-------------------------------------
FORMER WEBB CITY PIONEER IS DEAD
Mrs. Theresa Ashcraft, Widow of Pioneer Mining Man, Succumbs in California.
Webb City, Mo., Jan. 18 - Mrs. Theresa Belle Ashcraft, 72 years old, a pioneer Webb City resident and widow of Grant Ashcraft, died suddenly following a heart attack this morning at her home in Culver City, Calif., according to information received by a niece, Miss Margaret Ashcraft, 216 Ball Street.
Funeral services were conducted at Culver City this afternoon. Although no further information has been received here, it is presumed the body will be returned to Webb City for burial in Mount Hope Cemetery. [The body is not buried in Mount Hope Cemetery]
Mrs. Ashcraft had resided at Culver City the last three years. She left here after the death of her husband, going to Galena, Mo., to reside a number of years with a son, Eli Ashcraft and then to Carlsbad, N.M. to make her home with a daughter, Mrs. Allen Hardy.
Surviving her are three children, Mrs. Bernice Burch of Chicago, Mrs. Allen Hardy, Jr. of Carlsbad, N.M. and Eli Ashcraft of Culver City.
Mrs. Ashcraft was well known here. Her husband, Grant Ashcraft, was a pioneer mining man and played an influential part in transforming Webb City from a mining camp.
Samuel P. Ashcraft, 216 North Ball street, was a brother of the late Grant Ashcraft."
This obituary was posted in the Joplin, Missouri newspaper:
The Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
Obituary thanks to T. Richey
ALSO: On October 30, 1874, Mr. Ashcroft was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Belle Baker, a native of Springfield, Illinois. They became the parents of three children: Mrs. Bernice Ashcraft Burch; Mrs. Allen Ashcroft Hardy and Eli Ashcroft. Mrs. Burch is one of the leaders in the social circles of Webb City and Carterville and an excellent business woman, She is employed as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Carterville, a lady of brilliant attainments in scholarship and literature and of superior mental force in many lines of development. [The History of Jasper County and its people, by Joel Thomas Livingston, Public Domain]
--------------------------------------------
∼Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
"WIFE NO. 1 OF G.P. ASHCRAFT SEEKS ESTATE
California Woman Declares She Is Only Rightful Heir to Fortune Left by Rich Operator.
ALLEGES ILLEGAL WEDDING
In Petition for $300,000
Holdings She Asserts He Was Never Divorced From Her.
A suit to obtain possession of the property of Granville P. Ashcraft of Webb city, who died in July, 1911, on the grounds that she was his wife and had never been divorced, was filed in the office of the clerk of the federal court here by Mrs. Martha Hoskins of Sacramento, Cal., yesterday. The petition recites that the marriage of Ashcraft to Mrs. Theresa B. Ashcraft, to whom he willed his estate, was illegal.
Mrs. Hoskins declares she was married to Granville Ashcraft in 1872. Her petition states that they lived in Granby, Mo., for two years and during that time two children were born to them, a son, James Collier, and a daughter, Myrtle. Ashcraft, she says, left her and went to Arkansas, declaring his intention to obtain a divorce from her.
TOLD DIVORCE WAS OBTAINED.
Later, the petition states, she was notified by Ashcraft that he had secured the divorce. Believing this, she married mat Hoskins and moved to California with him. Later Ashcraft married Theresa B. Ashcraft of Granby, his second wife. From this union there has been three children, Bernice D. Burch, May Hardy, and Eli G. Ashcraft.
Last spring Ashcraft made a new will, in which he set aside all previous wills and left all of his property to his wife, Theresa B., with the exception of a house and lot in Webb City, which he gave to Bernice D. Burch, and one dollar each to the other two children. Mr. Ashcraft died last July and the will was probated.
A list of the property left by Ashcraft fills two typewritten pages, describing the location and nature of the property. It is said that the property would amount to about $200,000.
ASKS FOR FORTUNE
The petition asks the court to determine the legality of the first marriage, the failure to secure a divorce, the illegality of the second marriage, and finally, that the property left by Ashcraft, with rentals, interest and dividends, be given to Mrs. Hoskins.
the petition probably will be heard by Judge A.S. Van Valkenberg in the January term of federal court in Joplin.
