YUBA   COUNTY  

~ Nelson Dewey Ashford ~

1899 - 1983

The splendid orchard property of Nelson D. Ashford is the visible expression of his life of well-directed thrift and industry.  He was born on March 14, 1899, in Nebraska, near Harrisburg, a son of William and Cora M. (Slafter) Ashford.  He began his education in the grammar school near Harrisburg, and in 1906 accompanied his mother and stepfather to California and finished his schooling at Antioch, Cal.  In 1914, when his uncle Wilson Wesley Ashford’s estate was divided, Nelson D. Ashford received as his share of the estate the 126 acres on which he now resides.  Of this tract he has developed forty acres to an orchard of peaches and prunes.  Mr. Ashford entered the Aviation Section of the United States Army in February, 1918, and was sent to Fort McDowell, and later to Kelly Field, where he was placed in the 126^th Aero Squadron.  From there he was sent to Langley Field, Virginia, and was placed in the flying detachment of the Aero Squadron.  He has 120 honors to his credit, and held the rank of first-class sergeant.  At the Presidio, in San Francisco, on June 27, 1920, he received his discharge from the service and then returned home to Tudor.

            On May 10, 1921, Nelson D. Ashford was married to Miss Mary Flanagan, born at Meridian, Cal., a daughter of Frank and Polly (Pratt) Flanagan, natives of Iowa but now residing near Tudor.  Mrs. Ashford received her education in the Central Grammar School and the Marysville High School.  Mr. Ashford is a member of the Yuba-Sutter Post No. 42, American Legion.  In politics he is a Republican.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, pp 999-1000

OBITUARY - Appeal Democrat newspaper - Jul 14, 1983, page A-11 - - N. DEWEY ASHFORD - Services are scheduled Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ullrey Memorial Chapel for N. Dewey Ashford, of 9248 Garden Highway, Yuba City, who died Wednesday in Fremont Hospital.  He was 84. - A 72-year resident of the area, he worked as a farmer for 60 years before retiring. - He was a member of the Marysville Elks Lodge #783, the American Legion Post 42 of Marysville and the Yuba-Sutter Flying Squadron. He was a pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War I. - He is survived by his wife, Mary Ashford of Yuba City; a brother, Jack Ashford of Hawaii; a sister, Dolly Shannon of Yuba City; and numerous nieces and nephews. - Rev. Edgar Nelson of the Yuba City First United Methodist Church will officiate at the services. - Burial will be in Sutter Cemetery Monday, July 18, at 10 a.m.

The following photos are submitted to the Yuba County CAGenWeb site by Hans Waaijer, who lives in Holland.  He purchased the personal belongings of this World War I soldier from an internet auction.  As far as I can ascertain, Nelson was born 14 March 1899 in Nebraska, and died 13 July 1983 in Sutter Co.  In the 1930 Federal Census, he is listed as living on Garden Hwy., Vernon, Sutter Co. with his wife Mary, and had a fruit farm. No children were listed. ~ A biography is given above.

PHOTOS

Mr. Waaijer has kindly offered to share over 100 photographs of all of the personal belongings he has of Nelson Ashford.  There are articles of clothing (World War I uniforms), personal papers, postcards, photographs, and numerous odds 'n ends.  Browse the following pages...

These pages may take some time to load due to all of  the pictures.

Page 1       Page 2       Page 3       Page 4       Page 5       Page 6       Page 7       Page 8       Page 9       Page 10       Page 11       Page 12       Page 13      

BACK TO BIOGRAPHIES PAGE