Grayson County TXGenWeb

Family
of
William L. Ashburn Sr. & Mary Eliza Currie

William L. "Bill" was born 20 July 1856, son of Martin Ashburn IV and Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Hawkins, in Sulphur Springs, DeKalb Co., Ala.
He died 30 July 1939 in Denison, Grayson Co., Tx and is buried in Fairview Cemetery. He was a licensed circuit riding Methodist minister in the North Texas Conference. He married Mary Eliza Currie 23 September 1879 at White's Chapel, Tarrent Co., Texas.
Mary Eliza Currie was born 18 July 1860, daughter of Archibald D. Currie and Sarah Ann Harrell, in Tyler, Smith Co., Tx. She died 24 August 1929 in Grayson Co., Tx and is buried in Fairview Cemetery.


ca 1876	ca 1876

William L. Ashburn Sr. is still working for Arch Currie, ca 1876, and teaching school in the "weaning cabin" at Lonesome Dove near Grapevine. The weaning cabin was the original Austin/Ashburn homestead in North Texas. It is where the boys stayed before marriage and during their schooling. He is interested in Mary Eliza but she is only 15 at this time. By the time Mary Eliza Currie was 16 years old, she and Bill were contemplating marriage.


ca 1886	ca 1886

By 1886, Bill is the father of 5 children. He and his family are living at Preston Bend near Indian Territory on the Red River. According to our research, it is probable that Bill's mother was full-blood Cherokee. In the above photograph, he sports a mustache which is not customary for an Indian. However, in no other photos, is he seen with facial hair. Mary Eliza is the mother of 5 children at the time the above photograph was taken: Annie, Martin, Sarah, Sophie, and Paul.

Children
of
William L. Ashburn Sr. & Mary Eliza Currie

	Annie was born 16 November 1880 in Smithville, Tarrant Co., TX. She married Benjamin Fluker Brigham in 1907. She died 9 January 1919 Grayson Co., TX and is buried in Fairview Cemetery. Annie and her two daughters died during the Flu Epidemic. She was an art teacher. Benjamin and Annie were the parents of: Julian Colfax Brigham (18 March 1908 - 3 December 1965) Artie Ruth Brigham (17 July 1911 - 11 January 1919) Mary Edna Brigham (17 July 1911 - 8 January 1919)
Anna "Annie" Archie Ashburn 1880 -1919
	Martin was attending A&M College at the time of this photograph. He was born 28 February 1883 in Smithville, Tarrant Co., TX. He married Josephine "Jo" Schmid on 3 December 1913. Martin died 25 June 1942 Dallas, Dallas Co., TX.
Martin Ashburn 1883 - 1942
	Sallie dau of W. L. & M. E. Ashburn born 21 February 1885 died 5 June 1885 She is buried in the Georgetown Cemetery, Pottsboro, Grayson Co., TX.
Sarah Ellen "Sallie" Ashburn 1885 - 1885
	Sophie was born 27 March 1887 in Preston Bend, Grayson Co., TX. She died in Groves, Jefferson, Co., MO on 28 October 1969. This engagement photograph was taken in 1906. Sophie was engaged to Tom Fox. However, they never married.
Sophie Porter Ashburn 1887 - 1969
	Paul was born 21 November 1889 in Grayson Co., TX. He married Dora Mae "Doll" Foster on 1 June 1911. Paul died 15 January 1966 in Grayson Co., TX. Daughter: Charlotte Ashburn 1917 - 2010
Paul Waples Ashburn 1889 - 1966
	Bill was born 3 March 1892 in Pottsboro, Grayson Co., TX. He married Hazel Blanche Church 24 June 1922. He died 3 March 1957 in Denison, Grayson Co., TX. He is buried in Cedarlawn Cemetery. Bill attended Waples Methodist Church, Denison, Grayson Co., TX. Bill ran the Grayson plant in Denison. He was a dairyman and was also elected mayor of Denison in 1940. Son: Don Ashburn
William Lafayette "Bill" Ashburn, Jr. 1892 - 1957
	Thompson was born 22 February 1895 in Denison, Grayson Co., TX. He married Margaret Ruth Cook 14 November 1914. He died in Sherman, Grayson Co., TX on 11 February 1953.
John Thompson Ashburn 1895 - 1953
	Harrell was born 28 December 1897 in Denison, Grayson Co., TX. He married Cora Estelle Sanders J January 1920. He died 30 July 1970 in Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX. Harrell's occupation was "ice cream making". He also had two hobbies. He was an avid hunter which began with derr and birds. It latter progressed to wild beasts such as Bengal Tigers and Grisly Bears. Harrell went on a safari every year to many parts of the world. He cooked and was known to bake a special cake for friends when they were sick.
Harrell Currie Ashburn 1897 - 1970
	Frank was born 3 February 1901 in Grayson Co., TX. He married Grace Sabry Miles in 1930. Frank died 23 November 1989 in Garland, Dallas Co., TX. Frank ran the Grayson plant in Sherman.
Redmon Frank Ashburn 1901 - 1989
	Lawrence was born 28 September 1907 in Sherman, Grayson Co., TX. He married Bernice Ruth Crumpton. Lawence died 26 June 1967 Dallas, Dallas Co., TX. Lawrence ran the Dallas operation with his nephew, Martin Ashbur, Jr. He is the father of contributor, Lee Ann Ashburn.
Lawrence Ashburn 1907 - 1967

