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JAMES MARTIN ASHTON.

FIFTEEN or twenty years ago, when the territorial wilds of the west were still ranged by merciless red scalphunters, there was thrilling excitement in a life on the broad plains extending from Colorado to the Mexican line, and the white man who dared the dangers of that Indian-infested country, whether as prospector or stock-driver, pretty much carried his life on his sleeve. Strange as it may seem to some, it is often just such an existence that bears attraction to the bold and adventurous spirit of boyhood, and that charms young men to take sensational risks with the broncho and the lariat. Still stranger may appear the fact that, among the sentinels of the plains was represented some of the best blood in the land, and at the present day many of the most prominent and substantial men on the Pacific coast have just such romantic chapters in their unwritten histories, as one may conceive in the experiences of a cowboy.

Distinguished for his sterling abilities, and standing foremost among the members of the legal profession in the city of his new home, Tacoma, Wash.-genial, whole-souled man, brilliant orator, popular citizen-is James Martin Ashton, who takes special delight in reverting to his cowboy days upon the plains.

Young Ashton is the son of Joseph Ashton, a dry goods merchant in Bellville, Canada. In that town he was born, August 28, 1859, and is consequently ineligible to the Presidency. His father was English born, and his mother, Nancy Winn Ashton, was of Anglo-Irish extraction. He was deprived of the care of both father and mother by the Great Destroyer while at the age of two years. The scion of such a stock, however, was predestined to make an exceptionally good American citizen, and was willing to battle with life alone. His boyhood was passed under the supervision of a guardian at a private school in Bellville, when he was sent to the common school, and then as a youth, he entered the Albert University in Bellville, where he displayed remarkable precocity, and won the praise of his tutors. His associates were many of them young law students. He formed a high opinion of the profession and a desire to acquire the same. To this end he attended University College, Toronto, to perfect himself in arts, and his law studies were to be completed at Osgood Hall, Toronto. Prior to this, however, he made several trips to Uncle Sam's domain and became fond of western life; consequently reading of the law was a dry task. So, imbued with that spirit of

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adventure before alluded to, the subject of our sketch suddenly resolved to join the festive cowboys, those bronco-mounted kings of the prairie, and revel in the possession of broad sombrero, gleaming pistol-belt, and top-boots with bowie-knife sheaths in the side.

Blackstone, Kent and Coke were

all well enough for the time-server to pore over, but Ashton had an inkling of an idea that "time was made for slaves," and he longed to court the freedom of the untrammeled west, and live in very scorn of the bookworm life of the rack-brained student.

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It was at the close of his sophomore year at college that young Ashton ran away and became a cowboy. For two years he followed the career, became a superb horseman, an expert pistolshot; but "roughing it" lost its charms at last, and no sooner the cowboy attraction exhausted than he concluded that there were goals more worthy of his aspirations, and became ambitious to complete the course planned in youth. Then, like the scriptural prodigal son, he returned-not to the parental roof, as he had none-but to his alma mater, and was soon reconciled to the law.

Graduating at Osgood Hall, he afterwards studied a short time at Chicago, Ill., and at Denver, Colorado, and in November, 1882, located in Tacoma. The year previous he had been admitted to United States citizenship at the age of twenty-two.

From the time of his advent in

Tacoma he practiced law constantly, and was kept continuously busy. In the past eight years he has been connected with the leading cases of his city, and many throughout the State. Three years ago he was retained by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company as one of its counsel for Washington and Idaho, and still holds that important position. Not only has he achieved an enviable reputation as a lawyer, but his energies have been exercised in ways that render him prominent in the financial and business affairs of Tacoma. In that city, as well as throughout the State, he is connected with many of the strongest corporations, and his influence is recognized and appreciated far and

near.

Together with his other distinctions, Mr. Ashton is captain of the Tacoma City Troop of the Washington National Guard, and reaps intense enjoyment and recreation from commanding the cavalry. It apparently takes him back somewhat to horse saddles and the round-ups in which he reveled during the frivolous days of his youth.

Capt. Ashton is a member of the Masonic fraternity, viz.: Tacoma Lodge, No. 22, F. and A. M.; Tacoma Chapter, No. 4, A. M., and Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 4, Knights Templar. In religion he adheres to the Episcopalian creed of his parents, while in politics he is a Republican true blue.

The cowboy of fifteen years ago is

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