William Albert Ashbrook (July 1, 1867 – January 1, 1940) was an American businessman, newspaper publisher, and Democratic politician from Ohio. He was born near Johnstown, Licking County, Ohio, and attended the local public schools. Later, he studied business in Lansing, Michigan. In 1884 he founded a newspaper, The Johnstown Independent. He also engaged in banking. From 1893 to 1897 he served as postmaster of Johnstown. His son John would later succeed him in that congressional seat from 1961 to 1982 as a Republican.