Asa William Skinner, Jr.

1838 - 1917  (79 years)

• Name	Asa William Skinner  [1]
  Suffix	Jr.
  Born	17 May 1838	, Licking, OH   [2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Census	1 Jun 1840	Hanover Twp, Licking, OH   [4]
  Census	1 Aug 1850	Hanover Twp, Licking, OH   [5]
  Occupation	Between 1858 and 1870	Gridley Twp, McLean, IL   [6]
  	Assessor, exact date unknown. Township organized in 1858 but records were poorly kept for the first twelve year of its existence.
  Census	28 Jul 1860	Gridley Twp, McLean, IL   [7]
  Census	13 Aug 1870	Marion Twp, Jasper, MO   [8]
  Census	8 Jun 1880	Gridley Twp, McLean, IL   [9]
  Address	22 Aug 1884	McKenzie Twp, Burleigh, ND
  	"... A. W. Skinner, who owns a farm three miles and a half north of Sterling. Mr. Skinner had in 250 acres of grain this year and machines were so scarce that he was obliged to force his one binder - a seven foot Deering - to its fullest capacity. He used three horses and shifted horses and driver twice during the day. He worked from early morn until late at night and cut forty acres of very heavy grain each twenty-four hours. He says the yield beats anything he ever saw, and the wheat will certainly go thirty bushels to the acre, and the oats 80. Mr. Skinner is an old Ohio farmer and understands his business. He says he never saw a finer country than this or a country where farmers can made as much money." Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Friday, 22 Aug 1884, pg 3.
  Census	1 Jun 1885	McKenzie Twp, Burleigh, ND
  	Township 139.77 (Twp 139, R 77), Territory of Dakota
  Occupation	6 Jul 1885	, Burleigh, ND
  	Deputy county assessor "Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners ... met in regular meeting ... on motion, the following bills were allowed and ordered paid from their respective funds: A. W. Skinner, services as deputy county assessor, general fund - $81.00" The Bismarck Tribune, Wed, 8 Jul 1885, pg 4
  Politics	31 Oct 1885	Bismarck, Burleigh, ND
  	Republican delegate, Precinct No. 7. The Bismarck Tribune, Sunday, 1 Nov 1885, pg 3
  Life event	2 Aug 1886	, Burleigh, ND
  	"Board of county commissioners met... On motion the following bills were allowed and ordered paid from their respective funds: John Skinner, word[sic] on road: road fund - $43.00 A. W. Skinner, work on road; road fund - $44.00 L. Skinner, work on road; road fund - $68.00" Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Fri, 13 Aug 1886, pg 5
  Politics	2 Nov 1886	McKenzie Twp, Burleigh, ND
  	Judge of Election "Precinct No. 7, district No. 2 - Shall consist of township 139, range 77, and shall vote at the school house; and A. W. Skinner, Oliver DeMotte and John Tyler are hereby appointed judges of election." Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Fri, 22 Oct 1886, pg 5
  Life event	13 May 1887	McKenzie Twp, Burleigh, ND
  	"Strayed From the subscriber's premises, three and one-half miles northwest of Sterling, on April 16th, one bay broncho[sic] mare, 5 years old, having a few white hairs and branded on right forearm and right hipt; also at the same time with the above, a yearling horse colt, Clydesdale chestnut sorrel, with a star in forehead, and one or two white feet. Finder will be paid for trouble on notifying A. W. Skinner, Sterling, Dak." Note: his address is given as Sterling but the location description as well as other records indicate that he lived in McKenzie township, not in Sterling.
  Occupation	12 Jul 1887	, Burleigh, ND
  	Deputy assessor "Board of county commissioners ... ordered paid from their respective funds: A. W. Skinner, deputy assessor, general fund, $156.00" Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Fri, 22 Jul 1887, pg 5
  Occupation	3 Jul 1888	, Burleigh, ND
  	Assessor "Board of commissioners met ... following bills were allowed and ordered paid from the general fund: A. W. Skinner, assessing, $159.00" Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Fri, 20 Jul 1888, pg 5
  Politics	Oct 1888	, Burleigh, ND
  	Republican candidate for County Commissioner, second district; Selected as delegate, precinct No. 11, entitled to vote in Republican Convention. Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Fri, 5 Oct 1888, pg 8
  Politics	Nov 1888	, Burleigh, ND
  	"Mr. A. W. Skinner, the candidate for county commissioner in the Second district, is a typical farmer - not a town farmer, but a genuine 365-days-in-the-year-farmer. He lives in the east end of the county - a section that needs representative on the baord - and promises, if elected, to perform his duties to the best of his ability, always bearing in mind that an economical and impartial administration of county affairs is demanded by his constituents - the tax payers." Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Fri, 2 Nov 1888, pg 4
