MARTHA ANN TRUMAN &
NATHANIEL ASHBY, JR. & JOHN POWELL
Martha Ann Truman Ashby Powell 1850 - 1892
Compiled by Stephen Doyle RobisonMartha Ann Truman was born Thursday, May 2, 1850, at the Cottonwood, Great Salt Lake County home of Jacob Mica and Elizabeth Boyes Truman. She was the oldest child of the family. She was named for her Grandmother, Martha Spencer Truman.
By the time she was a teenager, her father answered Brigham's call to go south, where the family settled in the Mountain Meadows country of Washington County, Utah Territory. It was in that area that she came to know the Ashby family, probably when the Trumans would travel in to St. George for supplies and trade.
Martha married Nathaniel Ashby, on Thursday, August 11, 1870. The couple was sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. Nathaniel was a newly called Bishop. He had been sustained as the Bishop of the St. George 4th Ward the previous November. 20 year-old Martha joined his family as the second wife. Nathaniel had previously married Mary Virginia Garr and she was not quite 10 years Martha's senior. Nathaniel was almost 15 years older than Martha.
Nathaniel and Martha had 6 children together. Their first child, a son, was born at the home of Martha's mother, in Mountain Meadows, the rest were born in St. George.Tragedy that struck the Ashby home in 1881. Martha’s granddaughter records that diphtheria broke out in their home that summer. The death of 3 children in less than a week would have been a hard trial for anyone to bear. Martha's sister wife also lost a child that same summer. It was a period of great tribulation for the Ashby family.
It appears that the family turned to the Gospel for comfort. Martha received her patriarchal blessing later that year on December 4, 1881 from William G. Perkins. Nathaniel had received his blessing three days earlier. Martha's blessing gives us a small glimpse into her life and character. It states: "Thou art an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile...You will go to the central stake of Zion. There you will have a house built unto you in the name of the Lord. You will keep that as a paradise. Your neatness will be admired by all that see it, for the glory of your Redeemer will be there, and you will see as you are seen and know as you are known." She was also blessed that "your children will grow up as men and women in the gospel and accomplish a great and glorious work."
Nathaniel was suffering from tuberculosis at that time. His illness was of such concern that the Brethren agreed to send him on a mission to the Sandwich Islands, in part to help him recover his health. Martha and Nathaniel's oldest son by his first wife accompanied him on that mission. Martha's blessing also stated: "You will go with your husband and help him bring many souls to a knowledge of the truth. You will return home with your husband bringing many sheaves with you." They left for the Hawaiian Islands about two weeks after Martha's blessing.
The change of climate didn't have the desired results and the Ashby's decided to return home early in 1882. Nathaniel's health took a turn for the worse on the trip home. In probate court Martha testified that she "was with him at the time of his death, that he died on the Nineteenth day of March A.D. 1882 near San Francisco while sailing from Honolulu, Sandwich Islands to San Francisco on his way to his home in the City of St. George, County of Washington, Territory of Utah".
The story has been passed down of Martha's feelings of loss and helplessness when she arrived in San Francisco. She was distressed that she had no money or means to convey her husband's body to their home for proper burial. Family history relates that she was met by a stranger on the docks of San Francisco. He shook her hand and there she was given an envelope that contained sufficient funds to purchase tickets for herself, her step-son and to ship her husband's body to St. George. Martha's patriarchal blessing also suggests the identity of the stranger that provided her with such timely assistance. Her blessing states: "You will shake hands with John the Beloved, disciple of Jesus. Then and there you will get the renewal of your strength". Other family tradition suggests she was assisted by the Three Nephites.
In the 1880's plural marriage had been outlawed. Martha is listed as the guardian of her children, but she is unrecognized by the court as Nathaniel's wife. Mary Virginia Garr Ashby was listed as Nathaniel's widow and only after Mary passed away in 1886 were Martha's surviving children given a portion of his estate.
Martha found some solace in temple work. Again, her patriarchal blessing states: "You will do a great and glorious work for your dead." That work would provide blessings for more than just the people Martha served by proxy. Indeed, it was probably at the Temple that sometime between late 1884 and early 1885 she met an Englishman named John Powell. John had been sent to St. George from Fillmore, Millard County, to serve a mission in the Temple. He recorded in his journal that they were married on Friday, March 20, 1885.
