These newspaper clippings are on file at the Chester County Historical Society - West Chester, PA. I have transcribed them because my husband's family is connected to the Chester County Ash line. I hope this info will be useful to others.


Daily Local News 3 Sept 1907
A reunion of the descendants of Daniel Heinrich and Elizabeth Kelin Esch, or Ash, as it has been called by later generations, was held at Sandy Hill, West Caln township, on Labor Day, September 2d, at the invitation of Charles W. Ash, who is now the owner of the old homestead, at which about 50 persons were present. The morning hours were spent in social chat and various field sports. Tables were spread under the trees in the orchard, where the needs of the inner man were attended to at a seasonable hour, after which officers for the ensuing year were nominated by a committee consisting of E.V. Philips, Frank V. Eavenson and Arthur Yearsley, who reported in favor of the following: President William R. Ash; Vice President, Samuel Ash; Secretary, I. Y. Ash, and Treasurer, Charles W. Ash. The report of the committee being satisfactory they were duly elected. An Executive Committee, consisting of L. P. Ash, Walter Ash, William Hoopes, William W. E. Ash and James Magill was also elected and a committee to arrange for next year’s meeting, with Herbert Ash as Chairman, was appointed by the Chair.
Those present were as follows: James Yearsley and wife, Thomas Yearsley and wife, Sallie Yearsley, Elizabeth A. Speakman, Marianna Ash, Elizabeth T. Ash, Helen Way, Ralph Way, Emma Way, Charles Way, Howard Way, Ethel Brown, Alice Brown, Franklin LeFevre, Marie Thomas, Franklin Thomas, Frank Hunt, Harry Hunt and wife, Walter T. Hunt, Gertrude Swope, Lena A. Ash, Louis P. Ash, Edward I. Hoopes, Kate C. Ash, Earl Drake, Nellie Ash, Chas. W. Ash and wife, Marian Way, Nora Ash, Eleanor Ash, Amanda M. Dingee, Warren Ash, Samuel Ash and wife, Ruth Ash, Irma Swope, Garrett A. Hoopes, Margaret Hoopes, Marion M. Eavenson, Mary E. Eavenson, Ellen E. Eachus, Robert Eachus, Elma Hope, William E. Dingee, W. T. Hope, Mary C. E. Davis, Ralston R. Hoopes, Helen Yearsley, William Hoopes, Marian V. Philips, Sarah V. Way, William W. E. Ash, Nellie M. Ash, Ulysses Moore, Irene Moore, William R. Ash, Edward D. Ash, Francis A. Trego, Walter P. Ash, Bertha Ash, M. Eleanor Magill, Harry Whitesides, Walter Hope, Ralph Hope, Robert T. Ash, Herbert Ash, Lillian Ash, Carrie Trego, Charles Trego, Mary Ash Philips, Eleanor Ash Philips, Earle Ash, MD, Samuel Ash, William C. Ash, James Magill, Walter Magill, Horace Ash, E.V. Philips, May Ash, Dorothy Ash, Mabel A. Wood, William S. Ash, Albin T. Eavenson, Ida Caroline Eavenson, Francis V. Eavenson, Howard Yearsley, James Walter Yearsley, Elizabeth Rankin Yearsley, Ella May Yearsley, Sarah T. Yearsley, Warren Way, S. Irene Eavenson, P. H. Way, Norma Yearsley, Lawrence E. Way, Hazel M. Hunt, Lawrence Hughes, Marion Yearsley, J. Harold Way, William R. Ash, Hannah A. Conquest, E.V. Philips, Joseph Ash, Nellie R. Ash, Mollie J. Ash, G. Norman Ash, Nellie Ash, Morriss Hughes, MD, Charles H. Ash and wife, Ellie Yearsley, Mifflin Jones and wife, Ella Way, Howard Way, Charles Philips, Anna E. Ash, Isaac Y. Ash, David A. Ash, Mary Corbett, I. Margaret Hoopes, T. Wilson Potts, Grant Conquest, W. H. Conquest and others. It was a happy company and ranged in ages from eighty-two years to a few months. After the shadows began to lengthen, the company was served with light refreshments and then the farewells were spoken and the guests departed. A vote of thanks was heartily given the host for his untiring efforts to make the occasion one of the largest as well as most enjoyable ever held by the family. Short sides on horseback and in E. V. Philips’ and Howard Way’s autos afforded much amusement to the younger set, while base ball, quoits and shooting clay pigeons engaged the attention of many.