  Politics	2 Nov 1888	, Burleigh, ND
  	"The Tribune has had considerable to say about Mr. Skinner, the republican nominee for county commissioner, because of the unjust and malicious fight being made upon him and because of the fact that the balance of the ticket is practically out of danger." "Bushwacker Healy is going about the country telling that Mr. Skinner has withdrawn from the field. This is false. Mr. Skinner is the regular nominee on the straight republican ticket for commissioner in the Second district, and the more lying on the part of Healy, the more votes for Skinner." "Those scandal-mongers - Judge Gray and Contractor Healy - are still going about the country circulating false statements about the nominee on the republican ticket. The latest is that the people in the city - the gang as they term it - are not going to work for Skinner, but have switched and are now working for Harvey, the democratic candidate. This is false. Mr. Skinner is the regular republican nominee and all loyal republicans will stand by him. The report that Mr. Griffin or any one else can deliver the city republican vote over to Mr. Harvey is nonsense. Mr. Griffin professes to be a republican and it hardly seems likely that he would favor Mr. Harvey. If he does, the republicans of this city and county are not responsible. Besides Griffin is not in the district that elects a commissioner. Mr. Harvey is the regular democratic nominee. Mr. Healy is the interloper democrat, who nominates himself, and hopes to get enough democratic and enough republican votes to elect him. With party lines drawn a republican ought to be elected in the second commissioner district, and will be if the republicans stand by their nominee. If the country people are true to themselves, Mr. Skinner will be elected. The stories being circulated about Mr. Skinner by Gray, Healy and others are false and shameful and it seems almost incredible - it is certainly blasphemous - that Mr. Healy should get up and pray in the Baptist church on Sunday and then on Monday, Tuesday and other week days go about the country telling such deliberate and malicious lies. It cannot be that Mr. Healy is in his right mind. This is the charitable view to take of it for a sane man doing such things would fear the curses of God." "Beware of roorbachs. Parties are going about the country creating dissentions in the republican ranks by circulating reports that this candidate or that candidate on the republican ticket is working for himself solely; that Macnider is cutting Boyd, that Neal's friends are cutting Skinner and Macnider, and that Williams is cutting some one - in fact every candidate is flocking by himself. The persons who are circulating these repotrs[sic] are mischief makers. They are friends of the so-called Independent ticket. To Betsey Gray, Contractor Healy and Mugwump Moffatt can be traced much of this deviltry. They have inaugurated a sort of guerilla warfare and are adepts at the business. They have no regard for truth - in fact truth is a perfect stranger to them. Party lines not having been closely drawn in previous campaigns in this country, it is found difficult to draw them now. The outlook, however, is more than encouraging for the republican national ticket. Division and statehood for Dakota are sure to follow and then perfect party organization in each county will be advantageous, particularly in this section, which has large interests to protect." "There is one thing that the farmers in the Second commissioner district want to bear in mind and that is that Mr. Skinner is their candidate for county commissioner - is one of them - declares that he will loyally represent their interests, aud[sic] not be influenced by any man or set of men. He will make a conscientious, conservative official. If the doubting farmer, whose mind has been poisoned somewhat by stories circulated by those cranks, Healy and Gray, will take the trouble to inquire he will find that the heaviest tax payers and a large number of best citizens in the city living in Skinner's district and propose to vote for him. If he is defeated he will be defeated by farmers. He will have no opposition in the city. Skinner is working for the success of his ticket. Are other republicans doing the same?" "Can Mr. Healy or Betsey Gray deny that they have told parties in the country that 'the city gang have dropped Skinner and the TRIBUNE is out for Harvey?' Do they deny that it's a lie and they knew it when they said it? Stand up Messrs. Gray and Healy and be sworn. Have you not uttered innumerable falsehoods in this campaign to farmers with a view of influencing their votes against (t)he regular republican ticket? Did you not lie to a gentleman who lives south of Menoken about the TRIBUNE? Did you not lie when you called Dr. Bentley a criminal at the Fields school house and in other places? Do you deny that you have spoken falsely of your fellow men at every cross roads, at every farm house and to every person you have met during the campaign?" Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Fri, 2 Nov 1888, pg 4