This marriage necessitated great changes in Martha's life. John was 28 years older than Martha and he lived over 160 miles away from St. George. They had three children, boys, together. The first two were born at Gunlock, probably on the Truman ranch. The last son was born in Fillmore. They were:
1)John Franklin Powell, b. 22 Jul 1886, d. 5 Jun 1887 2)Jesse Truman Powell, b. 11 Apr 1888, d. 16 May 1972, md. Blanche Bills, 17 Oct 1910; md. (2) Hazel Ralphs, 23 Dec 1920 3)Nathaniel Ashby Powell, b. 15 Feb 1891, d. 17 Oct 1896When John had completed his mission, Martha sold her home in St. George, packed up her children and moved north. By that time her oldest son, Richard, was a teenager and able to help with driving the wagon and cattle. The Powell's settled in Fillmore. Martha was John's plural wife and because he married her, he was arrested, convicted of cohabitation, and spent several months in the State Penitentiary.Martha and John lived for over 6 1/2 years as husband and wife. She was given the opportunity to decide how she would pass beyond the veil. Her patriarchal blessing states: "if you desire it with all thy heart, your body shall never die. You will go through that change that shall be equivalent unto death." The choice she made is summarized in John Powell's journal:
December 10th [1891], Martha was troubled by reason of a swelling on her neck. We thought it was an abcess and poulticed it. It became very painful. Henrietta came and applied onions with lard and course flour, which gave great relief.Martha's future with her family is also described in her patriarchal blessing: "You will hear the sound of a great trump. You will look and see Jesus and all His holy Saints with him. You will be caught up to meet Him and go with them to that great feast, the supper of the Lamb. You will sit down with your children and partake of its rich bounties. There you will see the Lamb of God, in the power of His glory, and you will partake of part of his likeness."
Xmas Day [1891], Henrietta still attending to Martha's neck.
New Year's Day, Martha and I went to Henrietta's and I had dinner. Beautiful, bright day.
Saturday, Jan 9th, May Powell married to Lars Rasmussen, by Bishop T. C. Callister. Martha very sick. Therefore we did not go to the wedding.
12th, The Dr. attending Martha, also Jessie Huntsman, also Jesse Frye. The weather very cold.
Jan 31st, Snowing. Martha still sick. Sister Jackson, our neighbor came many times and made the bed for Martha.
Feb. 7th, Martha still sick. Been snowing.
Feb. 14th, Martha still sick. Bright day.
Feb. 21st, Martha still sick. Beautiful morning. Martha had Richard telegraph to her mother, return telegram: "How is your mother?" Answer, "Worse."
Martha died Friday evening Feb. 26th, and was buried on Sunday the 28th.
I took little Jesse and Nat to my daughter's Jessie Huntsman, Saturday the 27th and stayed there.
... Martha was buried on Sunday the 28th Feb. Her mother and sister, Hester, came on the following Sunday, March 6th and was disappointed in not having the pleasure of seeing Martha alive.
Her gravestone records: In Memory of Martha A. Beloved wife of Nathaniel Ashby. Born May 2, 1850 Died Feb. 28, 1892 [sic]. She was a kind and affectionate wife a fond Mother and a friend to all.
Nathaniel Ashby 1835 - 1882
Compiled by Stephen Doyle RobisonNathaniel Ashby was born Monday, May 25, 1835, in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, the son of Nathaniel and Susan Hammond Ashby. The Ashby's of Salem, Massachusetts were all descended from ship builders and sailors. Nat's parents, Nathaniel Ashby Sr. and Susan Hammond learned of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ by the preaching of Erastus Snow in 1841. They joined the Church, some of the treasure in Salem the Lord told Joseph Smith about in D&C 111. Nathaniel Sr. was a successful shoemaker. Elder Snow sold him a plot in Nauvoo adjoining his own, where he was having a brick house built. Nathaniel sent word to have a similar house built adjoining the Snow house. The Snow-Ashby Duplex is still standing in Nauvoo today, in use as missionary housing.
The Ashbys moved to Nauvoo in the fall of 1843, arriving Friday, November 3. Their new house was unfinished, so they lived in a frame house that winter. They lived in Nauvoo almost three years. There they received patriarchal blessings from Hyrum Smith in 1843. Their house stood 2 blocks north and one east of the Mansion House where the Prophet Joseph lived. Nathaniel Sr. was called to take the news of Joseph's Presidential Candidacy back to the people of Massachusetts in 1844. Mother Susan took her children to see the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum when they lay in the Mansion House. The dismal howling of dogs, the uncertainty and fear made the night of the Prophet's martyrdom memorable.
