Delos R. Ashley
American politician (1828–1873)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Delos Rodeyn Ashley (February 19, 1828 – July 18, 1873) was a California and Nevada politician who served as State Treasurer of California and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Nevada.
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Delos R. Ashley | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's at-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1869 | |
| Preceded by | Henry G. Worthington |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Fitch |
| 6th Treasurer of California | |
| In office 1862–1863 | |
| Governor | Leland Stanford |
| Preceded by | Thomas Findley |
| Succeeded by | Romualdo Pacheco |
| 5th President pro tempore of the California State Senate | |
| In office 1856–1857 | |
| Preceded by | Royal Sprague |
| Succeeded by | Samuel H. Dosh |
| Member of the California State Senate from the 3rd district | |
| In office 1856–1857 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 4th district | |
| In office 1854–1855 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 19, 1828 |
| Died | July 18, 1873 (aged 45) |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California |
| Party | Democratic Know Nothing Republican |
| Spouse | Annie (McNamara) Ashley |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Attorney |
Biography
Ashley was born at Arkansas Post, Arkansas Territory, on February 19, 1828.[1] He was the son of Chester Ashley, who was an attorney and later U.S. senator from Arkansas.[2] He received his education in the local schools, then studied law with an attorney in Monroe, Michigan.[3] He was admitted to the bar in 1849, and moved to Monterey, California, where he established a practice.[1][4]
As a member of the Democratic Party,[5] Ashley served as district attorney of Monterey County from 1851 to 1852.[1] From 1854 to 1855 he represented the 3rd District in the California State Assembly.[1] From 1856 to 1857 he served in the California State Senate as a member of the Know Nothings.[1][5] During his senate term, he was the body's president pro tempore.[6] He later became a Republican,[5] and he served as California State Treasurer from 1862 to 1863.[1]
In 1864, Ashley moved to Virginia City, Nevada.[1] In 1865, news accounts indicated he had been a passenger aboard the steamship Yosemite when her boiler exploded, killing 55 and injuring and burning dozens more.[7] Ashley was blown into the Sacramento River, and escaped the wreck by swimming to shore.[7]
Later that year he was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Nevada's at-large district.[1] He was reelected in 1866 and served from March 4, 1865, to March 3, 1869.[1] He was not a candidate for reelection in 1868.[1] During his Congressional service, Ashley was chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining.[8]
He moved to Pioche, Nevada, in 1871 and resumed practicing law.[1] When his health began to fail in 1872, Ashley moved to San Francisco, California, where he lived in retirement until his death on July 18, 1873.[1] He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in San Francisco, and was later part of a mass reburial of Calvary Cemetery[9] remains at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, California, Section H.[10]