Granville P. Ashcraft was one of the first miners to operate in the Webb City camp. He aided in opening up some of the biggest mines in the district. He also was actively interested in every movement for the betterment of the city and owned extensive property in and about Webb City and Carterville.
ESTATE RETAINS NO COUNSEL
He was widely known in the entire district, having been a stockholder in several leading companies in Jasper county. He lived in Webb City the greater portion of his life.
Mrs. Ashcraft and family are at present visiting relatives in Stone county. There are no attorneys at present representing the estate. The estate has only been represented in a formal way by attorneys, who looked after the filing and probating of the will before Probate Judge N.H. Kelso. It is not known when Mrs. Ashcraft will return from her visit in Stone county."
-----
Joplin Globe
Tuesday, May 25, 1915
"HOLD MRS HANLEY IS NOT LEGAL HEIR.
Evidence Shows That Relations Between Grant Ashcraft and Plantiffs Mother Were Illicit.
Judge D. E. Blair of division No. 2 of circu9it court yesterday handed down a decree for the defendants in the case of Myrtle Hanley against Theresa B. Ashcraft and others. Mrs. Hanley contended that she was a daughter of the late Grant Ashcraft of Webb City an alleged marriage of her mother, Martha Thomas, to him, and was entitled to a dower interest in the Ashcraft estate, which is valued at more than $50,000.
Judge Blair ruled that the relationship when existed between Ashcraft and Martha Thomas was an illicit one. The plaintiff alleged that Ashcraft had committed bigamy when he was married to Theresa Ashcraft. Witnesses said that Ashcraft and Miss Thomas had lived together many years in Granby, but they never heard of their being married. That Martha Thomas did not charge Ashcraft with bigamy when he married Theresa Ashcraft was considered a ? point in favor of the defendant Ashcraft and his wife lived was twenty-five miles of Martha Thomas, who afterward was married to Matthew Hoskins.
Judge Blair expressed the opinion that if Ashcraft had been committing bigamy, Martha Thomas would have protested against the marriage to Theresa Ashcraft at the time, as she undoubtedly knew of it. The marriage of Martha Thomas to Matthew Hoskins was considered further proof that Ashcraft had not committed bigamy.
This was filed nearly a year ago created a sensation. It was tried in the January term of court."
-----
Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
"FORMER WEBB CITY PIONEER IS DEAD
Mrs. Theresa Ashcraft, Widow of Pioneer Mining Man, Succumbs in California.
Webb City, Mo., Jan. 18 - Mrs. Theresa Belle Ashcraft, 72 years old, a pioneer Webb City resident and widow of Grant Ashcraft, died suddenly following a heart attack this morning at her home in Culver City, Calif., according to information received by a niece, Miss Margaret Ashcraft, 216 Ball Street.
Funeral services were conducted at Culver City this afternoon. Although no further information has been received here, it is presumed the body will be returned to Webb City for burial in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mrs. Ashcraft had resided at Culver City the last three years. she left here after the death of her husband, going to Galena, Mo., to reside a number of years with a son, Eli Ashcraft and then to Carlsbad, N.M. to make her home with a daughter, Mrs. Allen Hardy.
Surviving her are three children, Mrs. Bernice Burch of Chicago, Mrs. Allen Hardy, Jr. of Carlsbad, N.M. and Eli Ashcraft of Culver City.
Mrs. Ashcraft was well known here. Her husband, Grant Ashcraft, was a pioneer mining man and played an influential part in transforming Webb City from a mining camp.
Samuel P. Ashcraft, 216 North Ball street, was a brother of the late Grant Ashcraft."
FORMER WEBB CITY PIONEER IS DEAD
Mrs. Theresa Ashcraft, Widow of Pioneer Mining Man, Succumbs in California.
Webb City, Mo., Jan. 18 - Mrs. Theresa Belle Ashcraft, 72 years old, a pioneer Webb City resident and widow of Grant Ashcraft, died suddenly following a heart attack this morning at her home in Culver City, Calif., according to information received by a niece, Miss Margaret Ashcraft, 216 Ball Street.
Funeral services were conducted at Culver City this afternoon. Although no further information has been received here, it is presumed the body will be returned to Webb City for burial in Mount Hope Cemetery. [The body is not buried in Mount Hope Cemetery]
Mrs. Ashcraft had resided at Culver City the last three years. She left here after the death of her husband, going to Galena, Mo., to reside a number of years with a son, Eli Ashcraft and then to Carlsbad, N.M. to make her home with a daughter, Mrs. Allen Hardy.