The Ashby family was driven from Nauvoo with the Saints in 1846. Father Ashby was unaccustomed to the hardships of life on the trail and soon succumbed to sickness on the plains near Bonapart, Iowa in September 1846. The family eventually arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, some in 1847 and others in 1848. Susan Hammond Ashby, married Joseph Bates Noble in Winter Quarters February 11, 1847. Brother Noble lived just up the block from the Snow-Ashby Duplex in Nauvoo. Nat was just a boy of about 13 when he arrived in the Salt Lake Valley and was almost 16 when his mother died in Salt Lake, 15 May 1851.
The orphaned Ashby children were left in the care of Briant Stringham. Briant had married Nathaniel's older sister, Susan Ann Ashby Young, in 1850. Briant worked with the Church cattle on Antelope Island in the Salt Lake. Under Briant's supervision Nathaniel became an expert horseman and cowboy.Nathaniel participated in the efforts to keep Johnston's army out of the Valley in the Echo Valley campaign of 1857. He was a member of Col. Robert T. Burton's command. The next year, on Thursday, February 11, 1858, he married his first wife, Mary Virginia Garr in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. Mary Virginia's father was Fielding Garr, who had been in charge of the tithing cattle. So Nathaniel married his boss's daughter. Together they had ten children.
In 1861 Nathaniel and Mary were called on a colonization mission to Southern Utah and they were some of the founding settlers of St. George. In 1869, Nathaniel was called as the 2nd Bishop of the St. George 4th ward, succeeding Bishop Robert Gardner.On Thursday, August 11, 1870, Nathaniel was married to Martha Ann Truman in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. Martha was the daughter of Jacob Mica Truman, Presiding Elder in the Mountain Meadows area. Together Nathaniel and Martha had six children:
Richard Truman Ashby b. 2 Apr 1872, d. 14 Oct 1920, md. Minnie Colegrove, 14 Nov 1894Nathaniel was released as Bishop of the St. George 4th Ward in 1877, having served about eight years. He was succeeded by David H. Cannon.
Jacob Henry Ashby b. 2 Mar 1874, d. 21 Apr 1881
Elizabeth Ann Ashby b. 26 Sep 1876, d. 7 May 1956, md. John S. McBride, 19 Jun 1894
Alice May Ashby b. 8 Apr 1877, d. 22 Apr 1881
Emma Luella Ashby b. 21 Jan 1879, d. 24 Apr 1881
Rodney Carlos Ashby b. 12 Dec 1880, d. 1 Nov 1904, md. Jennie Warner, 9 Jan 1901The Ashby families faced the normal trials of life, but 1881 brought them extra challenges. Four of Nathaniel's children died during the spring and summer. As a further complication, however, Nathaniel's health began to fail. He was suffering from tuberculosis.
His illness was of such concern that the Brethren agreed to send him on a mission to the Sandwich Islands, in part to help him recover his health. On Thursday, December 1, 1881, Nathaniel received his patriarchal blessing in St. George from William G. Perkins. On Tuesday, December 13, Nathaniel was set apart as a missionary by John Taylor, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith. Shortly thereafter, Nathaniel left for his mission. He decided to have his second wife, Martha, accompany him. This probably because Mary had given birth and lost a child just a few months previously. Nathaniel's first family was represented by Benjamin Franklin Ashby, his seventeen year-old son.
Nathaniel's health didn't improve with the change of climate. The Ashby's decided to return home early in 1882. On the trip home Nathaniel's health took a turn for the worse. In probate court, later, Martha testified that she "was with him at the time of his death, that he died on the Nineteenth day of March A.D. 1882 near San Francisco while sailing from Honolulu, Sandwich Islands to San Francisco on his way to his home in the City of St. George, County of Washington, Territory of Utah".
Nathaniel's body was returned to St. George for burial. From his patriarchal blessing comes this tribute: Your peace shall be a river and your righteousness as the wave of the sea, you never will be cast to and fro as a drunken man. You will glorify and sanctify your Heavenly Father in all things. You will have wives and a large posterity, and they will be one with you in all things. You will raise up your family and they will call you blessed for ever more.
John Powell 1822 - 1902
Compiled by Stephen Doyle RobisonJohn Powell was born in St. Sepulchers Parish, London, Middlesex, England, Thursday, October 31, 1822, the son of John Powell and Ann Belfield. John Powell, Sr. was a wood turner and trained John and his brothers in that occupation. John became a talented furniture maker.
