James Ashman

James W. Ashman (March 25, 1848 – March 28, 1912) was a 19th-century businessman who served two years on the Los Angeles, California, Board of Education. He was a member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1894 to 1898, where he championed the establishment of the city's first fire station composed of African-Americans.

Ashman

Ashman was born in England on March 25, 1848, and came to the United States in 1870, when he settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a locomotive engineer for a dozen years with the Pennsylvania Railroad, then moved to Los Angeles in 1884.^[1]

He was a founder of the Atlas Milling Company of that city and was later affiliated with the Keystone Milling Company.^[1] In 1897 he was president of the Los Angeles chapter of the International Order of Odd Fellows.^[2]

A Democrat,^[3][4] Ashman served two years on the Los Angeles Board of Education and was elected to the City Council in 1894 for a two-year term, then was reelected in 1896.^[1][5] During his councilmanic years, he successfully urged that fruit and vegetable markets be inspected by the city health department.^[6] He also introduced a resolution that city employees be paid twice a month instead of once, to keep them "out of the hands of the money sharks."^[7]

In 1895, according to the Los Angeles Herald:

Councilman Ashman caused a mild sensation by moving that the strength of the fire department be increased by the addition of a company to be composed exclusively of colored men. Ashman is a Democrat, and his motion caused Councilman [Frank Styles] Munson, who is the Republican leader, to gasp with astonishment. Munson, however, proved equal to the occasion by moving that the resolution be referred to the board of fire commissioners.^[8]

The resolution recommended to the fire commissioners that "they arrange as soon as practicable for an engine company to be composed of colored men," but in November 1898 the action had still not been accomplished so Ashton once again introduced a motion to the same effect, noting that "The colored people of our city are wholly without recognition in this important department of public service." It was adopted unanimously.^[9][10]

Upon his retirement from the City Council it was announced that he had been appointed a police commissioner.^[11]

Ashman was married to Elizabeth, who died in December, 1908. Their children were Mrs. Jesse W. Dutton and Bart Ashman.^[12] Ashman himself died in Los Angeles on March 28, 1912.

References

1. "Our Candidates for Public Offices," Los Angeles Herald, November 12, 1896,page 6
2. "Grand Encampment, I.O.O.F.," Los Angeles Herald, October 18, 1897, page 2
3. "Grubb Was a Bit Late," Los Angeles Herald, September 11, 1895, page 5
4. "The Levy Is Now Fixed; Mr. Grubb Called Down," Los Angeles Herald, September 4, 1895, page 1
5. Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials,1850-1938, compiled under direction of Municipal Reference Library, City Hall, Los Angeles (March 1938, reprinted 1966). "Prepared ... as a report on Project No. SA 3123-5703-6077-8121-9900 conducted under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration."
6. "A New Broom: Vegetables to Be Inspected," Los Angeles Herald, September 21, 1897, page 2
7. "It Was a Very Busy Day," Los Angeles Herald, November 12, 1895, page 8
8. "The King Is Nearly Dead," Los Angeles Herald, November 26, 1895, page 10
9. "Colored Fire Company," Los Angeles Herald, November 1, 1898
10. "Veto Turned Down: Colored Fire Company," Los Angeles Times, November 1, 1898, page 10
11. "A Surprise Banquet," Los Angeles Times, January 8, 1899, page 12
12. "Funeral Notices," Los Angeles Herald, December 5, 1908, page 10