Daily Local News 9 Feb 1908
The West Caln members of the Ash family are busy at present arranging for the annual outing for the clan at the old Ash Homestead, near Sandy Hill, West Caln township and it will take place during the cool weather expected in September. Invitations will shortly be sent to the several hundred members of the clan, many of whom reside in Philadelphia, Downingtown, West Chester and many other places. There are a number of them at present in Minnesota, who will not be present at the affair. William R. Ash, of Philadelphia, is one of the prime movers in the affair, and has charge of nearly all the arrangements every year. The members of the family are met at Coatesville with automobiles and wagons and taken a pleasant drive to and from the old farm, where a big table is set beneath the trees of the old orchard.

Daily Local News 6 Jun 1909
The Ash family yesterday held its annual reunion at West Caln Friends’ Meeting, Sandy Hill. About fifty descendants of Phineas and Caroline Ash were there, and dinner was eaten on the grounds under the trees. There is a family organization of which Captain William R. Ash, of Philadelphia, is President and Isaac Y. Ash, of Downingtown, is Secretary. These men have the general arrangements in charge and from year to year look after the assembling of their kinsfolk. On Independence Day they have a sane celebration, hearing reports from the different branches, and congratulating one another on the evidences of success that have been shown during the year. The following brothers and sisters were present with their families: Captain William R. Ash, Samuel Ash, Philadelphia; Eleanor, wife of Andrew Magill; Amanda, wife of William Dingee, West Caln; Charles W. Ash, Coatesville; Isaac Y. Ash, Downingtown; Lewis R. Ash, Millville, New Jersey; Walter R. Ash, on the property adjoining the meeting.

Daily Local News 28 Jun 1915 ASH FAMILY REUNION
The members of the Ash family of Chester county will hold a reunion at a date not yet fixed upon at Lenape Park, probably some day in July. County Controller Isaac Y. Ash is making arrangements to secure a date which will be satisfactory. Many picnics are already scheduled for the park next month.

Daily Local News 6 Jul 1915
This evening the members of the Executive Committee of Arrangements for the Ash family reunion will hold a meeting at the home of Robert Eachus, at Downingtown, to complete the programme. The reunion will take place at Lenape Park, on Labor Day, September 5th. It is suggested also that members of the family hold services in the old Friends’ Meeting House in West Caln township, where many of the older members of the Ash family worshipped and are interred in the old burying ground there.

Daily Local News 4 Sept 1915
The reunion of the Ash Family Association, which has members in all sections of the country, will take place at Lenape Park on Monday and is expected to be the largest one ever held by the clan. The meetings were formerly held at the Ash homestead in West Caln township, near Sandy Hill, for a number of years until about four years ago, when interest lagged and none have been held since until Issac Y. Ash, of Downingtown, and a few others took up the matter and arranged for the one this season. There will be no special observance of the day and the affair will partake of the nature of an old fashioned basket picnic, each party providing its lunch and spending the day in a social manner, following the former custom at the old homestead. It is expected there will be members of the clan present from many sections of the country, some coming even from Minnesota, where a number of members are located, while Philadelphia, Coatesville, Downingtown and other places will be largely represented.

