William Ashton

"William Ashton was born in Alabama in the year 1837. He came west in the early emigration days of 1862. For several years he ran the only ferry boat on Green River, Wyoming. That was during the war days in the early 60's. He was a mail contractor, pony express from Laramie to Salt Lake City, and it was during a terrible blizzard, when one of his drivers was disabled, that he took the mail over the road and nearly lost his life. He did lose some of his fingers and one side was badly frozen. For many years Mr. Ashton lived in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He married Nellie Elizabeth Croxford Feb 6, 1865, daughter of Wm. Croxford and Ellen Loader of Oxfordshire, England. To them were born five sons and four daughters, Leslie, Stanley, Lynne, Louis, Clarence, Kate, Grace Ethelyn, and Hazel. Louis and Clarence died when very small children.

Mr. Ashton and son Leslie first came to Ashley Valley in 1879. He homesteaded the farm now owned by Mrs. Stanley Ashton; built a cabin and went back to Pleasant Grove. When he returned he brought Stanley with him and the two passed through the hard winter of 1879. In 1880 he brought his family to the valley and ever since that time they have played a prominent part in the development of this country. Mr. Ashton believed in work, and that a man should be estimated by what he did. He had a classic education, and it was said of him at the time of his death that "he was no doubt the best Greek and Latin scholar we have had in these parts." Mr. Ashton taught one of the first schools in this valley, during the winter of 1879. The school was in his cabin. He was also one of the first school trustees. In the Spring of 1880 he took the first census of this part of Wasatch County and through exposure was very ill for a long time.

He and two or three others drafted resolutions asking the territorial legislature to create a new county of the eastern part of Wasatch County. The petition was granted, and so he became one of the fathers of Uintah County. He was the first assessor and collector for the county, and served all the same time as county attorney. He held this office for many years. While C.C. Bartlett was away on a mission, Mr. Ashton was acting superintendent of schools.

William Ashton died at his home in Vernal after a short illness on Oct. 15, 1909. His wife remained here for a few years and then moved to Califonia to be with her daughters. She passed away at Los Angeles, Calif. on Nov 24, 1932."

-From 'Builders of Uintah' compiled by the Daughter of the Utah Pioneers