By Edres Bryant Barney
William Ashby was born May 1, 1855, in Provo, Utah, the seventh of 10 children born to Luch Agness Ashby and Edward Watkins Clark. He married Julia Ann Holladay on Jan. 20, 1878. She was the fourth of 10 children born to Thomas Middleton Holladay and Ann Hotton Mathews.
William worked as a cowboy in Wyoming and Montana. He also did farming and worked as a young man in a molasses mill in Utah.
He was called by Brigham Young for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help settle this part of Arizona. Arriving in Pima in 1880, he helped build some of the first homes. He later moved to Eden to farm. Due to flooding of the Gila River, his entire farm washed away— except where the house stood. In addition to farming, he freighted from Bowie to Globe. He prospected the Gila Valley and miles around. At one time, he sold a mine for several thousand dollars.
He moved to Los Angeles, California, and then to Mesa, Arizona, where he spent his time doing temple work. He passed away on Nov. 1, 1941.
William and Julia were the parents of nine children: Minnie Roseberry, Maudie Roseberry, Elora Ticman, Julia Ann Nuttall, Millie Holladay, George, Verna, William, and Edward.
Information on the early settlers of Pima and those who came later and helped build up the area may be found at the Eastern Arizona Museum in Pima, Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. — 3 p.m.