Daily Local News 7 Sept 1915
Over one hundred members of the Ash Family Association, composed of decedents of Daniel Heinrich Esch (afterwards Ash) met in glad reunion yesterday at Lenape Park, took dinner as one big family and enjoyed the day thoroughly, even if slight rains did fall during the afternoon. The party was well protected in the buildings at the park during these light showers, which did not even dampen the ardor of those present. There were many happy meetings of relatives, some of whom had never before met, although living in the same State and within a few miles of each other. Coatesville, Downingtown, Philadelphia, West Chester and many other places were represented and there were many from distances also present. 
The clan commenced to gather early in the forenoon and at 10 o’clock the register was opened and those present signed their names and received a tag bearing their name, which was worn all day of identification purposes. One hundred and one registered before late afternoon, many not arriving until the noon hour, when a big repast was spread in the eating pavilion and ice cream and cake served afterwards to all present. Mrs. Robert Eachus was the matron in charge of the dining preparations and she was assisted by many women of the party who volunteered their services. 
Early in the afternoon a meeting was held and a photograph of the entire party taken, after which the annual election of members of a committee to arrange an affair for next year was held. The former committee was continued with power to select a place for the meeting and to perfect all arrangements. Of this Chester Ash, of Coatesville, was made President, to act in place of Samuel Ash, who is incapacitated by illness; Isaac Y. Ash was made Secretary, with Ella Eachus as his assistant; Howard Ash was made Treasurer. A collection was taken to defray expenses, when more than the amount needed was quickly secured.
One of the features of the afternoon was a base ball game in which the members of the family from Downingtown sought to win a game from the others combined, but the score at the close was declared a tie. Isaac Y. Ash, County Controller, was probably the oldest member of the family present, but he played base ball as of yore, his hitting being a feature, although he was somewhat slow in center field. He was permitted a runner and had three tallies to his credit.
The social session resulted in many happy meetings and everybody enjoyed the occasion in the fullest measure, especially the younger members. Many of the guests arrived in motor cars from various points and the trolley cars carried many others.
HISTORY OF THE ESCH FAMILY
In 1737 there resided in the city of Hachenburg, Province of Hesse- Nassau, Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, one Daniel Henrich Esch, an apothecary, in relation to whom the Rev. Wilhelm Fredrich Schnabelins, pastor of the Reformed church, of that place, under date of June 3d, 1741, writes: Among the families removing from here is the bearer, Mr. Daniel Henrich Esch, by profession as apothecary, who has resolved to seek his fortune in America, and has demanded a written certificate of religion, which is hereby promptly granted, and it is by virtue of these presents attested, That the above-named apothecary is not only honorably begotten and born on the 10th day of April, AD 1717, of Christian parents attached to the Reformed Church, namely, the late Frederich Wilhelm Esch, heretofore apothecary, Counselors relative and member of executive staff of Court, and Mrs. Anna Elizabeth (nee Enspelerm), his wife, but has also been instructed in the fundaments of the Evangelical Reformed religion and admitted to the use of the Lord’s Summer, after having made confession of his faith. He is, therefore, commended to the cordial reception of the brethren of our church with the heartfelt prayer that the gracious God take him in His paternal care.”
After landing in America he married one, Elizabeth Kerlin, daughter of John Kerlin, a member of the Society of Friends, and after the birth of their son, Joseph, the father Daniel, made an attempt to return to his native land to settle up his father’s estate, but the ship on which he took passage was lost at sea with all on board, and no tiding were ever received of his fate.
Joseph Esch located in West Caln township, Chester county, and on arriving at manhood, being associated among those of English descent, he applied to the Court and had his name changed from Esch to Ash, to conform with the English pronunciation of his name.
Joseph (Esch), now Ash, with an eye for the beautiful, wooed and won the heart of the belle of the Calns, Rachel Whitaker, daughter of John Whitaker. She was the second child of a family of 22 children, and a a member of the Society of Friends. She was said to be a beautiful girl, a beautiful wife and mother, a beautiful old woman and it is related of her that even in her eighties her cheeks and brow were without a wrinkle or seam. They were married in old West Caln Friends’ Meeting House, in 1768, bought a home along the old Provincial road, near London Port, now Wagontown, the home of Rachel, and there lived happily together for over sixty years and raised a family of thirteen children. Their descendants now are numbered by the hundreds and are a credit to this worthy couple in whose memory the reunion was held. The children of Joseph and Rachel Ash were:
John, married Bersheba Trego
William, married Ann Fisher
Mary married Caleb Way
Elizabeth, married James Lawrie and Carvel Cooley
Rachel married Jonathan Webb
Phineas married Eleanor Alexander
Peter married Elizabeth Thomas
Sarah married Peter Shroff
Susan married Samuel Gillispie
Daniel died in in his minority
Julia Ann married George Lawrence
Joseph, died in infancy
David married Hannah Hayes
Though Joseph Ash was a member of the Society of Friends, we find in Book 114, page 110, of Pennsylvania Archives that he was a private in the Second Battalion of the Revolution under Col. Evan Evans, April 24th 1778.
WHO WERE PRESENT
The list of those who registered, during the day were as follows:
Mrs. Emma E. Way, Sara Way, Marian Way, Charles Way, Ellis B. Eachus, Earl B. Drake, Isadora H. Drake, Howard Way, Issac Y. Ash, E. Vinton Philips, Charles T. Philips, Robert T. Ash, Pauline H. Ash, Mary A. Ash, Walter E. Ash, Dorothy M. Ash, Annie A. Trego, Lilian Ash, Herbert Ash, Laura C. Ash, Herbert Ash, Jr., Marian E. Ash, Downingtown; Chester Ash, W. Chester Ash, Ara G. Ash, Ruth E. Ash, Chauncey S. Ash, Arthur M. Ash, Helen Gurrell, Charles H. Ash, Mrs. Chester H. Ash, Wilbur Yearsley and wife, Walter Ash, Downingtown.
C.W. Ash, Annie P. Ash, Ulysses S. Moore and wife, Irene Moore, Alice E. Ash, Helen R. Ash, Howard Ash and wife,Mrs. Samuel L. Ash, Grant Conquest and wife, Herman Conquest, Coatesville.
Townsend Ash, Mrs. S. Ash, C. Harry Hunt and wife, Alice W. Brown, Lane Cook Ash, Marie L. Thomas, Frank Eavenson, Philadelphia.
Louis P. Ash, Pitmann, New Jersey; Korel Guthrie, Marian Guthrie, Hazel Guthrie, Embreeville; Charles P. Ash, Norwood, Delaware county; Lauretta Baugh, Lancaster; Walter H. Magill, Charles A. Magill, Josephine A. Magill, Emma Elizabeth Magill, Westtown; Alice E. B. Hoopes, May Yearsley Hoopes, Ralston R. Hoopes, Anna E. E. Hoopes, Edward Hoopes, William R. Hoopes, W. T. Hunt and wife, West Chester; Elisabeth Ash Woodward, Brooklyn, New York; Morris V. Eavenson, Sarah D. Eavenson, Ida C. Eavenson, Oaks, PA.
Martin R. Ash, Nellie R. Ash, N. Norman Ash, Ralph W. Hoopes, Coatesville; Lizzie T. Ash, Chrisitiana; William C. Ash, May W. Ash, Ruth Ash, Wynnwood; John M. Robinson, Maggie Ash, Earl Robinson, Clair Robinson, Isaac Robinson, Cadsburyville; Willis C. Ash, Marcus Sook?; Charles Trego, Charles D. Hayes, Eleanor A. Hayes, Downingtown.

