Born in or about 1814, reportedly in North Carolina, although the 1850 census reports Georgia, and the 1860, Tennessee. Married 06 MAY 1847 in Monroe County, Georgia, to Martha Ann SMITH. Father of at least three children, sons George P., Theodore, and Arthur. In 1850, he was operating a hotel in Talbot County, Georgia, and in 1860 he was a cotton broker in Columbus, Georgia. Served as a Colonel in the United States Army during the American Civil War.
After the war, he was appointed a judge by the military Governor of Georgia, George G. MEADE. In this position, ASHBURN worked to dismantle the political encumbrances on all disfranchised Georgians. He called to order the Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1867, held in Atlanta, a chief concern on the agenda of which was the removing of disadvantages placed on African Americans through the institution of slavery. Ashburn authored the provisions in the proposed Constitution that sought to assure civil rights to Blacks. Following the convention, he is said to have expressed intentions to run for election as U. S. Senator from Georgia.
Murdered at a boarding house near the corner of First Avenue and Thirteenth Street in Columbus by a group of thirty or more men, said to have been well-dressed, five of whom wore masks and forced their way into the house to shoot Ashburn.
"Our citizens were greatly startled on Monday night and yesterday morning, by the news that GEO. W. ASHBURN had been killed in the house in which he was living, in the upper part of Oglethorpe street, by a body of men in disguise. The killing occurred between 12 and 1 o'clock Monday night. The shots fired were heard by a number of persons living in the neighborhood..." [from the New York (NY) Times newspaper, 06 APR 1868.]
DeoPatria, Contributor #46874385, provided a link to an article in the Atlanta Intelligencer newspaper of Wednesday, 08 APR 1868, which reads in part: "TO BE TAKEN TO MACON.--The body of ASHBURN is to be carried to-day to Macon, we are informed. Some negroes were speaking yesterday of escorting the remains to the depot in procession. No further developments that we have heard of."
Online database of burials at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon shows: George W. ASHBURN died 02 APR 1868, buried 07 APR 1868, Ridge Name "Central Avenue," Block ID "9," Row ID "NA" [= not applicable?], Lot Name "(G. W. ASHBURN, 5-2-1852)."
His widow appears to have been residing in Washington, District of Columbia, by 1870, but at least one of his sons appears to have remained in Columbus during the investigation of Ashburn's slaying, so it is not clear when the family moved away.
From "Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography," p. 54: "ASHBURN, GEORGE W., soldier, was born in Georgia. During the civil war he was a strong opponent of secession, and raised a company of southern loyalists, subsequently enlarged to a regiment, of which he was colonel. On is return home after the war he boldly advocated the congressional plan of reconstruction. He was chosen a delegate to the Georgia constitutional convention in 1867, and did much toward perfecting the constitution of his state. He died April 1, 1868."
Almost certainly a daughter (but not confirmed): Emma Louisa ASHBURN (died 1855)
After the war, he was appointed a judge by the military Governor of Georgia, George G. MEADE. In this position, ASHBURN worked to dismantle the political encumbrances on all disfranchised Georgians. He called to order the Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1867, held in Atlanta, a chief concern on the agenda of which was the removing of disadvantages placed on African Americans through the institution of slavery. Ashburn authored the provisions in the proposed Constitution that sought to assure civil rights to Blacks. Following the convention, he is said to have expressed intentions to run for election as U. S. Senator from Georgia.
Murdered at a boarding house near the corner of First Avenue and Thirteenth Street in Columbus by a group of thirty or more men, said to have been well-dressed, five of whom wore masks and forced their way into the house to shoot Ashburn.
"Our citizens were greatly startled on Monday night and yesterday morning, by the news that GEO. W. ASHBURN had been killed in the house in which he was living, in the upper part of Oglethorpe street, by a body of men in disguise. The killing occurred between 12 and 1 o'clock Monday night. The shots fired were heard by a number of persons living in the neighborhood..." [from the New York (NY) Times newspaper, 06 APR 1868.]
DeoPatria, Contributor #46874385, provided a link to an article in the Atlanta Intelligencer newspaper of Wednesday, 08 APR 1868, which reads in part: "TO BE TAKEN TO MACON.--The body of ASHBURN is to be carried to-day to Macon, we are informed. Some negroes were speaking yesterday of escorting the remains to the depot in procession. No further developments that we have heard of."
Online database of burials at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon shows: George W. ASHBURN died 02 APR 1868, buried 07 APR 1868, Ridge Name "Central Avenue," Block ID "9," Row ID "NA" [= not applicable?], Lot Name "(G. W. ASHBURN, 5-2-1852)."
His widow appears to have been residing in Washington, District of Columbia, by 1870, but at least one of his sons appears to have remained in Columbus during the investigation of Ashburn's slaying, so it is not clear when the family moved away.
From "Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography," p. 54: "ASHBURN, GEORGE W., soldier, was born in Georgia. During the civil war he was a strong opponent of secession, and raised a company of southern loyalists, subsequently enlarged to a regiment, of which he was colonel. On is return home after the war he boldly advocated the congressional plan of reconstruction. He was chosen a delegate to the Georgia constitutional convention in 1867, and did much toward perfecting the constitution of his state. He died April 1, 1868."
