Ashbaugh, David B.

DAVID B. ASHBAUGH.

Alexander Ashbaugh was born in Baltimore County, Md., and was descended from a family of German extraction that in the latter part of the eighteenth century settled in that region. He married Mary Vantine, of an old and prominent pioneer family, from which union were born the following children:

Andrew, Thomas, Alexander, James, William, David B., and Edessima, married to Peter Grinder. David B. Ashbaugh, his youngest son, was born Aug. 6, 1832, in Allegheny township, where his parents had settled several years previous. He has been twice married,— first to Elizabeth Grinder, who bore him two children, Albert W. and Mary Isabella, and second to Permilla Anderson, by whom the five following children were born: Antes S., Robert N., James McCreighton, Bertie, and Custer, and also James, deceased. Mr. Ashbaugh was many years in the coal business on the Monongahela River, which he mastered in all its phases and shapes. Afterwards he was largely engaged in the construction of the Western Pennsylvania Railroad, four miles of which he graded and built. He then opened a coal-mine east of the Lynchburg tunnel to coal the railroad locomotives, and on the completion of the railroad began the shipping of coal. Soon after he opened the coal-mine west of the first one, and in the summer of 1882 opened one west of Leechburg Station. These last two mines are operated by a strong company, of which he is part owner, and the superintendent and lessee. These mines employ over two hundred hands, and produce annually some one hundred and fifty thousand tons of coal. This is shipped largely to the East, especially to the New Jersey Division, besides which his company coal, all the engines on the Western Pennsylvania Railroad, and supply the Allegheny County work-house. The coal is of the noted Freeport vein, so well known in the commercial markets. Mr. Ashbaugh’s residence is just at the east end of the Leechburg tunnel, where is the Kiskiminetas River. He has a beautiful seat of thirteen acres, finely located, and embracing a very large variety of the choicest fruit. He is a member of the Leechburg Lodge, No. 651, I.O.O.F. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and but few of his party in the northern part of the county are as active as he in maintaining its organization and in political campaigns. He has been sixteen years in charge of these coal-works, known now as the "Leechburg Colliery." In connection with H.H. Ray, he has a large store at Leechburg Station, which does a very extensive business. His company’s coal lands embrace some eight hundred and twenty-eight acres of splendid coal-fields, all centring around or near the tunnel, which is fifteen hundred and sixty feet in length, and around which the river flows three miles. He is one of the most experienced coal men of the county, and stands high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and in the business world.