Ambrosine "Zina" Hacking Ashby

Vernal -- Ambrosine (Zina) Hacking Ashby, 79, Vernal, died Friday a.m. at the home of a daughter in Vernal of causes incident to age.

Born August 22, 1884, in Vernal a daughter of Annie Maria Glines and James Hacking.

Married Stephen Wells Ashby, on August 30, 1906, in the Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He died July 5, 1949.

Past Primary President, Maeser Ward Chorister for 40 years. Charter member Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Fort Thornberg Camp, Charter member Maids of Maeser.

Survivors: three sons, Rulon and Harold, both of Vernal; Ward, Midvale; daughters, Mrs. Philip (Thora) Hall and Mrs. George (Anna) Oldham, both Vernal; 16 grandchildren; two brothers, three sisters, John G. Owen and Mrs. May Calder, all Vernal; Mrs. Nellie Colton, Salt Lake City; and Mrs. Cora Mitchell, Midvale.

Funeral Monday 11 a.m. in Maeser Ward Chapel. Friends may call Vernal Mortuary Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Monday prior to services. Burial Maeser Fairview Cemetery.
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Funeral for Zina H. Ashby Held Monday

Funeral services were held Monday at 11 a.m. in the Maeser Ward Chapel for Mrs. Ambrosine (Zina) Hacking Ashby, 79. She died Friday at 1 a.m. at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Philip R. (Thora) Hall, of causes incident to age.

Prayer at the mortuary was given by a son, Harold C. Ashby.

The opening song was "Angel Serenade," by Danna Dee Smith. She was acompanied bt Margaret Caldwell on the violin and Eloise Adams on the piano.

The invocation was offered by a grandson, Gary Ashby.

Bishop Henry A. Mansfield conducted and gave the obituary and remarks. A poem, "Mother," was given by Ethel Palmer. It was written by Elma Adams, Maeser.

A song, "That Wonderful Mother of Mine," was rendered by Dorothy Luck, accompanied by Eva Hatch, followed by a talk by Bishop Harvey McKee.

An a capella choir from Midvale, consisting of Dennis and David Ashby, Linda Laurel and Doug Stutz, Frank Sorenson, Myrna Hanson and Susan Rosenham, sang "The Lord Bless You," accompanied by Eloise Adams.

The benediction was offered by a son, Ward H. Ashby. Pallbearers were Kenny Ashby, Burton McNeill, Clyde H. Ashby, Boyd Ray Ashby, Stephen G. Oldham and James A. Oldham.

Philip R. Hall, a son-in-law, dedicated the grave. Burial was in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery. Ivan Hall assisted in preparing the grave.

The flowers were taken care of by the Maeser Ward Relief Society.

Mrs. Ashby was born August 22, 1884, in Vernal, to James and Annie Maria Glines Hacking. She married Stephen Wells Ashby August 30, 1906, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He died July 5, 1949.

She was a graduate of Uintah Academy, a past primary president, a chorister in the Maeser Ward for 40 years, a charter member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Fort Thornburg Camp, and was one of the first officers in the club. She was a charter member of the Maids of Maeser, a member of the Uintah Stake Choir and a member of the Uintah Genealogical committee.

Mrs. Ashby and her husband were among the first families in Altonah, Duchesne County, and helped organize the LDS wards there, and they also helped pioneer Lapoint. Mrs. Ashby was very active in the church auxillaries.

Survivors are sons, daughters, Rulon W., Harold C., Mrs. Philip (Thora) Hall, Mrs. George (Anna) Oldham, all of Vernal; Ward H., Midvale; 16 grandchildren, Mrs. Ted (Lila A.) Thacker, Gary Ashby, Kenny Ashby, Clyde H. Ashby, Boyd R. Ashby, Burton McNeill, Dee A. Hall, Ivan A. Hall, Donna H. Richens, Vera Hall, Wanda Hall, Dennis Ashby, David Sahby, Leslie C. Oldham, Stephen G. Oldham, James A. Oldham; 19 great-grandchildren; brothers, sisters, John G., Owen H., Mrs. May Calder, all of Vernal; Mrs. Nellie Colton, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Cora Mitchell, Midvale.

