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LILLIE B. ASHLEY
It has become very obvious to
African American News & Issues’ editors who’re entrusted with researching
historical data and information (featured in Fiestas Black History
24-7-365), that in spite of the hardships that descendants of slaves had to
endure in the land of the free at the turn of the century and beyond, many
not only survived but thrived to leave a legacy of perseverance and an
abiding faith that God will make a way, to empower future generations.
Nevertheless, imagine if you dare, growing up in tiny hamlets like Goodrich,
Texas, that had a population that was less than 300 souls, in the 1920’s.
Then again, although Goodrich (a tiny town @ the junction of U.S. Highway
59, State Highway 393, and Farm roads 1988 and 2665, seventy miles north of
Houston), isn’t much to write about… Polk County definitely has a rich
history. Much like most small towns, throughout America, Goodrich was
established as Houston, East and West Texas Railway pushed into what had
been sparsely settled southern Polk County in the late 1870s. One of the
line's earliest stations in the county was named for William M. Goodrich, a
large landowner in the region. Although it had a post office by 1882,
Goodrich developed slowly until the arrival of Wilson W. Armitage, a native
of England who moved from nearby Marianna, built a store at Goodrich, and
became postmaster.
The new community had a gristmill, cotton gin, sawmill, and school by 1900.
To the west lay the black school called New Hope, established in 1892. A
stove mill and blacksmith shop encouraged further growth at Goodrich after
1900, although the area's dwindling timberlands hurt the local lumber
industry. Many residents returned to agriculture for their livelihood,
growing cotton, corn, and a variety of truck crops in this gently rolling
area. The first of a series of oil wells in the Goodrich field was
discovered in 1941. More substantial finds in subsequent years proved an
important boon to the local economy. Goodrich, which had about 200 residents
in 1925, had grown to some 350 by the mid-1980s. In 1990 it had a population
of 239.
Meanwhile, Marianna, that was established on the eastern banks of the
Trinity River sixty-five miles north of Houston in southern Polk County,
became a favorite port for steamships. The town was originally named Drew's
Landing, in honor of early entrepreneur Monroe Drew, who traded with a group
of Coushatta Indians living on the opposite bank of the river. Drew also
attracted a large share of Trinity riverboat traffic. In addition to
operating a store, he opened a boat landing, ran a ferry, and established a
small sawmill with a partner, Joseph Baird. By the time of the Civil War,
Drew's Landing had become a bustling community of about fifty persons and
was an important center for the Polk County cotton trade. A post office was
opened in 1860 with Drew as postmaster.
During the Civil War, Drew's Landing continued to be an important storage
and shipping point for Polk County farmers. Flatboats were also constructed
there. The post office, which closed in 1867, reopened in 1871. This time,
however, Charles Fitze named it Marianna, in honor of Mary and Annie
Goodrich, daughters of William Goodrich. As riverboat traffic decreased with
the expansion of the Houston, East and West Texas Railway into Polk County,
most of the population around Marianna moved to Livingston or Goodrich. The
post office again closed in 1896. During the town's heyday most residents,
including Alexander Hamilton Washington, had lived on the western bank of
the Trinity in what later became San Jacinto County, since the land there
was more suitable for farming.
In fact Wesley Harrell was one of the few African Americans who owned their
own farm. And he was more than able to support his wife Bessie Jane
Stubblefield and five children very well, therefore they were delight when
Lillie, their sixth child was born on April 4, 1918. As a child she
confessed Christ and was a member of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church.
She also attended school in her community of Swartout. She married Edward
Ashley and moved to Houston, Texas and became a member of Old Pleasant Grove
Baptist Church. She worked as a domestic and for over 25 years as a Day Care
Mother. Her favorite hobby was gardening In the early 1980's she became a
member of Fifth Ward, Church of Christ and was a faithful member until her
health began to failed She departed this life on December 7, 2003.
Even so, she left a rich legacy of love and caring that was certainly
evident during the Dec. 12, 2003 celebration of her long and fruitful life
at Fifth Ward Church of Christ, with Bro. Thomas Foster officiating.
Brothers: Bencil Smith, Anthony Curvey, Robert Adams, Sr., Arthur Rawls,
John Turner, Gus Milton and Sis. Helen Benjamin honored Sis. Ashley with
song, pray, scripture and resolutions. Ellis Ashley, Jr., Ray Watson, Oscar
James and Joe, Wayne & John Williams were active pallbearers. Honorary
pallbearers were Johnnie and Carl Simmons were honorary pallbearers for Sis.
Ashley was preceded in death by parents, husband, two sons, three brothers,
and one sister.
She leaves to celebrate her memories: two sons, Ellis (Mary) and Lendon; one
daughter, Emma Jean; one sister, Luciell Smith of Portland, Oregon; four
granddaughters, Monica Ashley, Sikita Ashley, YeTeast Ashley, and Keisha
Ashley; one grandson, Ellis Charles Ashley, Jr.; one great granddaughter,
Dominique Williams; two great grandsons, Ashlon Smith and Ray Vann Logan; a
very special and devoted nephew, Johnnie Simmons of Goodrich, Texas; and a
host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. |