Surviving her are three children, Mrs. Bernice Burch of Chicago, Mrs. Allen Hardy, Jr. of Carlsbad, N.M. and Eli Ashcraft of Culver City.
Mrs. Ashcraft was well known here. Her husband, Grant Ashcraft, was a pioneer mining man and played an influential part in transforming Webb City from a mining camp.
Samuel P. Ashcraft, 216 North Ball street, was a brother of the late Grant Ashcraft."
This obituary was posted in the Joplin, Missouri newspaper:
The Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
Obituary thanks to T. Richey
ALSO: On October 30, 1874, Mr. Ashcroft was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Belle Baker, a native of Springfield, Illinois. They became the parents of three children: Mrs. Bernice Ashcraft Burch; Mrs. Allen Ashcroft Hardy and Eli Ashcroft. Mrs. Burch is one of the leaders in the social circles of Webb City and Carterville and an excellent business woman, She is employed as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Carterville, a lady of brilliant attainments in scholarship and literature and of superior mental force in many lines of development. [The History of Jasper County and its people, by Joel Thomas Livingston, Public Domain]
--------------------------------------------
∼Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
"WIFE NO. 1 OF G.P. ASHCRAFT SEEKS ESTATE
California Woman Declares She Is Only Rightful Heir to Fortune Left by Rich Operator.
ALLEGES ILLEGAL WEDDING
In Petition for $300,000
Holdings She Asserts He Was Never Divorced From Her.
A suit to obtain possession of the property of Granville P. Ashcraft of Webb city, who died in July, 1911, on the grounds that she was his wife and had never been divorced, was filed in the office of the clerk of the federal court here by Mrs. Martha Hoskins of Sacramento, Cal., yesterday. The petition recites that the marriage of Ashcraft to Mrs. Theresa B. Ashcraft, to whom he willed his estate, was illegal.
Mrs. Hoskins declares she was married to Granville Ashcraft in 1872. Her petition states that they lived in Granby, Mo., for two years and during that time two children were born to them, a son, James Collier, and a daughter, Myrtle. Ashcraft, she says, left her and went to Arkansas, declaring his intention to obtain a divorce from her.
TOLD DIVORCE WAS OBTAINED.
Later, the petition states, she was notified by Ashcraft that he had secured the divorce. Believing this, she married mat Hoskins and moved to California with him. Later Ashcraft married Theresa B. Ashcraft of Granby, his second wife. From this union there has been three children, Bernice D. Burch, May Hardy, and Eli G. Ashcraft.
Last spring Ashcraft made a new will, in which he set aside all previous wills and left all of his property to his wife, Theresa B., with the exception of a house and lot in Webb City, which he gave to Bernice D. Burch, and one dollar each to the other two children. Mr. Ashcraft died last July and the will was probated.
A list of the property left by Ashcraft fills two typewritten pages, describing the location and nature of the property. It is said that the property would amount to about $200,000.
ASKS FOR FORTUNE
The petition asks the court to determine the legality of the first marriage, the failure to secure a divorce, the illegality of the second marriage, and finally, that the property left by Ashcraft, with rentals, interest and dividends, be given to Mrs. Hoskins.
the petition probably will be heard by Judge A.S. Van Valkenberg in the January term of federal court in Joplin.
Granville P. Ashcraft was one of the first miners to operate in the Webb City camp. He aided in opening up some of the biggest mines in the district. He also was actively interested in every movement for the betterment of the city and owned extensive property in and about Webb City and Carterville.
ESTATE RETAINS NO COUNSEL
He was widely known in the entire district, having been a stockholder in several leading companies in Jasper county. He lived in Webb City the greater portion of his life.
Mrs. Ashcraft and family are at present visiting relatives in Stone county. There are no attorneys at present representing the estate. The estate has only been represented in a formal way by attorneys, who looked after the filing and probating of the will before Probate Judge N.H. Kelso. It is not known when Mrs. Ashcraft will return from her visit in Stone county."
-----
Joplin Globe
Tuesday, May 25, 1915
"HOLD MRS HANLEY IS NOT LEGAL HEIR.
