Euritte Elwwod Ashmore was born in Griffin Flat AR in 1908. He loved his homeplace where he had grown up as a farmer with his dad, a son of James Robert Ashmore and Minnie Ada Martin. He had one brother two years older, King, and four sisters, Bessie, Essie, Tishie and Edith. Euritte has two living younger sisters, Eva who lives in Oregon and Lela who lives north of Atkins in the Hopewell community.
Euritte met Edna Earle Overbey at the Presbyterian Church in Glass Village (later Griffin Flat). Earle had come for services with her Papa, Rev. C.A. Overbey of Johnson County near Lamar, Arkansas. Brother Overbey married the couple at his log cabin home in 1928. Many couples within the family circle as well as without have made their way to the preacher's cabin.
Euritte and Earle brought six children into their family: 1. Robert Anderson born 1929, married Myrtis M. Hassell of Scottsville. 2. Billy Earl born 1932, married Dianna L. Parham of Atkins. 3. Emma Janette born 1935, married Louis W. Young of Hector. 4. Peggy Joyce born 1943, married Glen D. Hays of Appleton. 5. Polly Ann born 1943, married Thomas B. Johnson of Russelville. 6. Ada Kay born 1946, married H.L. "Shad" Jones of London.
The Ashmores lived at Lamar for a while and E.E. was employed at a mill. Robert was born at Lamar. Bill was born in Griffin Flat on July 4, on what I think was called the Finis Wilson place. Emma was born at the homplace, same room, same corner as Euritte was. The twins, Polly and Peggy, were born on the Rainey place by Cedar Creek and Ada Kay on the Hopton place, all in Griffin Flat. At one time when the boys were young and the only children, the family lived at Shiloh near Russellville where the Tom Rankins (Tishie's family) lived before they moved to Arizona.
Euritte loved his homeplace where he had grown up as a farmer with his Dad. His brother, King, preferred a different life. (Higher education, Army etc and later answering God's call to preach). E.E. would leave the homeplace often for seasonal work in other places or states but would always return after a wheat harvest or cotton crop or fruit harvest. As the boys became old enough they went with their Dad and worked diligently as Euritte did to make money for the winter while the girls and Earle gardened and canned and kept the home.
One of the most significant happenings was when polio struck four year old Polly. The twins were identical and a few knew who was who until the polio. Polly did emerge triumphantly a few years later after braces, surgeries and many wagon rides.
Euritte enjoyed fishing in the surrounding creeks and hunting squirrel. He was affectionate, caring and generous. He liked to laugh and have fun. As is usual for Daddies, he was loaded with responsibility as was Mama. Earle was loving and good and a beautiful Cherokee Indian lady when she met Euritte. Her maternal grandad was a full blood Cherokee. Earle was a good cook and in later years when she and E.E. and the kids moved in with Grandpa and Grandma Ashmore to help care for them, her cooking came in handy. There was many welcomed relatives and friends who came to the Uncle Bob Ashmore place and they came often and sometimes stayed long. They always did their part to contribute to the good times of big dinners and get togethers. The breezy hall and front porch could write many books if able to speak because the house is very old and has meant so much to so many people.
Euritte passed away in 1962 after two years of cancer. Earle stayed at the homeplace and spent much time making quilts to give or sell. Most were bought by her children who treasure them. Time and space prevent me from saying much but in Earle's last years as her health failed she moved to Russellville. She passed away in 1978 being preceeded in death by her son, Bob, in 1975.
~ Emma Ashmore-Young, Rte 2, Bx 189-5, Scott LA