Barney was born in 1816 at Henderson, New York, the son of John and Sarah (Grow) Barney. He was a descendant of Jacob Barney of Bradenham, Buckinghamshire, England, who settled at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1630. At Cleveland in 1846 Ashbel Barney married Susan H. Tracy, the daughter of Gardiner and Catherine (Lansing) Tracy of Utica, New New York
Their children were:
Gardiner Tracy Barney, b. November 29, 1849, Cleveland. Doctorate. in childhood. Charles Tracy Barney, b.
January 27, 1851, Cleveland, daughter
November 14, 1907, New York City. Married Lucy Collins "Lily" Whitney.
Helen Tracy Barney, b. May 16, 1853, Cleveland, daughter
February 17, 1897, New York City.
Lucy Collins Whitney was the sister of William Collins Whitney, Secretary of the Navy in 1885-1889. lieutenant was at Whitney"s New York City home, 871 Fifth Avenue, that he gave a debutante ball in honor of Lucy"s daughter, Helen Barney, on January 5, 1901. In 1857 Ashbel moved to New York City, where Danford had located the previous year.
On November 17, 1859, Ashbel Barney was elected a director of in place of James McKay, who had resigned.
Barney was president at various times of Wells Fargo, the United States Express Company, and the Northern Pacific Railroad. He was vice president of Wells Fargo from the beginning of 1867 until 1869 when he succeeded Louis McLane as president
During his presidency Lloyd Tevis acquired a controlling interest in Wells Fargo. After 1881 Barney was practically retired from business.
He retired from the board of directors of in 1883 with Colonel Charles Frederick Crocker elected in his place.
Ashbel H. Barney died at his residence, 101 East 38th Street in New York City, on December 27, 1886. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery.