Evidence Shows That Relations Between Grant Ashcraft and Plantiffs Mother Were Illicit.
Judge D. E. Blair of division No. 2 of circu9it court yesterday handed down a decree for the defendants in the case of Myrtle Hanley against Theresa B. Ashcraft and others. Mrs. Hanley contended that she was a daughter of the late Grant Ashcraft of Webb City an alleged marriage of her mother, Martha Thomas, to him, and was entitled to a dower interest in the Ashcraft estate, which is valued at more than $50,000.
Judge Blair ruled that the relationship when existed between Ashcraft and Martha Thomas was an illicit one. The plaintiff alleged that Ashcraft had committed bigamy when he was married to Theresa Ashcraft. Witnesses said that Ashcraft and Miss Thomas had lived together many years in Granby, but they never heard of their being married. That Martha Thomas did not charge Ashcraft with bigamy when he married Theresa Ashcraft was considered a ? point in favor of the defendant Ashcraft and his wife lived was twenty-five miles of Martha Thomas, who afterward was married to Matthew Hoskins.
Judge Blair expressed the opinion that if Ashcraft had been committing bigamy, Martha Thomas would have protested against the marriage to Theresa Ashcraft at the time, as she undoubtedly knew of it. The marriage of Martha Thomas to Matthew Hoskins was considered further proof that Ashcraft had not committed bigamy.
This was filed nearly a year ago created a sensation. It was tried in the January term of court."
-----
Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
"FORMER WEBB CITY PIONEER IS DEAD
Mrs. Theresa Ashcraft, Widow of Pioneer Mining Man, Succumbs in California.
Webb City, Mo., Jan. 18 - Mrs. Theresa Belle Ashcraft, 72 years old, a pioneer Webb City resident and widow of Grant Ashcraft, died suddenly following a heart attack this morning at her home in Culver City, Calif., according to information received by a niece, Miss Margaret Ashcraft, 216 Ball Street.
Funeral services were conducted at Culver City this afternoon. Although no further information has been received here, it is presumed the body will be returned to Webb City for burial in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mrs. Ashcraft had resided at Culver City the last three years. she left here after the death of her husband, going to Galena, Mo., to reside a number of years with a son, Eli Ashcraft and then to Carlsbad, N.M. to make her home with a daughter, Mrs. Allen Hardy.
Surviving her are three children, Mrs. Bernice Burch of Chicago, Mrs. Allen Hardy, Jr. of Carlsbad, N.M. and Eli Ashcraft of Culver City.
Mrs. Ashcraft was well known here. Her husband, Grant Ashcraft, was a pioneer mining man and played an influential part in transforming Webb City from a mining camp.
Samuel P. Ashcraft, 216 North Ball street, was a brother of the late Grant Ashcraft."
-------------------------------------
FORMER WEBB CITY PIONEER IS DEAD
Mrs. Theresa Ashcraft, Widow of Pioneer Mining Man, Succumbs in California.
Webb City, Mo., Jan. 18 - Mrs. Theresa Belle Ashcraft, 72 years old, a pioneer Webb City resident and widow of Grant Ashcraft, died suddenly following a heart attack this morning at her home in Culver City, Calif., according to information received by a niece, Miss Margaret Ashcraft, 216 Ball Street.
Funeral services were conducted at Culver City this afternoon. Although no further information has been received here, it is presumed the body will be returned to Webb City for burial in Mount Hope Cemetery. [The body is not buried in Mount Hope Cemetery]
Mrs. Ashcraft had resided at Culver City the last three years. She left here after the death of her husband, going to Galena, Mo., to reside a number of years with a son, Eli Ashcraft and then to Carlsbad, N.M. to make her home with a daughter, Mrs. Allen Hardy.
Surviving her are three children, Mrs. Bernice Burch of Chicago, Mrs. Allen Hardy, Jr. of Carlsbad, N.M. and Eli Ashcraft of Culver City.
Mrs. Ashcraft was well known here. Her husband, Grant Ashcraft, was a pioneer mining man and played an influential part in transforming Webb City from a mining camp.
Samuel P. Ashcraft, 216 North Ball street, was a brother of the late Grant Ashcraft."
