John Ashton (1861-1953) was an English-born American architect from Lawrence, Massachusetts.
John Ashton was born September 15, 1861, in England. He immigrated to the United States in 1875, where he settled in Lawrence. He worked as a mechanic with Joseph James through at least 1889, about the time be appears to have begun to study architecture. In 1892 he enrolled in a special course in architecture in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and opened an office of his own in 1893. He quickly rose through the profession, and became a major competitor of the more-established George G. Adams, the city's leading architect.
He was a sole practitioner until 1909, when he established a partnership with Albert Senter Huntress. The firm was expanded in 1920 to include John F. Alter. Ashton, Huntress & Alter was dissolved in 1933, when Alter opened his own office. Ashton and Huntress practiced together until 1943, when Ashton retired. Huntress continued the firm, admitting Clarence A. Pratt to the partnership. Ashton, Huntress & Pratt was dissolved upon Pratt's death in 1955.
Ashton was married to Rebecca Woodworth, and had at least two children. He died September 30, 1953.
Several buildings by Ashton and his firms are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.