Robert Ashcraft

Robert Ashcraft was born August 27, 1832, in Muskingum County, Ohio. When he was about 16 years old his father, Elijah Ashcraft, moved his family to Missouri and then Iowa . He , apparently, was not happy in the West and moved back East to Indiana. At the time of the 1850 Census, the family was living in Jackson Township, Greene County, Indiana.^[3] Robert Ashcraft was listed as an 18 year old farm laborer in this enumeration.

On October 19, 1851, he married Margaret Jane Winders in Greene County, Indiana. Margaret was born in Ohio in 1832 . She was living in the Household of Alpheus Winders (27 B-OH) in Jackson Township, Greene County, Indiana, in the 1850 Census.^[3] This was in the same neighborhood as the Elijah Ashcraft family (HH# 398). Robert and Margaret Ashcraft had two children: Mary Frances born in 1852 and Andrew Jackson Ashcraft, born June 11, 1854, only three months before his mother died in September, 1854.^[1]

A little over a year later, Robert Ashcraft married Cynthia Ann Mays on November 1, 1855, in Greene County, Indiana. Sterling C. Haywood, J.P. performed the ceremony.^[6] Cynthia was born in Rush County, Tennessee, April 7, 1830, daughter of Christopher Mays and Mary E. Haywood. Christopher had moved his family from Tennessee to Taylor Township, Greene County, Indiana, about 1834.^{[7] [8]} A younger sister of Cynthia Mays married Robert's brother Elijah Ashcraft, October 15, 1860, in Greene County, Indiana.^[7]

Robert and Cynthia Ashcraft were the parents of nine children, including Martha Jane "Jennie" Ashcraft, [my Great Grandmother] who was number seven in the order of births. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil War in the Spring of 1861, Robert Ashcraft was farmer who was almost 29 years old with four children under five years of age. Yet he enrolled for a three year term with Co. C, 43rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment that Captain Elijah Edington was recruiting in Greene County. Robert Ashcraft was mustered into the Union Army at Terre Haute, Indiana, on August 28, 1861.^[9] He didn't return home to stay until October, 1864, and his life was forever changed by this patriotic impulse.

The following chronicles Robert's Civil War military service and its the impact on his health ,as well as and later efforts to secure a pension for disabilities incurred as a result of that service.^[9]

MILITARY SERVICE
- 43rd Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company C
- Enrolled at Bloomfield with Capt. Elijah Edington for a three year term of service.
- Mustered in at Terre Haute, IN on Aug. 28, 1861 as Sgt.
- Discharged from Service Oct. 20,1864 at Indianapolis,IN
- Occupation before military service -- Farmer

IN - SERVICE ILLNESS - BASIS FOR LATER PENSION CLAIM: Dec. 1863 -- While on duty at Little Rock, Ark. was taken with Rheumatism in his feet and legs brought on by exposure to Camp Life and being on the March. Became a chronic condition. DISABILITY PENSION CLAIM - Filed October Owensburg, IN, Greene Co., Oct. 7, 1871.

Extract from claim: " While on duty at Little Rock, Ark. on or about December 1, 1863, claimant taken with Rheumatism in his feet and legs brought on by exposure to camp life and being on the march and said disease has continued to date of his discharge and up to the present time so that he has not been able to do a day's work from the date of discharge to the present time and that his age is 39 years and prior to enlistment he was a farmer..." (Power of Attorney executed by A. Alexander, Atty. at Law, Bloomfield, Greene Co., Indiana).

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION Robert Ashcraft at time of physical examination related to disability pension claim (June 6,1872 ) Height: 5'9" tall , Weight.: 130 lbs., Dark Complexion , Age 39.

DISABILITY PENSION APPROVED and monthly amount received eventually increased to $50 per month due to total incapacity. Extract from medical report submitted with his Jan. 29, 1881, claim for increase in Pension Benefits due to Total Incapacity said:

"Chronic Rheumatism. Has not stood on his feet for six years; arms and legs are half bent; hands all drawn out of shape and is confined to his room all the time."

Jan. 13, 1906 -- Robert Ashcraft died at 75 in Koleen, IN. cause of death indicated in his widow's pension claim was 'Exhaustive Rheumatism'. CYNTHIA MAYS ASHCRAFT received widow's pension until her death Sep. 20, 1912 at age 81.

