Source for following article:
The Biographical Record Rock Island County, 1897

MARK ASHDOWN.—While there is
much truth in the strictures made
upon the modern scramblers for the almighty
dollar who seek to accumulate vast fortunes
by selfish and unscrupulous means, there is
nothing more worthy of praise than the
quiet and steady pursuit of some honest
calling and the determined exercise of the
industry, economy and sagacity which enable
a man to acquire a home and a competence.
The subject of this biography, now
a prosperous citizen of Port Byron, is a man
whose brave struggle with early adversity
has brought him a competence without the
sacrifice of principle. For many years he
was actively identified with the agricultural
and business interests of Rock Island county,
but is now living retired, having acquired
a sufficient amount of this world's
goods to enable him to pass his declining
years in ease and comfort.

Mr. Ashdown was born in Kent county,
England, June 3, 1831, of which country
his parents, Edward and Ann (Bakurst 1
Ashdown, were also natives. The father,
who was born in Sussex, came to America
in 1842, accompanied by his two sons,
Henry and Mark, but after spending about
thirteen months in Macedon, Wayne county,
New York, they returned to England,
where he died. In the fall of 1850, the
sons again came to this country and located
in Wayne county, New York, where our
subject worked on a farm for five years. He
was there married, December 23, 185
Miss Mary Ann Beale, also a native of Kent
county, England, who in 1850 had come to
America with her father, Henry Edward
Beale, who also settled in Wayne county,
New York.

In 1855 Mr. Ashdown emigrated to Illinois,
and after spending one summer in Port
Byron he went to Canoe Creek township,
where he operated rented land for seven
years, the place comprising three hundred
acres. In connection with general farming he
also successfully engaged in stock-raising
1 86 1 he purchased a tract of eighty acers,
the following year another forty-acre tract,
and in 1863 eighty acres, all in Coe township,
and upon his farm erected a fine large
residence, good barns and other outbuildings.
He continued to engage in agricultural
pursuits until selling his place in 1881
to his son, removing to Port Byron in October
of that year. Here he purchased residence
property, and for some four or five
years engaged in the manufacture of lumber
and also dealt in agricultural implements,
but in 1895 disposed of his business and has
since lived retired, enjoyng the firuits of
his former toil. He owns two valuable farms
in Coe township, aggregating four hundred
acres of productive and well improved land,
and besides his own residence he has other
houses in Port Byron which he rents.

Mr. and Mrs. Ashdown have two sons
and one daughter, namely: William Henry,
born in Wayne county, New York, who is
married and is now one of the substantial
farmers of Coe township, Rock Island
county; Charles Edward, born in Rock
Island county, is married and owns and
operates a valuable farm in Coe township;
and Ella E. is the wife of Luther S.
Pearsell, a merchant of Port Byron. They
lost one son in infancy.

In early life Mr. Ashdown was identified
with the Democratic party, but now is an
ardent Prohibitionist. For eight years he
most acceptably served as justice of the
peace in Coe township, for thirteen years
was a member of the school board, and has
also been a member of the town board in
Port Byron. In summing up the events of
his life, it can most truly be stated that
there never was a resident of Port Byron
who was more highly respected and esteemed
than he is. During the years of
active business life he was looked upon as a
model of honor and an example of a truly
honest business man.

Contributed by F-A-G members Bob & AJ