"Elkhart Truth" (Elkhart, Indiana) Mon., Aug. 17, 1936, p. 2
"DR. E. E. ASH IS DEAD, AT AGE 73
Goshen, Physician Succumbs Following an Extended Illness
GOSHEN, Ind.: Dr. Elmer E. Ash, 73, of 613 South Seventh street, who had practiced medicine in Goshen since 1889, died at 9:10 p. m. Sunday at Goshen hospital. He had been ill since last April.
Funeral services will be held at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the First Methodist church. The Rev. L. G Jacobs will officiate, assisted by Dr. H. C. Harman and the Rev. G. T. Soldner. Burial will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery, with the Elks in charge of services at the grave.
The body will lie in state at the home from this afternoon until 1 p. m. Wednesday when it will be removed to the church to lie in state until the hour of the funeral.
Stricken in April
Dr. Ash was taken critically ill April 18 and went to the Methodist hospital, Indianapolis. April 23 he was operated upon for almost complete obstruction of the bowels. On May 6 he submitted to another operation. He was brought home June 6 and improved rapidly in the first few weeks, but later began to fail and on Aug. 4 was taken to Goshen hospital, where he submitted to another operation. He never recovered, and was unconscious from Thursday afternoon.
The son of Josiah and Nancy (Beidler) Ash, he was born in Holmes county, O., Jan. 2, 1863.
He attended medical school at Toledo, but received his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Louisville in 1885.
His first office in Goshen was in the Mitchell Charnley building, now a part of the Salem Bank & Trust Co. Later he moved into the Warner block, and was associated with Dr. Ihrig. He then moved to Washington street, where his brother, Dr. W. N. Ash, became associated with him, coming here from Middlebury. In 1905 he purchased the building at 110 West Lincoln avenue where he maintained an office until his death. He gave much of his own equipment when Goshen hospital was established in 1913.
Railroad Surgeon
In 1905 he was appointed surgeon for the New York Central railroad and the same year surgeon for the Chicago, South Bend and Northern Indiana railway. He also served as surgeon for the Wabash and Big Four railroads. In 1914 he was appointed president of the United States pension boards and served until 1929, when the system was changed.
He was a member of the First Methodist church, serving as steward for many years. He was a member of the American Medical association, Elkhart County Medical society, Goshen Medical society, Tri-State Medical society, and county health officer for eight years. Other organizations in which he held memberships included the Tippecanoe Lake country club; Goshen lodge No. 12, F. & A. M.; Goshen Lodge No. 798, P. P. O. Elks; I. O. O. F.; Knights of Pythias.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Maybell Stiver James Ash, whom he married Aug. 16, 1922; a daughter, Sister M. Eymard, of the Order of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, a graduate of St. Mary's (South Bend) and now a teacher in Catholic Central High school, Hammond; two grandchildren, Marabelle and Bettyanne Gorney, both of Elkhart, a sister, Mrs. Martha Mumaw, of Mount Eaton, O., who celebrated her 95th birthday April 7, and Mrs. E. J. Miller, Allendale, a niece, and Dr. Malcolm E. Miller, a grand-nephew, who July 1 moved to Goshen to become associated with Dr. Ash.
Dr. Ash's youngest daughter, Agnes Ash Gorney, died in 1931. A son died in infancy."