Charles S. Ashley Explained

Charles Sumner Ashley Sr.
Office:	34th Mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts
Term Start:	1927
Term End:	1936
Predecessor:	Edward R. Hathaway
Successor:	Leo E.J. Carney
Office2:	31st Mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts
Term Start2:	1917
Term End2:	1921
Predecessor2:	Edward R. Hathaway
Successor2:	Walter H.B. Remington
Office3:	29th Mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts
Term Start3:	1910
Term End3:	1914
Predecessor3:	William J. Bullock
Successor3:	Edward R. Hathaway
Office4:	27th Mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts
Term Start4:	1907
Term End4:	1907
Predecessor4:	Thomas Thompson
Successor4:	William J. Bullock
Office5:	25th Mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts
Term Start5:	1897
Term End5:	1905
Predecessor5:	David Parker
Successor5:	Thomas Thompson
Office6:	21st Mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts
Term Start6:	1891
Term End6:	1892
Predecessor6:	William Clifford
Successor6:	Jethro C. Brock
Birth Date:	5 September 1858
Birth Place:	New Bedford, Massachusetts
Death Place:	New Bedford, Massachusetts
Party:	Democratic

Charles Sumner Ashley Sr. (September 5, 1858 – February 6, 1941) was the Mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts various times from 1890 to 1936.^[1] He served for over 25 terms.

Biography

Charles S. Ashley was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on September 5, 1858. He was educated at public schools and the Friends' Academy, and worked in the meat trade. In 1890, he and Stephen D. Pierce established the clothing and furnishing firm Ashley & Pierce.^[2]

He was elected as mayor of New Bedford first in December 1890,^[3] he also served as mayor from 1897 to 1905. He then served from 1910 to 1914; 1917 to 1921; and his final terms were from 1927 to 1936.^{[4] [5]}

He married Anna B. Luce in 1880, and they had three children. In 1891, he remarried to Mrs. Philip B. Purrington.^[2]

He died at his home in New Bedford on February 6, 1941.^[4]

Legacy

Charles S. Ashley Elementary school in New Bedford, Massachusetts is named in his honor.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mayors of New Bedford . 2010-07-23 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091202002237/http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/Tourism/OurHistory/Mayorofnb.html . 2009-12-02 .
2. Book: Men of Progress: One Thousand Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Leaders in Business and Professional Life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . Bacon . Edwin M. . Edwin Munroe Bacon . . Boston . 364–365 . 1896 . 2022-01-18 . Internet Archive.
3. News: Municipal Elections . . 2 . December 3, 1890 . 2022-01-18 . Newspapers.com.
4. News: Charles S. Ashley, 27 Times Mayor of New Bedford, Dies . . New Bedford . 1, 9 . 1941-02-06 . 2022-01-18 . Newspapers.com.
5. News: New Bedford Refuses to Let Him Retire After 25 Terms . It is part of the life of Charles S. Ashley to be Mayor of New Bedford, and part of New Bedford's official life to have Mr. Ashley as Mayor. ... . . 2 . December 7, 1932 . 2010-07-23 . subscription.