  Politics	23 Nov 1888	, Burleigh, ND
  	"In the Second commissioner district there were 381 votes cast for commissioner, of which Anderson Healy received 191; Philip Harvey, 166, and A. W. Skinner, 24. Skinner was the regular republican nominee, but because of certain stories circulated to prejudice the minds of his country constituents against him, notwithstanding their untruthfulness, he decided to leave the race a couple of days before election and in doing so advised his friends to vote for Mr. Harvey. Being thus released from their regular party nominee many republicans swung over to Mr. Healy, the independent candidate, and as the votes show, elected him." Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Fri, 23 Nov 1888, pg 8
  Life event	18 Oct 1889	Bismarck, Burleigh, ND
  	"Friday Hotel Arrivals: At the Western (hotel): ... A. W. Skinner, Oscar Ball, Sterling." Bismarck Weekly Tribune, pg 8
  Address	1890	Portland, Multnomah, OR   [10]
  	104 N. 11th
  Land Purchase	22 Jul 1890	McKenzie Twp, Burleigh, ND   [11]
  	160 acres, Twp 139N, Rng 77W, Section 14, NE 1/4.
  Address	12 Aug 1891	Corvallis, Benton, OR
  	"The names of applicants for county (teachers) certificates are ... from Corvallis ... Ida Skinner, Asa Skinner..." Corvallis Gazette-Times, Fri 14 Aug 1891, pg 4
  Address	14 Oct 1892	Corvallis, Benton, OR
  	"A. W. Skinner spent Sunday at his home in this city. He is teaching the school in Blodgett." Corvallis Gazette-Times, Fri, 14 Oct 1892, pg 1
  Politics	10 Mar 1894	, Lincoln, OR
  	"The populists of Lincoln county made the following nominations Saturday last: ... school sup't, A. W. Skinner..." Albany Daily Democrat, 14 Mar 1894, pg 3
  Politics	7 Jun 1894	, Lincoln, OR
  	School Superintendent election results: George Bethers (R) 409 T. J. Elliott (D) 199 A. W. Skinner (P) 226 Lincoln County Leader, Thu 7 Jun 1894, pg 4
  Occupation	11 Apr 1895	, Lincoln, OR
  	A. W. Skinner will teach the school on Mary's River. Lincoln County Leader, Thu 11 Apr 1895, pg 4
  Occupation	24 May 1895	Toledo, Lincoln, OR
  	Taught Methods of Teaching: Reading at the Lincoln County Teachers' Institute. Lincoln County Leader, Thu, 16 May 1895, pg 4
  Occupation	9 Apr 1896	, Lincoln, OR
  	Received apportionment of $79.90 from Superintendent Bethers for 25 students, district 43 Lincoln County Leader, Thu, 9 Apr 1896, pg 4
  Life event	21 May 1896	Dallas, Polk, OR
  	"A. W. Skinner closed his school on Steer creek a few days last week to attend court at Dallas." Lincoln County Leader, pg 8.
  Life event	May 1897	, , OR
  	"The family of A. W. Skinner expect to start to Eastern Oregon in a few days to reside in the future." The Weekly Gazette-Times, Corvallis, OR, Sat, 15 May 1897, pg 2
  Address	13 Aug 1902	Prairie City, Grant, OR
  	"...Board of Directors for this district (has chosen) Prof. A. W. Skinner in charge of the intermediate department and Miss Daisy Skinner at the head of the primary department." The Oregon Daily Journal, Wed, 13 Aug 1902, pg 3
  Occupation	13 Aug 1902	Prairie City, Grant, OR
  	Teacher; "...Board of Directors for this district (has chosen) Prof. A. W. Skinner in charge of the intermediate department and Miss Daisy Skinner at the head of the primary department." The Oregon Daily Journal, Wed, 13 Aug 1902, pg 3
  Census	9 Apr 1910	Canyon City, Grant, OR   [12]
  Occupation	15 Jul 1911	, Grant, OR
  	Received his one year teacher certification. The Oregon Daily Journal, pg 10
  Residence	21 Nov 1916	Canyon City, Grant, OR
  	"A. W. Skinner of Canyon City is at the Perkins." Perkins was a hotel on the northeast corner of SW 5th and Washington in Portland, Oregon. The Oregon Daily Journal, Portland Oregon, Tue 21 Nov 1916, pg 7
  Died	19 Sep 1917	Prairie City, Grant, OR   [2, 3, 13]
  	Time of death: 11 am Cause of death: cancer of stomach and liver [3]
  Buried	Canyon City Cemetery, Canyon City, Grant, OR   [2, 3]
  Person ID	I2911	Allison | Allison
  Last Modified	3 Nov 2023

  
  

  Father	Asa William Gray Skinner, Sr.,   b. 12 Mar 1802, , , VA ,   d. 9 Mar 1875, Hanover Twp, Licking, OH  (Age 72 years)
  Mother	Martha Jane Haley,   b. 24 Dec 1805, , , VA ,   d. 18 Jun 1866, Hanover Twp, Licking, OH  (Age 60 years)
  Married	15 Dec 1823	, Fauquier, VA   [14, 15]
  Notes	John Haley Skinner, Sr's biographical sketch states that Asa and Martha had 12 children, 5 sons and 7 daughters (not named). Great-granddaughter Eva Morton Wood's 1923 family records list 11 children, 3 sons and 8 daughters: James Allen, Mark, Asa, Martha, Millie (Parmelia), Lucinda, Mary, Matilda, Margaret, Katie (Catherine), Angie Ann (Angeline). Paul Haley's pdf of Skinner descendants lists 9 children, 4 sons and 5 daughters: Mary Ellen, John Haley, Margaret, Martha, James A., Asa, Pamela, Angeline and Albert A. We learn most of their children's names and ages in the 1850 and 1860 census records; the 1830 and 1840 census records provided the sex, number and age ranges of children not named in later census records. Some of the records confirm the above information, while others contradict it. I'm still researching this topic. Lisa Allison Albert.
  Family ID	F1176	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Sarah McCafferty,   b. 1841, , , IN ,   d. 21 Oct 1913, Canyon City, Grant, OR  (Age 72 years)
  Married	8 Dec 1859	, McLean, IL
  Notes	Per McLean County, Illinois birth records, Daisy was their 5th child.
  Children	1. John Lincoln Skinner,   b. 9 Sep 1863, El Paso, McLean, IL ,   d. 4 Nov 1957, Douglas, Converse, WY  (Age 94 years)   2. Lindfred T Skinner,   b. 27 Sep 1867, , , IL ,   d. 26 Aug 1938, Vale, Malheur, OR  (Age 70 years)   3. Ida Leona Skinner,   b. 17 Feb 1874, El Paso, McLean, IL ,   d. 9 Oct 1954, Corvallis, Benton, OR  (Age 80 years)   4. Hal C Skinner,   b. 18 Jan 1877, , McLean, IL ,   d. 16 Mar 1940, Baker City, Baker, OR  (Age 63 years)   5. Daisy Skinner,   b. 9 Feb 1882, Gridley Twp, McLean, IL ,   d. 18 Dec 1975, Tucson, Pima, AZ  (Age 93 years)
  Last Modified	16 Aug 2023
  Family ID	F1223	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Asa William Skinner, Jr. Tintype photo, likely taken in the 1860s but could have been taken in the 1870s or early 1880s before Asa and his family moved to the Dakota Territory. Image shared with me by Linda Bachman, Hudson Public Library - History Room, Hudson, Illinois. She granted permission to share this image.

