Pharozine Amelia Garthwaite was the daughter of Henry and Mercy Crandall Garthwaite, and the widow of John Ashley, who died August 5, 1923. She was born in the town of Victory, N. Y., March 11, 1847, and died at her home in Milton Junction, Wis., early Wednesday morning, September 17, 1924, in the seventh-eighth year of her life.
She was the sixth of a family of nine children, and came when about four years old with her parents to Wisconsin. Two of that family now survive, a brother, Orson C. Garthwaite, of Milton Junction, Wis., and a sister, Mrs. Josephine Garthwaite Saunders, of Cozad, Neb.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashley were married on Christmas eve, December 24, 1865, by Rev. James Rogers, in the Rock River Seventh Day Baptist church building, at the first Christmas service held in that church. They lived all their married life, except two years spent in Iowa, in the near vicinity of that church. After the death of Mr. Ashley she and the son, H. Lewis Ashley, sold the farm and came to Milton Junction. There is one other child, a daughter, Mrs. Hattie Ashley Van Horn, wife of Lee Van Horn, of Milton, Wis., and four grandchildren, Nelson, Arthur, Wesley and Thelma Van Horn.
When about sixteen or seventeen years old Mrs. Ashley was baptized by Rev. Varnum Hull and joined the Rock River Seventh Day Baptist Church of which she remained a faithful, devoted, and efficient member until the church organization was disbanded a few years ago. When the church was disbanded letters were given to the remaining members, but Mrs. Ashley's love and loyalty to the church was such that she never presented her letter elsewhere for membership.
She was a member of the J. W. Coakley Woman's Relief Corps of Milton Junction. She was especially gifted in caring for the sick, and freely and gladly gave of her time in this kind of helpful service in the homes of her neighbors. She exemplified in her last illness qualities that were characteristic of all her life - quiet patience, and courage, and a disposition to be content with her place and tasks, giving kindly expression of appreciation for whatever was done in her behalf.
The funeral service was held at the late home on Sabbath afternoon, September 20, 1924, at 2:30 o'clock, and at the Seventh Day Baptist church in Milton Junction at 3:00 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Edwin Shaw, once pastor of the Rock River Church, and by Rev. Erlo E. Sutton, pastor of the Milton Junction Seventh Day Baptist church. Burial was made in the Milton cemetery, where the Woman's Relief Corps had charge of the service. E. S.
