WILLIAM ASH, farmer, Banksville, Banks Co., GA., son of Alexander F. and Elizabeth(McCracken)Ash, was born in Franklin county, GA., in 1825. His paternal grandparents were William and Jane(Fleming)Ash. He was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he migrated to South Carolina, and afterward, in the latter part of the last century, moved to Georgia. He was a farmer, served as a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war, and died in Banks county. Mr. Ash's father was born in South Carolina, and was two years old when his parents moved to Georgia. After reaching maturity he moved to Franklin county. He was a farmer all his life; was a soldier in th last war with Great Britain, represented the county eight years in the general assembly, and for a long time was a major in the state militia, when it was a coveted local distinction. He was an active and prominent member of the Presbyterian church. His mother was a daughter of William and Elizabeth(McCord)McCracken. He was a native of North Carolina, a soldier in the revolutionary war, and participated in the battle of King's Mountain, where he was seriously wounded. After independence was won he came to Georgia, and settled in Franklin county, on land secured under a soldier's bounty warrant.
Mr. Ash was reared on a farm, and received only the limited education afforded by the country schools of the time. In 1861 he enlisted in the "Banks Guards", Capt. Paul J. Simms. After serving thirteen months he was exempted on account of age, but he soon entered the service in the "Home Guard" organization. He has given attention exclusively to agriculture as his business pursuit, in which he has been very successful. The people, however, have called him into their service, and he has served them a long time as justice of the peace, then as tax collector, and was finally elected county treasurer. whose responsible offices he discharged with the same conscientious fidelity he has those of the other offices he has held. He ranks among the most esteemed citizens of the county.
Mr. Ash was married, in 1846, to Miss Cynthia J.-born in Franklin county in 1827-daughter of William and Jane(Mays)Turk, an old North Carolina Family. Of the children born to them, one, William C., is living. Mrs. Ash, an exemplary member of the Presbyterian church, died in 1852. He contracted a second marriage in 1855, with Miss Eliza A.-born in Anderson district in 1833-daughter of William and Tabitha(Brewer)Owen. He was a farmer, born in South Carolina, and in 1848 moved to Georgia and setttled in Franklin county, where for a number of years he served as a justice of the peace. By this union he has had seven children: Mary E., wife of Robert Holbrook; T.J., Cynthia J., Sarah A., Nancy E., Robert E., and John Edgar, deceased. Mr. Ashe is a Master Mason, and himself and wife are devout members of the Presbyterian church.
Source:Memoirs of Georgia Vol I., by the Southern Historical Association, 1895
Submitted by: Jacqueline King
EVANS, John Floyd
JOHN FLOYD EVANS, farmer, Banks county, Ga., (postoffice, Gillsville, Hall county), son of David and Mary(Toney) Evans, was born in Jackson county, Ga., in 1833. His paternal grandparent, John Evans, was a native of North Carolina, migrated to Georgia in 1800, and settled in Franklin county. He was a farmer and served as a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. Mr. Evans' father was born in North Carolina and was a small child only a year or two old when the family came to Georgia. He followed farming all his life. His mother was a daughter of John and Nancy Toney, early settlers in Franklin county. He served as a wagoner during the revolutionary war .
Mr. Evans was raised on the farm and received a very limited education at the old-time log school-house. On reaching manhood he commenced farming and continued it until the war. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Capt. A.T. Bennett, Thirty-fourth Georgia regiment, and participated with it in all it's campaigns and battles until the Vicksburg campaign. In that he was very severely wounded and had to use crutches eighteen months. When he came home from the war he was very poor and had to borrow meal for his family. But he bravely met the emergency, went to work earnestly, worked early and late and saved what money he could. In 1872 he bought his first "patch", to which he has gradually added until he owns 650 acres; is in comfortable circumstances and is regarded as one of the most reliable citizens of the county. He is a justice of the peace and has held the office very many years.
Mr. Evans was married in 1860 to Miss Mary A(born in Mississippi in 1845), daughter of James and Sultania(Brooks)Bell. He was born in Hall county, was a well-to-do farmer and moved to Mississippi, where he died. Of the children which blessed this union three survive; Erastus P., James and Sandy F. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are devoted members of the Baptist church.
Source: Memoirs of Georgia, Volume I, Southern Historical Association, 1895
