John Ashby-Howe
ASHBY- HOWE
by Jeannette Odle Whitworth
John was born in Norfolk, England in 1845. He came to Texas in 1873, accompanied by his wife, Harriett, who died soon after their arrival.
In 1874 John married Maria Howe, who had recently arrived from Christchurch, England with her young sister, Mary ( Rolf).
Little is known of John’s English background, however, Maria left many stories recorded by her granddaughter Lena Mae ( Odle).
Maria had been educated and trained at the nearby manor house of Lady Bingham in England. She was already almost thirty years old when she arrived at Galveston in 1873. She had fully intended to return to England after she had deposited her young sister in McKinney.
Maria was very self assured, had traveled extensively, and very much self supporting.
After their marriage, John and Maria bought a farm in the Winningkoff (Blythe Chapel) Community and John farmed for the next forty six years.
They became the parents of five children. Charlie, died at early age, Anthony died in infancy, Elizabeth married Gordon T. Stiff, Fanny married Rufus Jones, and Fred married Julia Taylor.
John was very active in the Blythe Chapel Methodist Church, holding many positions, and all of the children were brought up in the Methodist faith. However, Maria had become a member of the Church of England at an early age and always refused to join any other faith.
by Jeannette Odle Whitworth
John was born in Norfolk, England in 1845. He came to Texas in 1873, accompanied by his wife, Harriett, who died soon after their arrival.
In 1874 John married Maria Howe, who had recently arrived from Christchurch, England with her young sister, Mary ( Rolf).
Little is known of John’s English background, however, Maria left many stories recorded by her granddaughter Lena Mae ( Odle).
Maria had been educated and trained at the nearby manor house of Lady Bingham in England. She was already almost thirty years old when she arrived at Galveston in 1873. She had fully intended to return to England after she had deposited her young sister in McKinney.
Maria was very self assured, had traveled extensively, and very much self supporting.
After their marriage, John and Maria bought a farm in the Winningkoff (Blythe Chapel) Community and John farmed for the next forty six years.
They became the parents of five children. Charlie, died at early age, Anthony died in infancy, Elizabeth married Gordon T. Stiff, Fanny married Rufus Jones, and Fred married Julia Taylor.
John was very active in the Blythe Chapel Methodist Church, holding many positions, and all of the children were brought up in the Methodist faith. However, Maria had become a member of the Church of England at an early age and always refused to join any other faith.