All of Mrs. Ashby's children and grandchildren were present for the funeral except one grandson, A. C. Leslie C. Oldham, stationed with 602 Air Control and Warning Squad at Gieblestadt, Germany.

Our of town visitors were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Colton, Mrs. Frank Goodrich, Mrs. Wesley Rawlins, Ray Colton, Laurence Colton, Ruth Barr and son, Mrs. Vernon Larsen, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Mitchell, Grant Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Mitchell and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lorin Mitchell. Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Hadden, Mrs. Wilda Mitchell, Mrs. Herbert Anderton, Mrs. Mable Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Pearson, Wayne Ashby, Laveta Smith and Lloyd Henry.

-Vernal Express, December 12, 1963, transcribed by great-granddaughter, Rhonda Holton

They had six children: Rulon Wells Ashby, Harold Clive Ashby, Thora Ashby Hall, Sara Ashby, Ward Hacking Ashby and Anna Ashby Oldham.
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Ambrosine Hacking Ashby

Ambrosine Hacking Ashby was born August 22, 1884 in Vernal, Uintah, Utah to James and Annie Maria Glines Hacking. She was the fifth child and the second daughter of a family of thirteen children. She was called Zina by her family and friends.

When she was three years old Zina fell on a butcher knife, running it into her throat near her chin and nearly killing herself. Mrs. Abigail Oaks helped her mother and father stop the bleeding. Zina had the usual childhood diseases, measles, mumps and chickenpox. In the fall on September 7, 1926, the calf of her left leg was crushed between two cars, which crippled her for three months.

Zina commenced school in Mill Ward in September of 1891. She also attended Vernal Central School. She graduated from Uintah Academy in Vernal on May 20, 1903. She was the valedictorian and gave the valedictory address.

Her father did not think girls should swim, as he considered it unladylike, therefore, she did not learn. She didn't like her children or grandchildren to be by or in the water as she was afraid they would get into trouble and she would not be able to save them.

Zina had long, light brown hair which was long enough to sit on. Her father was proud of her beautiful long hair and he wouldn't let her cut it. After she married, she was able to cut her hair, which she did.

She was in the operetta "Snow White" playing the part of the queen. She was also in the operetta "Joseph Sold Into Egypt." She had a beautiful, strong contralto voice. Later, Zina had a goiter operation, which caused her to lose her beautiful voice.

At home before they married, the Hacking girls did housework plus helped with the haying and everything else that needed to be done on their father's farm. She learned to work hard and do whatever was required to run a home efficiently. Zina was an extremely clean housekeeper.

Zina married Stephen Wells Ashby in the Salt Lake Temple on August 30, 1906. They lived one year in Vernal with the William Ashby, Sr. family for one year and farmed for Zina's father, James Hacking.

Jobs that Zina held are: a clerk in William H. Burton's general mercantile store; a clerk in Ashley Coop; a clerk in Vernal Drug; a clerk for Elizabeth G. Beers' store. Later, she was one of the cooks at Uintah High School from about 1940 to 1945.

Zina made all of her soap in a large black kettle over an open fire in the backyard. Her granddaughter, Lila Ashby Thacker, remembers stirring the ingredients for her when she was young. Zina also carried water from the creek, heated it in the black kettle and washed clothes.

She had fine skill in crocheting, tatting and embroidering. She crocheted dollies, table cloths etc. using the pineapple design. She also made rag rugs. She carded wool to make quilts, putting four lbs. in each quilt. She would have some of her grandchildren card wool for her when they came to visit.

Wells and Zina always grew a hugh vegetable garden. Zina bottled 2,000 quarts of vegetables every summer, which they shared with family, neighbors and friends. Grandchildren remember picking raspberries and eating as much as one to every one they put in the bucket. There was always plenty to bottle and jam.

Every year the cellar was full of potatoes, carrots, apples. etc. Macintosh apples were the family favorite. Zina made delicious bread, which was enjoyed by everyone.

Zina was a horsewoman. She could hook a team up and hook them on her buggy and go where she had to go. She was active. She was able to do things and she always did.

-History was in possession of Lila Ashby Thacker