To Mr. and Mrs. Ashby were born two children: Jennie, who died at the age of twelve years; and John Denny, whose biographical sketch follows this. It was in the year 1874 that Mr. and Mrs. Ashby took up their abode upon the farm in Garfield county and from that time until his death, which occurred November 10, 1914, he devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits, becoming the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of fine wheat land. He also owned a very attractive residence in the city of Pomeroy, which is still the property of his widow. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he took an active and helpful part, and he was always ready to lend a helping hand to the poor and needy, his assistance being given in most generous manner. He was a great worker in behalf of the cause of temperance and assisted all church activities both by his moral and financial support.
No death in Garfield county has been more deeply deplored than that of John Denny Ashby, who was born in this county, February 8, 1876. Spending his youthful days in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ashby, he attended the public schools until graduated from the high school at Pomeroy in 1895. He was afterward graduated from the Montana Wesleyan University with the class of 1899, winning the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During his student days there he was a member of the college debating club, was captain of the military company and president of the Young Men's Christian Association, thus showing his active connection with all the varied interests which constitute the commendable phases of college life. In 1900 he was honored by an offer of two positions, one as instructor of science and higher mathematics at his alma mater, the other a government position in China. At the persuasion of his parents he accepted the former. Speaking of his work in the schools, Professor Tenny, president of the Montana University, said: "I have had the very best men associated with me in the school work that I could hope for, but I have never found a man who was so unselfishly loyal to me, loyal to himself, loyal to God."
In 1901 Denny Ashby entered the New York Homeopathic College & Hospital as a member of the class of 1905. During his freshman year he served as senator for the class and he also won the freshman prize, while at the end of the junior year he won the Fiske prize for the highest standing in three years' work, the prize consisting of a valuable set of surgical instruments. On the 2d of August, 1904, while in bathing on the beach at Oak island, near Fire island, he was caught by a big wave and drowned while attempting to go to the rescue of a trained nurse. His death was deeply deplored by all who knew him for he was a young man of unusual promise and ability. At the age of fourteen years he united with the Methodist church and his life was dedicated to the work of a medical missionary, but death intervened and his remains were sent home from New York and laid to rest by the side of his sister in the Pomeroy cemetery, where his grandparents are resting and also his father. Of him it may well be said that he has joined "The choir invisible of those immortal dead who live again in lives made better by their presence."