Despite being handicapped by crippling arthritis/ rheumatism after the Civil War continued to farm and add children to his large family. He health had deteriorated, by 1871, to the point that he sought and received an Invalid's pension from the Federal Government, which increased ten years later because of total incapacity. His obituary touched upon the length and severity of his suffering:
Bloomfield News, Bloomfield, Indiana - January 19, 1906 " Robert Ashcraft, pioneer farmer of Jackson Township, lived one mile northeast of Koleen. Sick one year, though the immediate cause of death was an attack of pneumonia and complications. As a result of rheumatism he had not walked a step in 33 years. He was born in Ohio and was 76 years old."^[10]

After his Civil War experience, Robert Ashcraft, apparently, became a rather iconoclastic character, as can be seen by how he signed the following card written to his younger brother, Jackson Ashcraft, about 1879--shortly after Jackson had moved his family to Harrison Co.,Iowa:

"Dear Brother- As there is no news, I will send a card. It will hold all I can tell you at this time- I & all the rest are bout the same as we were when you left one month ago. Oct.has been a fine month for Bussiness. We had a rain 17th & 18th that done the wheat a site of good- the 28th we got another good soaker, Just nuf to make the ground good order to plow- today is nice as could for gethern corn seems to be the order of the day- We has been over the river the past 2 weeks gathern corn. The corn crop is light not more than ???? corn 25 & 28 cents. Wheat 60 cents-everything about the same as in your country- W??M?? Field is still doing Bussiness. Health is good-in general, Nick Jackson's wife is very sick not expected to live with her complaint. Write when you feel like it - R Ashcraft, Ironclad Atheist"^[1]

A picture of Robert Ashcraft and Cynthia Mays Ashcraft (see below) taken late in his life shows Robert obviously ravaged by arthritis sitting with a banner with the words 'Ironclad Atheist' on it, while Cynthia is beside him holding what appears to be a Bible. It is almost as if she is trying to intercede with God for the old, embittered, war veteran.

Robert & Cynthia Ashcraft (circa 1900)

Cynthia Mays Ashcraft outlived her husband by over six years, and died September 20, 1912. Both she and Robert Ashcraft are buried in Ashcraft Chapel Cemetery in Jackson Township, Greene County, Indiana.

THE BLOOMFIELD NEWS, Bloomfield, Greene County, Indiana, Thursday, October 3, 1912, Volume XXXV, Number 46, Page 1, Column 5, "DEATH'S HARVEST. Ashcraft. ":
"Cintha (MAYS) ASHCRAFT was born in Rush County, Tennessee, April 7, 1830, died at her home near Koleen, Sept. 20, 1912, aged eighty-two years, five months and thirteen days.^[11]

She was married to Robert ASHCRAFT, November 1, 1857. To this union nine children were born, All grew to manhood and womanhood and all survive the mother except one daughter, Mrs. Tobe DUKE. Her mother died when she was young and the duties of a mother fell on her and she tenderly cared for her father's family. She united with the Christian church and was baptized by Rev. Henry FLOYD. As a wife she was true and devoted, always found at her post of duty. Her husband was a helpless invalid for over thirty years, having contracted rheumatism in the service for his country and her devotion was a wife was manifested in her willing and patience in performing the task that came upon her in caring for him and she was ever at his side, ready to administer to his wants and needs. As a mother she was kind and loving, always willing to bear the hardships of life for her children and some of her grandchildren and as they return to the home of their childhood they will find a vacancy that never can be filled, and it will be sad indeed for "mother" was always there. She was laid to rest at ASHCRAFT CHAPEL, Sept. 21, 1912. Funeral by Rev. SPENCER of Bloomfield. M. E. H."

ASHCRAFT - SOURCES / NOTES
[1] - The Ashcraft Family, Descendants of Daniel (1994) by Martha Ashcraft Neal.
[2] - History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, Indiana (1884), Goodspeed Bros., Chicago, IL
[3] - FTM CD#302 "1850 Census Records: Indiana".
[4] - FTM CD#304 " Census Records: Indiana 1860".
[5] - Gone, But Not Forgotten (1986) by Mildred Uland, Bloomfield, Indiana.
[6] - Marriage Record - Robert Ashcraft and Cynthia Mays - Greene County, Indiana.
[7] - Genealogy File - Jerry Jacobs (gjacobs@compuserve.com) -9/27/1999.
[8] - Early Settlers of Greene County, Indiana [From Southern States] (1986), Wm. R Henry
[9] - Military Pension Record of Robert Ashcraft. Viewed by Stephen J. Stalcup at National Archives & Library of Congress - March, 1971.
[10] - Bloomfield News, Bloomfield, Indiana (1/19/1906).
[11] - Bloomfield News, Bloomfield, Indiana ( 10/3/1912).

Submitted May 3, 2003 by:
Stephen J. Stalcup
Farmers Branch, TX
(Great-Great Grandson of Robert Ashcraft)