Memorable Manitobans: William Henry Ashley (1851-1928)

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William Henry Ashley
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Born at Cataraqui, Ontario on 30 August 1851, son of David George Ashley and Rebecca Ann Wright, he moved with his family to Picton where he was educated in the local grammar school. In 1870, the family moved again, this time to Oshawa where, the next year, Ashley became employed at the local newspaper, the Vindicator. He remained there until 1877, when he moved to Winnipeg where he worked on the Standard for a year then at the Manitoba Free Press until 1881.

In November 1881, he co-founded the Edmonton Bulletin with Frank Oliver. He returned to Winnipeg the following year and took work with the Winnipeg Times. Early in 1883, he bought a newspaper plant at Toronto and subsequently the Hanover Post until May 1889 when he moved to Boissevain. There, in August 1890, he founded the Boissevain Globe.

On 8 June 1887, he married Margaret Ann Hahn (1863-?) of Hanover, Ontario. They had five children: Esther C. Ashley (1888-?), Constance E. Ashley (1890-?), William Bernard Ashley (1893-?), Wilfrid Francis Ashley (1895-?), and John Adrian Ashley.

He died at Brandon on 9 April 1928.

Sources:

1901 and 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.

“The editors of the provincial liberal press,” Manitoba Free Press, 13 December 1901, page 10.

The Canadian Album: Men of Canada or Success by Example, Vol. III, Bradley, Garretson & Company, Brantford, Ontario, 1894.

Death registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 6 January 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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