ASHBY, Edith 1869-1943

ASHBY, HOLLANSHEAD, SEBURN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 7/7/2011 at 17:11:44

Funeral services for Edith H. Ashby, wife of the publisher of the Herald, were held Monday afternoon in Wellsburg.

Mrs. Ashby died Friday morning at the University hospital in Iowa City, where she had been taken last Tuesday for an emergency condition. After a day at the hospital, she rallied and appeared prepared to begin treatment for a heart condition but complications developed; her heart could not stand the strain. She died in her sleep about 2 a.m. on Friday, November 19, at the age of 74 years one month and three days.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. William Landsiedel of the Wellsburg Reformed Church, who for almost thirty years had known and worked with the Ashbys for the betterment of the community in which they lived.

Short services were held at the John Doyen home, where the immediate relatives and many friends of long standing gathered to pay their last respects to one who for more than a quarter of a century had been active in the educational and business life of the county.

Public services were held at the Wellsburg Reformed Church, and were largely attended. Interment was made in the Shiloh cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were in the careful hands of John Doyen of Wellsburg, whose friendly and business acquaintanceship over the years with the Ashbys made the ceremonies much more than a mere professional responsibility. Floral offerings beautifully lightened the sadness of the occasion, and the many expressions of sympathy and friendliness cheered the heart of "Colonel" Ashby, the surviving husband, whose aging frailty was in contrast to the dogged determination with which he accepted the loss of his life-long helpmate. The couple would have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in two more years.

Surviving members of the family are two sons, Stuart of Chicago, Don of Grundy Center, now in the army, both married, and two grandsons. Two sons preceded their mother in death. Five sisters and one brother of Mrs. Ashby also survive.

Pall bearers were George Lindaman, G. H. Geerdes, C. C. Graham, D. W. Riekena, H. P. Kruse and H. L. Luwe, whose service in this capacity was symbolic of their long association with the deceased in the activities of the American Legion Auxiliary and the business community. Mrs. Ashby was the first president of the American Legion Auxiliary in Wellsburg and ever since had been active in its affairs. She achieved a position of friend and counselor among the many younger women making up the organization.

Mrs. Ashby at one time taught as a relief teacher in the public schools and many of the younger people of the community revere her as one of their former instructors. For many years she was postmistress in the Wellsburg postoffice. In later years she actively assisted her husband in the conduct of the Herald, being an alert and interested local news reporter.

The beautiful arrangement of flowers at the services was the work of Mrs. H. P. Kruse, Mrs H. C. Haack and Miss Bertha Doyen, whose love and respect for Mrs. Ashby was evidenced by the sincerity of their service.

The Ashbys came to Wellsburg in 1915, and through those almost thirty years have watched the community progress. They helped the early leaders get the electric lights and the sewage system, the enlarged school, the park, and the other things that have stamped the community as up and coming.

Born on a farm near Upper Sandusky, Ohio, October 16, 1869, Martha Edith Hollanshead moved to Missouri with her parents and continued her farm life till she qualified to teach school in Missouri and Kansas. Seeking a higher degree of education, something she believed in all her years, she entered Kansas Normal College at Fort Scott, Kansas. Here she met the ambitious young embryo newspaper publisher and printer, Neil R. Ashby -- The Colonel to most of us -- and in September of 1895 they began the long married life whose mutual companionship and loving regard was valued so highly by both. Years of travel, always seeking the right spot for their permanent abode followed, until in 1915 the black prairie and white people of Grundy county welcomed them. Here they took root, cast their fortunes with the community of Wellsburg, and have endeavored to serve their community by upholding the things for which good communities stand -- home, church and country.

Card of thanks--We cannot adequately express in words the deep sense of obligation we feel for the entirely sincere sympathy and helpfulness that has been tendered us by the community in this time of loss and anguish. For all this and for the beautiful flowers, we say, simply, "Thank You," and we want you to know that this simple message comes from the depth of our heart.
--The Colonel, Stuart, Don, and All.

--Wellsburg Herald And The Grundy County Spokesman (Wellsburg, Iowa), 24 November 1943, pg 1

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Mrs. N. R. Ashby Dies at Hospital Friday Morning

Mrs. N. R. Ashby died at the University hospital at Iowa City at 1:30 Friday morning from a heart ailment with which she had been afflicted for some time. She was taken to the hospital Tuesday of last week for observation and treatment. She was 74 years old.

John Doyen, funeral director, drove to Iowa City Friday morning and the body was brought to the John Doyen home during the day.

Funeral services were held Monday at the Doyen home at 1:30 and later at the Reformed church in Wellsburg. Rev. Wm. Landsiedel officiated at the services. Burial was in the Shiloh cemetery in Wellsburg.

Pallbearers at the service were D. W. Riekena, H. P. Kruse, H. L. Luwe, Dr. C. C. Graham, George H. Geerdes and George Lindaman.

The Ashby family came to Wellsburg thirty years ago and she resided here continually during those years. She served for thirteen years as postmaster at Wellsburg until she was succeeded by the present postmaster, Richard C. Claassen. She was active in Legion work and held at different times all of the important offices in the local post of the Legion Auxiliary. In late years she assisted her husband in the publication of the Wellsburg Herald.

Obituary
Mrs. Martha Edith Ashby, a daughter of J. E. Seburn and Rose Adam Hollinshead, was born October 16, 1869, in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. After receiving an adequate education for life, she grew up to womanhood and was joined in holy wedlock with Neil Ashby, Sept. 12, 1895, at Mexico, Mo. They first established their home at Fort Scott, Kansas, and later lived in different places, searching for a sure-crop country. Before they came to Wellsburg they lived at Wyoming, Ill., for one year. It was on May 5, 1915, when they established their permanent residence at Wellsburg.

The deceased was a true and faithful companion to her husband, assisted him in every way possible in his career as publisher and her kind and friendly disposition gave him a successful break in his profession. According to his own testimony the deceased was a kind and faithful mother to her children, thus displaying her Christian spirit. Being a resident of Wellsburg she availed herself of her talents in the teaching profession while she was in charge of Shiloh No. 1 for some time. Whenever called upon she sacrificed her time and devoted her talents also in the interest of community affairs.

Surviving are the husband and two sons, Stuart of Chicago and Don, who is now in the armed services and who is in training in New Mexico. One son, Forrest, died in Philadelphia March 5th, 1932; and the youngest, Sumner, in infancy at the age of 13 months. Other survivors are two grandsons, five sisters and one brothers. The sisters and brothers are: Mrs. George Anderson of Independence, Mo.; Mrs. Earle Dwelle of Dallas, Texas; Mrs. C. C. McGee of Chanute, Kans.; Mrs. C. W. Edwards of Olustee, Okla.; Mrs. J. W. Reynolds of Headrick, Okla.; and H. H. Hollinshead of Chanute, Kans.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 25 November 1943, Wellsburg News, pg 9

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