Almost certainly a daughter (but not confirmed): Emma Louisa ASHBURN (died 1855)
Born in or about 1814, reportedly in North Carolina, although the 1850 census reports Georgia, and the 1860, Tennessee. Married 06 MAY 1847 in Monroe County, Georgia, to Martha Ann SMITH. Father of at least three children, sons George P., Theodore, and Arthur. In 1850, he was operating a hotel in Talbot County, Georgia, and in 1860 he was a cotton broker in Columbus, Georgia. Served as a Colonel in the United States Army during the American Civil War.
After the war, he was appointed a judge by the military Governor of Georgia, George G. MEADE. In this position, ASHBURN worked to dismantle the political encumbrances on all disfranchised Georgians. He called to order the Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1867, held in Atlanta, a chief concern on the agenda of which was the removing of disadvantages placed on African Americans through the institution of slavery. Ashburn authored the provisions in the proposed Constitution that sought to assure civil rights to Blacks. Following the convention, he is said to have expressed intentions to run for election as U. S. Senator from Georgia.
Murdered at a boarding house near the corner of First Avenue and Thirteenth Street in Columbus by a group of thirty or more men, said to have been well-dressed, five of whom wore masks and forced their way into the house to shoot Ashburn.
"Our citizens were greatly startled on Monday night and yesterday morning, by the news that GEO. W. ASHBURN had been killed in the house in which he was living, in the upper part of Oglethorpe street, by a body of men in disguise. The killing occurred between 12 and 1 o'clock Monday night. The shots fired were heard by a number of persons living in the neighborhood..." [from the New York (NY) Times newspaper, 06 APR 1868.]
DeoPatria, Contributor #46874385, provided a link to an article in the Atlanta Intelligencer newspaper of Wednesday, 08 APR 1868, which reads in part: "TO BE TAKEN TO MACON.--The body of ASHBURN is to be carried to-day to Macon, we are informed. Some negroes were speaking yesterday of escorting the remains to the depot in procession. No further developments that we have heard of."
Online database of burials at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon shows: George W. ASHBURN died 02 APR 1868, buried 07 APR 1868, Ridge Name "Central Avenue," Block ID "9," Row ID "NA" [= not applicable?], Lot Name "(G. W. ASHBURN, 5-2-1852)."
His widow appears to have been residing in Washington, District of Columbia, by 1870, but at least one of his sons appears to have remained in Columbus during the investigation of Ashburn's slaying, so it is not clear when the family moved away.
From "Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography," p. 54: "ASHBURN, GEORGE W., soldier, was born in Georgia. During the civil war he was a strong opponent of secession, and raised a company of southern loyalists, subsequently enlarged to a regiment, of which he was colonel. On is return home after the war he boldly advocated the congressional plan of reconstruction. He was chosen a delegate to the Georgia constitutional convention in 1867, and did much toward perfecting the constitution of his state. He died April 1, 1868."
Almost certainly a daughter (but not confirmed): Emma Louisa ASHBURN (died 1855)
After the war, he was appointed a judge by the military Governor of Georgia, George G. MEADE. In this position, ASHBURN worked to dismantle the political encumbrances on all disfranchised Georgians. He called to order the Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1867, held in Atlanta, a chief concern on the agenda of which was the removing of disadvantages placed on African Americans through the institution of slavery. Ashburn authored the provisions in the proposed Constitution that sought to assure civil rights to Blacks. Following the convention, he is said to have expressed intentions to run for election as U. S. Senator from Georgia.
Murdered at a boarding house near the corner of First Avenue and Thirteenth Street in Columbus by a group of thirty or more men, said to have been well-dressed, five of whom wore masks and forced their way into the house to shoot Ashburn.
"Our citizens were greatly startled on Monday night and yesterday morning, by the news that GEO. W. ASHBURN had been killed in the house in which he was living, in the upper part of Oglethorpe street, by a body of men in disguise. The killing occurred between 12 and 1 o'clock Monday night. The shots fired were heard by a number of persons living in the neighborhood..." [from the New York (NY) Times newspaper, 06 APR 1868.]
DeoPatria, Contributor #46874385, provided a link to an article in the Atlanta Intelligencer newspaper of Wednesday, 08 APR 1868, which reads in part: "TO BE TAKEN TO MACON.--The body of ASHBURN is to be carried to-day to Macon, we are informed. Some negroes were speaking yesterday of escorting the remains to the depot in procession. No further developments that we have heard of."
Online database of burials at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon shows: George W. ASHBURN died 02 APR 1868, buried 07 APR 1868, Ridge Name "Central Avenue," Block ID "9," Row ID "NA" [= not applicable?], Lot Name "(G. W. ASHBURN, 5-2-1852)."
His widow appears to have been residing in Washington, District of Columbia, by 1870, but at least one of his sons appears to have remained in Columbus during the investigation of Ashburn's slaying, so it is not clear when the family moved away.
From "Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography," p. 54: "ASHBURN, GEORGE W., soldier, was born in Georgia. During the civil war he was a strong opponent of secession, and raised a company of southern loyalists, subsequently enlarged to a regiment, of which he was colonel. On is return home after the war he boldly advocated the congressional plan of reconstruction. He was chosen a delegate to the Georgia constitutional convention in 1867, and did much toward perfecting the constitution of his state. He died April 1, 1868."
Almost certainly a daughter (but not confirmed): Emma Louisa ASHBURN (died 1855)
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