William Lafayette Ashburn Sr. was in the dairy business in Denison, Texas. He began his ice cream business in Denison and opened the first store in 1901 and located at 115 S. Rusk. Bill Ashburn Sr. retired in 1914 after having placed the business on solid footing and training his sons to carry on the business. Martin Ashburn took charge of the business and moved the 315 W. Main St. location in 1919. Bill Ashburn Jr. and H. C. Ashburn bought into the company and eventually purchased Martin's interest.
The company began it's expansion program in 1928 with the Ft. Worth creamery. The Ashburn's ice cream and creamery business continued to expand until plants were located in Denison, Sherman, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Mineral Wells, Arlington and Weatherford.
Lawrence Ashburn and Harrell Ashburn worked in the Ft. Worth Ashburn's Ice Cream Store. It was the understanding that this location would eventually be managed by Harrell Ashburn Jr. In 1940, Lawrence began looking for other opportunities for personal satisfaction and advancement. He purchased a cafe across the street from Polytech Junior College in Ft. Worth. After a period of time, Bill Jr. talked to Martin. It was decided to let Lawrence join as a junior partner in the Dallas Operation. Lawrence moved his family to Dallas, successfully running and expanding the company in partnership with his nephew, Martin Ashburn Jr.

William L. Ashburn Jr. was mayor of Denison during the time that President Eisenhower came through Denison.

ca 1889
L to R: Martin, Papa Bill, Anna, Sophie, Mama Mary, Paul

ca 1917
1st Row: Mary, Lawrence, Bill
2nd Row: Harrell, Martin, ?, ?, ?, Frank
3rd Row: Paul, Bill Jr., Thompson

ca 1928	ca 1938

1st Row: Bill, Harrell, Martin 2nd Row: Lawrence, Frank, Thompson, Paul	1st Row: Paul, Thompson, Martin, W. L. Sr, Sophie 2nd Row: Harrell, Frank, Wm. L. Jr., Lawrence

Sunday Dinner at the W. F. Maddox Home

1st row: Harrell Ashburn, Thompson Ashburn, Arch Currie, Truman Murphey, unkn Murphey, Mr & Mrs Murphey, unkn Murphey; Paul Ashburn
2nd row: Bill Ashburn, Ben Brigham, Annie Brigham, Frank Ashburn, W L Ashburn, Mary Currie Ashburn w/Lawrence Ashburn, Martin Ashburn, Sophie Ashburn
3rd row: Mary Brown, Arch Brown, Vay Brown, Lena Brown, Nettie Brown, Aunt Sallie Currie Brown, Uncle Willie Brown, Ralph Brown
4th row: Redmond Maddox, Cousin Sallie Maddox, Cousin Will Maddox (host & hostess for the day), Tom Maddox and Mrs. Maddox with baby
5th row: Minnie Maddox, Mae Maddox, Barbara Maddox, & 3 sons of Tom Maddox

Information written by Aunt Sophie.
Picture taken on the steps of Stephens School
by Hendrix Photographers

Biography Index
Susan Hawkins
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