Fraternally yours, Augustus W. Aston

Augustus White Aston
1900, Charlottesville VA

Friends were very important to the Moran family.   If you could see all of the pictures and correspondence we have about and from friends you'd know what I mean.  So many times we can't identify the friends and sometimes we are blessed with having an inscription on the photograph as in the case of Pierre Toutant Beauregard and Augustus "Gus" W. Aston.

Fraternally yrs
Augustus W. Aston
1900

Pierre and Gus were friends of James H. Moran III.  He also attended St Albans and the University of Virginia and that is where the friendship developed.  This photograph of Augustus Aston was found in a trunk in the attic at Moran Place.  On the back is the image of a woman from another picture that "bled" onto  Gus' picture.

You'd think having a name and date would make it easy but not always.  So I'll share the information I have about Gus Aston here.  Perhaps someone will come along and fill in the blanks.

His name is Augustus White ASTON.  The photograph was taken when he was attending the University of Virginia.  You can't see it very well but there is an imprint under the picture that says "University Store, Holsinger, Charlottesville VA".  Rufus W. Holsinger had a reputation for quality work and was a famous photographer.





According to Gus' world war I draft registration he was born July 21, 1875.  I have seen it listed in family trees as 1874.  I found references to him in Vol. 11 of Corks and Curls (1899), the yearbook for the University of Virginia.  He was a member of The St. Albans' School Club, the German Club, The Thirteen Club, and on page 192 he is listed, Augustus W. Aston of Meadow View.  Meadowview Virginia is where he lived.

I found an article in the Richmond Dispatch dated Sept. 14 1902.  There was a big party honoring the 11th Session of St Albans at Radford VA opening for the year.  Among the many attendees Gus Aston is listed and he was attending "stag".

In 1916 Gus was the best man at his niece's wedding in Knoxville TN.  From the Knoxville Daily Sentinel:  "This evening at 9 o'clock at the Church street M.E. church, South, the marriage of Miss Emily Stringfield KENNEDY and Mr. Ralph Victor THURSTON will be solemnized....Mr. Gus Aston, of Virginia, uncle of the bride, will serve as best man."  Emily KENNEDY's mother was Sarah Elizabeth ASTON, sister of Augustus White Aston, the subject in our picture.  Their parents were Augustus Washington ASTON and Emily Elizabeth KENDRICK.

Census Information:
1880- 5 years old living at home with his mother and siblings.  His father has died by this point.
1890 - the census that was lost to fire
1900 - he is living in Charlottesville VA and is listed as a "law student"
1910 - 34 years old living at home with his mother and sister.  Occupation is cashier.  I have seen in another reference that he was cashiering at the bank.  Later he became the president of "the county bank".  James Moran also became the bank president of the Dresden Bank which his family owned.
1920 - 44 years old and living with his sister.  Their mother has passed on.  Occupation is Banker and cashier
1930 - 54 years old, his sister Mary is still living with him.  His occupation is now listed as Farming.  I wonder if this had anything to do with the depression and so many banks crashing?  The Dresden Bank crashed as well and James Moran had moved on to other business endeavors.
1940 - 64 years old.  His sister Mary is still in the household and his brother William H Aston has joined them.  Augustus' occupation is now Postmaster.

And that is where the trail ends.  I did find him listed in some family trees with a date of death Sept 14, 1943 but I haven't been able to confirm that and I don't know where he is buried.  Drop me line if you can tell me when Augustus died and where he's buried.