Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 11:28:44 -0400 (EDT)
from: Sherry Witt <pc_witt@lgca.org>

There is an interesting story about this that you may be interested in. 
My great uncle Ash was definetly a "mountain man".  This story comes
from an article about a lawsuit that my Great grandfather James
Brownfield brought upon his son Ash.  It was about lack of support. 
Apparently there was an agreement between James & Ash that if James gave
Ash the property he would be cared for for the rest of his life. 
However, Ash got mixed up with Stella Piper whom was stolen away from
her husband in Greene co, by her husbands brother and brought to a
shanty to  live which was down the hill from Ash's.  Well Ash was a
frequent vistor of hers and I guess they married, (although I have no
proof of this).  Stella didn't want anything to do with the old man
James and run him off his own property.  James states that he won't go
back there because she is evil and he is afraid of her.  I thought this
whole story was almost humorous, although I'm sure it wasn't to them. 
Anyway, as I said before, a Robert Lake is listed in Ash's obit, I'm
assuming that he was Stella's son.