Josephine (Lones) Ashford (1846-1929)

LONES, ASHFORD, JELLIFFE, RITTER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/24/2019 at 16:44:28

From Nevada Evening Journal September 16, 1929 (page 3)

Mrs. Ashford, 83, Former Nevada Woman Laid to Rest Saturday

Many friends of yesteryears gathered with the children to pay a last earthly tribute to Mrs. Josephine L. Ashford, at the Morfoot Funeral home Saturday afternoon, before the body was laid to rest in the Nevada cemetery by the side of that of her life companion who had died 25 years ago.

The service was held by Rev. W. O. Benthin of Central Presbyterina chuech, of which Mrs. Ashford had been a member and active worker during her years in Nevada.

There was a number of old-time neighbors and friends gathered for the service. The floral tributes were many and beautiful, giving evidence of the fine remembrance in which she was held.

Mrs. Ashford was born Josephine Lones at Bucyrus, Ohio, April 12, 1946. She spent her early life in that state and it w there that she was married to Oliver G. Ashford and there that her two oldest sons were born.

It was more than a half century ago that Mr. and Mrs. Ashford came out to Iowa and settle on a farm east of Nevada. Later Mr. Ashford was elected to the office of county sheriff and the family moved into Nevada. Serving two terms as sheriff he retired from office and entered into the mercantile business. This was followed by several years in chrge of the Nevada Hotel and then retirement.

Mr. Ashford died in 1904 and it was but a year later that she moved to Seattle to take up her home with her children who had gathered on the Pacific coast. There she had made her home with her son Albert E. Ashford for sixteen years.

Mrs. Ashford was the mother of seven children, all of whom survived her but the third son, John, who died at Nome, Alaska, many years ago.

The surviving children are Theodore L. Ashford of Boone, George M. of Olympia, Albert E. of Seattle, Charles M. of Los Angeles, Mrs. Carrie Jelliffe of Oberlin, Ohio, and Mrs. Catherine Ritter of Los Angeles. She also leaves 8 grand children and a wide circle friends to mourn the death of a woman of truly wonderful character.

Mrs. Ashford was a member of the Presbyterian church and its auxiliary organizations and likewise a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. During her residence in Nevada she was a member of the Clover club and active in church and social affairs.

Mrs. Ashford had retained her health and vigor both in body ad mind and it was not until very shortly before her death that the illness came which claimed her and she passed away quietly on Sunday, September 8.

The body was brought back to Nevada, accompanied by her son Albert E. of Seattle, and daughter Mrs. Ritter of Los Angeles, met here by other relatives and friends and laid to rest by the friends of her mature womanhood.