  
  

  Documents		1840 US Census, Hanover Township, Licking County, Ohio 4 households listed: E.L. Skinner: 2 males under 5 (Samuel & Asa), 3 males ages 5-9 (Joseph, James & George), 1 male ages 10-15 (J.E.), 1 male ages 20-30 (?), 1 male ages 40-50 (E.L), 1 female ages 10-15 (Sarepeta), 1 female ages 15-20 (?), 1 female 30-40 (Mary E. Haley). Lewis Bray: 1 male ages 40-50 (Lewis), 1 female ages 40-50 (Catherine Skinner). Asa W. Skinner (misspelled as Acy W. Skiner): 1 male under 5 (Asa Jr.), 1 male ages 5-9 (John), 2 males ages 15-19 (Mark and James), 1 male ages 30-39 (self), 2 females ages 5-9 (Margaret and Martha), 2 females ages 10-14 (unnamed daughters), and 1 female ages 30-39 (wife Martha Jane). Joseph Skinner: 1 male ages 5-10 (likely nephew Ezekiel David Haley), 1 male ages 30-40 (Joseph), 1 female ages 40-50 (Mary Palmer, wrong age bracket), 1 female ages 70-80 (likely sister Lucinda, widow, wrong age bracket). Given that Lucinda and David are recorded as living with Joseph and Mary for the 1860 census, and Lucinda for the 1870 census, and that I can't find any record of Alexander Haley after 1830, I believe Lucinda was a widow by 1840 and that she and her son Ezekiel are the additional 2 people in Joseph's household. Brother John Skinner is listed on the next page of entries (page 5), line 10.
  		1850 US Census, Hanover Township, Licking County, Ohio Three families listed: Asa W. Skinner, wife Martha, sons John and Asa Jr., and daughters Martha, Margaret, Catherine, Amelia (Parmelia?), and Angeline. Occupation: farmer. Real estate value: $3000. James Skinner, wife Fansina [sic] and daughter (Margaret) Minerva. Occupation: farmer. Mark Skinner, wife Martha. Occupation: farmer.

  
  

  Histories » Slide Show		John H. Skinner, Sr., biographical sketch History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, page 761
  		Pioneer Life for Licking County residents Excerpts from pages 227 - 234 of History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present detailing how they obtained food, shelter, clothing and schooling.
  		James Allen Skinner, biographical sketch by Lisa Allison Albert Sources used include government and family records for James, Francis, their parents and their siblings.

  
  

• Sources

  [S165] Oregon, Death Index, 1898-2008, State of Oregon, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S5] Find A Grave. [S49] Oregon, U.S., State Deaths, 1864-1968 , Ancestry, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S111] 1840 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1840 ). [S27] 1850 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S456] History of McLean County, Illinois, The, Le Baron, William, Jr., (Chicago, W. Le Baron, Jr., 1879). [S95] 1860 US Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S21] 1870 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S22] 1880 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S17] U.S. City Directories, Ancestry.com, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S253] US Dept of the Interior, BLM, (https://glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx). [S40] 1910 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S165] Oregon, Death Index, 1898-2008, State of Oregon, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). Asa Wm Skinner Death date: 19 Sep 1917 Death place: Grant Certificate: 37 [S112] Virginia, Compiled Marriages, 1740-1850, Dodd, Jordan R., et al.. Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850. Bountiful, UT, USA: Precision Indexing Publishers. , (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S45] Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Ancestry.com, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.).