Robert L. Ashby

PROMINENT AMERICAN FORK MAN, ROBERT ASHBY DIES

AMERICAN FORK--Robert L. Ashby, 90, one of American Fork's most prominent citizens, died Monday afternoon of stroke. He was noted as a pioneer educator, architect, poultryman, historian and church man.

He was born December 29, 1880 in Holden, Utah to William Hardin and Nanct Maria Badger Ashby. He married Hannah Cropper June 3, 1903 in the Manti LDS Temple.

Mr. Ashby attened Brigham Young Academy in the class of 1904 and taught school in Alpine District for 17 years. He held a "lifetime: teaching certificate in the State of Utah. A licensed architect, he designed many schools, churches, business building and residences.

During World War I he developed the first large-scale production of poultry in Utah, was chairman of the organizing meeting which became Utah Poultry Producers Cooperative Association in 1923. In 1925 he brought silver foxes from Canada to open up commercial fur farming in Utah. He served as president of the Utah Fur Breeders Association, an organization he helped to found in 1939.

Interested in genealogy and history, he has written and compiled several books, including "History of Holden", "History of Antelope Island" , "Ashby and Badger Ancestry", "Family History of William Hardin Ashby", "Family History of Thomas Waters Cropper" and others. He has also published two books of poems written by his wife.

An active member of the LDS Church, Mr. Ashby served on the Alpine Stake High Council, as a member of the Stake Board of Education, stake inspector of church property, Sunday School superintendent, teacher in Sunday School and MIA and as a home missionary. At the time of his death he was a High Priest in the American Fork Eighth Ward.

Survivors include his widow, American Fork; four sons and six daughters, all of whom are graduates of Brigham Young University, Dr. Robert Morrell, Pasadena, California; William C., Chattanoga, Tennessee; Dr. Armis J., Oakland, California; Dr. Richard L., Oakland, California; Mrs. H. Leon (Ruth) Ivie, Ogden; Mrs. Edwin R. (Althea) Kimball, Provo; Mrs. J. Theodore (Lucreia) Arbon, Bountiful; Mrs. E. Wesley (Mary) Porter, Willmington, Delaware; Mrs. Sanford M. (Edna) Bingham, Provo and Mrs. Sherman S. (Bonna) Brinton, Salt Lake City; 43 grandchildren and 49 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Anderson and Sons Mortuary, American Fork, Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday until 11:30 a.m. Funeral services will be held in the American Fork 8th Ward Chapel Friday at 12 noon. Burial will be in American Fork City Cemetery.

-Provo Daily Herald, December 16, 1970, transcribed by Rhonda Holton

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via mother Nancy Maria Ashby (born Badger) by SmartCopy: Jul 27 2015, 13:26:38 UTC