John Asher 1848-1913

ASHER, LAMB, HUFFAKER, THOMPSON

Posted By: Sandra Thompson (email)
Date: 1/20/2011 at 11:16:12

Marshalltown Times-Republican

John Asher, one of the first, if not the first white child born in Marshall county, and a son of one of the county's real pioneers, died at his home near Eagle City, Hardin county, at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon [Feb 28, 1913]. Death was caused by ailments due to old age. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Washington Asher, the founders of the Asher family in this county.

John Asher, altho he was born in the county, lived here only a short time, as his parents moved to Hardin county when he was a small child. They lived for a great many years near Union.

Mr. and Mrs. Washington Asher came west from Indiana in May, 1846, being one of the first couples to settle in the county, at a point west of what is now Albion and a part of what is now the Thomas Swearingen farm. On Jan. 4, 1848, the son John was born. In October, 1849, his parents moved to Hardin county, but altho they had lived in the county for only a few years they gave the name of Asher to the good-sized creek that has its source in the northern part of the county and empties into the Iowa river near the Center street dam.

The family settled on the farm south of Union, later known as the O.B. Chapin farm, where they lived for many years.

Jan. 10, 1875, John Asher married Miss Minerva Lamb, who died at the Asher home northwest of Eldora Feb. 17, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. John Asher lived for a time on a farm northwest of Union, but in 1905 they moved to a farm north of Iowa Falls.

Mr. and Mrs. Asher were the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters, all of whom live near Eagle City, Hardin county. Since Mrs. Asher's death the daughters have been keeping house for their father.

The funeral will be held from the home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock.