John Latham Ashby (1887 - 1948)

Born 7 Apr 1887 in Lake Shore, Utah County, Utah, USA

Ancestors

Died 4 Dec 1948 at age 61 in Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA

Biography

JOHN LATHAM ASHBY

John Latham Ashby the fourth child born to Sarah Elizabeth Markham and William Ashby Sr. He moved with his parents to Vernal when he was thirteen years old.

At twenty-one he homesteaded a farm, in Altonah, Duchesne, Utah. When his crops were ready to harvest he was called into the U.S. Army and left the farm to brother, Curtis, to run. It was too much for a teenage boy, and they lost it.

John returned to Altonah and hired George M. Pickup to build a barn for him. George brought his daughter Mabell with him to do the cooking. Before the job was done, John and Mabel (Larane) Lurina Pickup decided to get married. It was a very cold winter, but they travelled to the Salt Lake Temple to be married, and went home in a blizzard.

Mabell's mother died when she was seventeen, leaving her to care for her brothers. John and Mabel were blessed with eight children: Sarah Edith Ashby, Geneva Ashby, Wayne J. Ashby, Evan M. Ashby, Leo Edward Ashby, Clarin Dee Ashby, Francis Eugene Ashby and Melva Ashby. In the summer of 1921 John was infected with Typhoid Fever and was very ill.

During the next year they lost their farm and moved into a sheep wagon on an Indian lease. They worked hard and remodeled an old house to move into by winter. They moved to Bluebell and ran the farm of Mr. Brown. the grain grew to 5 1/2 feet.

Wayne, now four, went into the field, and his father, not knowing he was there caught him in the binder and cut his right leg. He has done well with his artificial limb.

They moved to Midview and the children had to catch a bus to school and many a time they didn't make it because of poor roads. Midview and Antelope and merged together and the new name is Bridgeland.

The spring of 1935 was an extremely dry one and they asked the Forest Service if they could graze their cows in the mountains. They ate locoweed and it took John's and John Curfew's entire herd. The family moved again to Maeser onto part of the old Ashley farm. They took out a mortgage to stock it and the interest rate was so high it was hard to pay and feed the family.

By this time Edith was at school at Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Geneva was at the LDS Business College in Salt Lake, and Wayne was at Weber College in Ogden. John wanting to be closer to his children, looked for a farm in Murray.

At the age of sixty one and on their wedding anniversary John passed away. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. He died of hardening of the arteries. He was proud of his grandchildren. He was a very generous person and was willing to share all that he had with anyone in need.

Mabell was a good mother to her children and helped raise her brothers. She stood by John's side through happiness and hardship. Mabell served in the Church as Relief Society President and class instructor and visiting teacher for many years. She worked in Sunday School and Primary.

On October 19, 1953 Mabell married Thomas B. Smith, the widower of Mary, John's younger sister. They married in the Salt Lake Temple for time, and served a mission in the Gulf States.

-From Lila Ashby collection Ashby Funeral Rites Conducted.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday at the Murray Second Ward Chapel for John Latham Ashby, 61, who died Saturday at his home, 311 Germania Avenue, of a heart ailment.

Mr. Ashby was born April 7, 1887 in Lakeshore, Utah County, a son of William and Sarah Markham Ashby, he married Mabel Pickup on December 4, 1919 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Residing in Vernal five years, he then moved to Altonah, Duchesne County, where he homesteaded and raised cattle until 1926. He moved to Murray six years ago.

He was active in LDS church functions being chairman of the Murray Second Ward genealogical committee and a high priest.

Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. Atta Murray, Taylorsville; Mrs. Leona Hall, Vernal and Mrs. Mary Smith, Santquin, Utah County; three brothers, Wells Ashby, Vernal; Don C. Ashby, Salt Lake City and Elias Ashby, Spanish Fork; Utah County and five grandchildren.

Funeral services under the direction of Bishop Heber Day of the Second Ward included:

Remarks, Bishop Day; opening song, "Tho' Deepening Trials," ward choir; opening prayer, Bishop Webb Snarr; speaker, Willard A. Day; organ solo, "Oh My Father," Nora Eddington; speaker, Bishop Joseph Wirthlin; closing prayer, Albert Johnson.

Interment in Murray City Cemetery was under the direction of Jenkins Mortuary. The grave was dedicated by Thomas Smith, brother-in-law to Mr. Ashby.

-Murray Eagle, December 10, 1948, transcribed by Rhonda Holton MURRAY--John Latham Ashby, 81, 311 Germania Ave., Utah farmer and stockman, died Saturday at 12:50 a.m. at his residence of a heart ailment.

He was born April 7, 1887, in Lakeshore, Utah County, a son of William and Sarah Markham Ashby and went to Vernal when 14 years of age.

Residing in Vernal five years, he then moved to Altonah, Duchesne County, where he homesteaded land and raised cattle until 1926.

He married Mabel Pickup December 4, 1919, in the Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was chairman of the Murray Second Ward genealogical commitee and was a high priest in the ward.

Survivors besides his widow include three daughters: Mrs. Edith Madsen and Melva Ashby, Murray and Mrs. Geneva Person, Ogden; four sons: Wayne J., Evan M., Clarin D. and Francis E. Ashby, Murray.

He also is survived by three sisters: Mrs. Atta Murray, Taylorsville; Mrs. Leona Hall, Vernal and Mrs. Mary Smith, Santaquin, Utah County; three brothers: Wells Ashby, Vernal; Don C. Ashby, Salt Lake City and Elias Ashby, Spanish Fork, Utah County and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday noon in Murray Second LDS Ward Chapel by Heber Day. Bishop.

Friends may call at the family residence 311 Germania Ave., Monday evening and Tuesday prior to funeral.

Burial will be in Murray City Cemetery.

-Salt Lake Tribune, December 5, 1948, transcribed by Rhonda Holton Burial: Murray City Cemetery Murray Salt Lake County Utah, USA Plot: 02 005 3

Created by: Rhonda Record added: May 14, 2007 Find A Grave Memorial# 19376172

Sources

• https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19376172