Daily Local News 8 Sept 1915
At the reunion of the members of the Ash family, at Lenape Park, on Monday, the matter of improving the ancient Friends’ Burying Ground, at Caln, west of Wagontown, was discussed at length by a number of the members of the clan and later this may develop into actual action in the matter, several of the members being rather enthusiastic over the work.
A large number of bodies of early members of the family and connections are interred in the little burying ground, but little attention has been given it for a number of years and the movement will be supported by all the members of the family, if they can be advised of any definite measures in the near future. There are but few who would not be willing to contribute their mite toward the work and no great sum would be required.
Another matter talked over was the eventual purchase of the original Ash property, at Sandy Hill, West Caln township, where many of the older members lived and died in years long gone by. The farm is not a large one and most of the old buildings are intact but the ancient house was destroyed by fire about a year ago and a new one has been erected by the present owner on the opposite side of the road from the original one, which was one of the oldest buildings in the State. Charles W. Ash, of Coatesville, and a few others are interested in this project.

Daily Local News 19 Jul 1910
ASH FAMILY REUNION
The annual reunion of the Ash Family Association, composed of descendants of James and R. P. Ash, who are scattered far out the country and are many in number will be held on Labor Day, September 5th, at the home of Charles Trego, one mile south of Guthriesville, one of the descendants. The invitations have been issued to the members of the Association and a large number are expected to avail themselves of the opportunity of having a day of pleasure and social intercourse together. There are a number of the descendants residing in this place and Downingtown, as well as about other portions of Chester county.