The Powells were a religious family and John was confirmed a member of the Church of England by the Lord Bishop of London. His sister, Ann, became a Sunday School teacher and John eventually taught the Testament Class for four years. John described his decision to marry as follows:About this time I saw a family at the next pew to us at church. There were some young women, one of which I wished to form an acquaintance with, but here I was in trouble. There was the one Sunday School teacher named Louisa Eastman, who I was very fond of, and also the young lady in the next pew. I did not know which one to choose for a wife for I loved them both.John and Fanny raised a family of nine children, four of whom lived to have families of their own. John and his small family were introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ by James Hill who loaned the Powell's some Mormon literature. John read and prayed and was baptised Monday, April 24, 1848. Soon thereafter his wife joined the Church as well. Within months John was called to Preside over the Globe Road Branch of the Church.So I wrote a letter to each, worded alike. I took the letters to my bedroom and knelt down before the Lord and asked him to direct me to the one which would make me the best wife. I arose and tossed the letters, feeling that the one I should take up first was the one to be my wife. I took up the one addressed to Miss Fanny Chamberlain. I then burnt the other. I then got acquainted with Miss Fanny Chamberlain, and after two years courtship we were married on the 13th day of November, 1842.
The Powell's saved their money and left England to gather with the Saints in 1851. They crossed the Atlantic on the "Ellen" arriving in New Orleans in March 1851. They traveled up the Mississippi River to St. Louis where they tried to go west. Illness and poverty kept them from arriving in Utah until 1856.
Once in Utah John became a member of the Nauvoo Legion and was called upon to help defend the Saints. He participated in the Echo Canyon campaign in 1857, helping to keep Johnston's Army out of Utah for the winter.
In 1858 the Powell's moved to Millard County. They settled in Fillmore, but helped to settle the town of Deseret as well. John set up his furniture business and was successful in that endeavor. Many furniture pieces he created are still to be seen in the State House Museum.
John was active in the Church. He served several missions: to Stratford, England (before their emigration), to Illinois (while stuck in Missouri), to the temple in St. George and as a home missionary in Fillmore. He participated in the School of the Prophets in Fillmore in 1869; he became a member of the High Priests Quorum Presidency in 1871 and joined the United order in the 1870's.
In 1864 John married his second wife, on Saturday, June 18, in Salt Lake City. He married Henrietta Seaton Blythe, a convert from Scotland. Henrietta was the daughter of Charles Blythe and Isabelle Brown. She was 33 and John was 41. Together they had a family of seven, six of whom lived had families of their own. The first three children were born in Deseret, the fourth in Meadow and the last three in Fillmore.
In 1872 John's first wife, Fanny Chamberlain Powell, died on Sunday, August 18 in Fillmore. John only had two daughter's living in that household, the youngest already 10. The extra burden wasn't too great on Henrietta as she cared for her husband's extended family.
In the 1880's John was called on a mission to the Temple in St. George. While there, he met a young widow, Martha Ann Truman Ashby, daughter of Jacob Mica Truman and Elizabeth Boyes. John recorded in his journal that they were married on Friday, March 20, 1885. John was 28 years older than Martha. They had three children, all boys, together. The first two were born at Gunlock, probably on the Truman ranch. The last son was born in Fillmore. They were: John Franklin Powell, b. 22 Jul 1886, d. 5 Jun 1887, Jesse Truman Powell, b. 11 Apr 1888, d. 16 May 1972, md. Blanche Bills, 17 Oct 1910; md. (2) Hazel Ralphs, 23 Dec 1920, and Nathaniel Ashby Powell, b. 15 Feb 1891, d. 17 Oct 1896Since his first wife had died, John wasn't technically living Celestial Marriage until he married Martha Ann. He was an honest man and when charged with "co-habiting" with more than one wife in 1888, he plead guilty. He was sentenced to a term in the Utah State Penitentiary.
Within two years after John was freed from prison, his third wife, Martha Ann Truman Ashby Powell died. They'd been married only about 6 1/2 years. 70 year-old John held complete responsibility for his remaining young sons. He did his best to nurture and teach them. His youngest son, Nat, died 4 years after his mother.John Powell died on Tuesday, June 3, 1902 in Fillmore, Millard County, Utah. He was 79 years, 7 months and 3 days old. He left only one wife and a numerous posterity to mourn his passing. His generous life and willingness to assume responsibility shine as a sterling path to follow for those that come after him.
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