MAY HAVERFIELD ASHTON
May Haverfield was born November 6, 1823, upon the Haverfield farm in Richland county, Ohio. This family was a prominent one in that region; its founders and members had been active and useful in the development and settlement of that wild and Indian infested part of the state. They were a dependable people, taking part in the labor and conflicts incident to pioneer activities and the settlement of a new and wild country, - brave, unselfish and hospitable.
Their farm came to them by grant from a grateful government, and without transfer or impairment up to this day (April, 1931) has been kept in the family nearly a century.
Miss Haverfield was married to Mr. Charles Ashton on June 22, 1845. Soon after her husband was called to preach and began serving the Methodist Episcopal church as pastor in and about Richland county, Ohio.
The family moved from Lafayette, Ohio, to Iowa, where the Rev. Charles Ashton began his very useful ministry in the Des Moines, Iowa, conference, serving among other places at Dexter, Carlisle, Harlan and Guthrie Center, all places of importance and responsibility.
The home life of this family was not fixed or permanent during its first thirty-five years.
In 1880 the husband retired from the ministry, and the family took possession of a permanent home at Guthrie Center.
The Ashtons bought The Guthrian, and the father became its editor.
For nineteen years, plus the years of the pastorate in the early seventies, this super-mother was active with her family in the domestic, social and church life of Guthrie Center. Eleven children were born unto her; among them were editors, farmers, teachers, one veteran of the Civil war and one district court official. September 18, 1899, the subject of this sketch passed away, leaving memories of unstinted service and love.
Her life was not so demonstrative and prominent as others perhaps, but with modest and unobtrusive deportment she accomplished her tasks and purposes, imparting that motherly love, so characteristic of her, to her family and a sweet christian influence upon all, the sum of which cannot be estimated.
