, Odell Davis, Elizabeth Evatione and Martha Isabelle Ford. The scene filled my mind with deep solemnity…
Every few days I hear or see fresh accounts of bloody battles & immense loss of life. War & carnage are abroad in our land. How it will terminate I cannot tell but I am in the hands of the Lord.
August 17, 1862 – It has been so long since I wrote any in my Diary that I cannot call to mind the kind of weather for each day, but it has been seasonable & we have had a favourable harvest.”
While I was absent from home Nancy made a corn husking and got about two thirds of the corn husked. On Dec. 3rd I did but little. Fri. 4th went to the mill. Sat. 5th and today was at Bro. J. L. Cumberledge’s at the meeting.
On Dec. 7th & 8th I with some help worked at gathering in my corn. On the 9th I helped Father butcher his hogs. On the 10th I went down the creek & engaged a hog of William Smith. The 11th cut wood – went out to North Fork at night. On the 12th & 13th preached on Cabin Run and returned home on the 15th. Cut a little wood the 16th, went to W. Union to mill & afterward went to L.R. Charters’ & cut up & brought home a hog that William Smith had butchered & brought there for me. The 17th salted my meat, helped Mr. McGill clean some wheat, and also cut a little wood. The 18th, 19th, & 20th, went to Bingamin, preached two sermons & returned home.
Dec. 22nd, 23rd, 24th, & 25th carried my flax to Father’s barn & thrashed part of it & carried it home & spread it. The 26th cut wood & threshed flax.
Sunday 27th. – Went to Bro. John Smith’s & heard Hensley preach George Smith’s funeral. The 28th & 29th handed tobacco.
On the 12th of Dec. – I preached to North Fork Church on Cabin Run from Isaiah 32:2 & on Sun. 12th from Gen 3:9. I have become very much discouraged with that church & I do not think I will preach for them much longer. There has been a difficulty existing there for years & the church seems fast hastening to dissolution. I have looked upon it for some time as having a name that it lives while it is dead. On the 18th I started on horseback to Bingamin Church & reached old Bro John Stouts about sundown & passed the night there & next day.
Sat. 19th – I reached the meeting house on Bingamin about eleven o’clock & met with a few of the members of the church. And after they cleaned up the house which took them at least an hour I preached to a goodly sized audience from Psalm 15:1. I was pleased with the meeting & passed the night at Bro. F. Baugger’s & next day returned home.
On Dec. 5th – I sent 1.25 cents by mail for medicine to cure corns & warts but have not received it. At the same time, I sent .50 cents for a microscope which I have received but it is not of much account. On the 16th I sent 15 dollars & 20 cents for a box of combination packages which I have not received. Neither have I received the sewing machines that I sent for on the 16th of Nov. I am beginning to feel a little uneasy about them.”
Note: Born on March 10, 1832, at the three forks of Dunkard Creek, in Greene County PA, Flavius Ashburn was the son of William and Ann Ashburn. He married Nancy Caroline Strother on October 11, 1852, in Doddridge County. They were the parents of three children, Rachel Amanda (1953-1922), William Elmore (1860-1934), and Flavius Ellsworth (1866-1917). Flavius J Ashburn died on July 23, 1912, in Doddridge County at the age of 80. He was laid to rest in the Knight-Ashburn Cemetery at Piggin Run near West Union.
This completes my series on Flavius J Ashburn’s Diary. If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact me at this newspaper, email me directly at: [email protected] or call me at 304-873-1540.
God Bless.
Patricia Richards Harris
Doddridge County Historical Society