James Bert Ash son of George Washington Ash was my grandfather: He was born in Shirley, WV on April 25, 1886. He was an independent Oil & Gas Producer, and died in Wichita, Kansas on March 7, 1965. I found out about a brother Alvin Guy Ash born in Alvy, WV on October 18, 1895 he was also in the oil business and lived in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Guy died on May 8, 1966 in Muskogee OK.

I have been researching Charles Elmer Ash partner in the respected Smith & Ash Oil Company or possibly Ash Drilling, and he was inducted into the Oil Museum at El Dorado, Kansas. My father Wiley Ash Sr. had said we were related somehow.

My grandfather, James Bert married Irlean Newsom, and had 8 children: J.B. Jr (sonny), Margie, Donald, David, Joyce, twins(Will & Wiley-my dad) and Gene. Irlean's mother was Minnie Jane Mahoney, Irlean's brother Melvin Newsom was owner of the Bama Pie Company.

Twins Wiley Roger Earl Ash Sr. and Will Post Asil Ash were born on July 10, 1935. Will Ash died in October 1977 due to an oilfield accident and Wiley Sr. died October 30, 2002. In December 1967, Will and Wiley discovered the Wilson Creek oilfield in Ellsworth Co. Kansas. It was the last large oilfield found in Kansas. After getting on strike, they drilled three oil wells a month for three years with only two dry holes.

I'd like to know more about George Washington Ash and how Charles Elmer Ash was related to my grandfather James Bert.