Was born in York, England, August 15' 1826. He is a son of John and Elizabeth Bashforth. At the age of twenty-
three he was married to Miss Elizabeth Ferguson. They had a family of eight children, five of whom are yet living.
Soon after marriage they emigrated to the United States, coming immediately to Pike county, Illinois, first locating
in Milton. In 1852 he removed to Griggsville, where he entered the banking house of Ayres & Lombard, as cashier,
remaining there until the spring of 1862, when he was elected justice of the peace, and has retained that position,
by re-election, ever since. He also represents, as agent, several popular insurance companies, such as the Aetna,
Underwriters, and Andes. Politically, he is a republican.