This obituary was posted in the Joplin, Missouri newspaper:
The Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
Obituary thanks to T. Richey
ALSO: On October 30, 1874, Mr. Ashcroft was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Belle Baker, a native of Springfield, Illinois. They became the parents of three children: Mrs. Bernice Ashcraft Burch; Mrs. Allen Ashcroft Hardy and Eli Ashcroft. Mrs. Burch is one of the leaders in the social circles of Webb City and Carterville and an excellent business woman, She is employed as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Carterville, a lady of brilliant attainments in scholarship and literature and of superior mental force in many lines of development. [The History of Jasper County and its people, by Joel Thomas Livingston, Public Domain]
--------------------------------------------
∼Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
"WIFE NO. 1 OF G.P. ASHCRAFT SEEKS ESTATE
California Woman Declares She Is Only Rightful Heir to Fortune Left by Rich Operator.
ALLEGES ILLEGAL WEDDING
In Petition for $300,000
Holdings She Asserts He Was Never Divorced From Her.
A suit to obtain possession of the property of Granville P. Ashcraft of Webb city, who died in July, 1911, on the grounds that she was his wife and had never been divorced, was filed in the office of the clerk of the federal court here by Mrs. Martha Hoskins of Sacramento, Cal., yesterday. The petition recites that the marriage of Ashcraft to Mrs. Theresa B. Ashcraft, to whom he willed his estate, was illegal.
Mrs. Hoskins declares she was married to Granville Ashcraft in 1872. Her petition states that they lived in Granby, Mo., for two years and during that time two children were born to them, a son, James Collier, and a daughter, Myrtle. Ashcraft, she says, left her and went to Arkansas, declaring his intention to obtain a divorce from her.
TOLD DIVORCE WAS OBTAINED.
Later, the petition states, she was notified by Ashcraft that he had secured the divorce. Believing this, she married mat Hoskins and moved to California with him. Later Ashcraft married Theresa B. Ashcraft of Granby, his second wife. From this union there has been three children, Bernice D. Burch, May Hardy, and Eli G. Ashcraft.
Last spring Ashcraft made a new will, in which he set aside all previous wills and left all of his property to his wife, Theresa B., with the exception of a house and lot in Webb City, which he gave to Bernice D. Burch, and one dollar each to the other two children. Mr. Ashcraft died last July and the will was probated.
A list of the property left by Ashcraft fills two typewritten pages, describing the location and nature of the property. It is said that the property would amount to about $200,000.
ASKS FOR FORTUNE
The petition asks the court to determine the legality of the first marriage, the failure to secure a divorce, the illegality of the second marriage, and finally, that the property left by Ashcraft, with rentals, interest and dividends, be given to Mrs. Hoskins.
the petition probably will be heard by Judge A.S. Van Valkenberg in the January term of federal court in Joplin.
Granville P. Ashcraft was one of the first miners to operate in the Webb City camp. He aided in opening up some of the biggest mines in the district. He also was actively interested in every movement for the betterment of the city and owned extensive property in and about Webb City and Carterville.
ESTATE RETAINS NO COUNSEL
He was widely known in the entire district, having been a stockholder in several leading companies in Jasper county. He lived in Webb City the greater portion of his life.
Mrs. Ashcraft and family are at present visiting relatives in Stone county. There are no attorneys at present representing the estate. The estate has only been represented in a formal way by attorneys, who looked after the filing and probating of the will before Probate Judge N.H. Kelso. It is not known when Mrs. Ashcraft will return from her visit in Stone county."
-----
Joplin Globe
Tuesday, May 25, 1915
"HOLD MRS HANLEY IS NOT LEGAL HEIR.
Evidence Shows That Relations Between Grant Ashcraft and Plantiffs Mother Were Illicit.
Judge D. E. Blair of division No. 2 of circu9it court yesterday handed down a decree for the defendants in the case of Myrtle Hanley against Theresa B. Ashcraft and others. Mrs. Hanley contended that she was a daughter of the late Grant Ashcraft of Webb City an alleged marriage of her mother, Martha Thomas, to him, and was entitled to a dower interest in the Ashcraft estate, which is valued at more than $50,000.
Judge Blair ruled that the relationship when existed between Ashcraft and Martha Thomas was an illicit one. The plaintiff alleged that Ashcraft had committed bigamy when he was married to Theresa Ashcraft. Witnesses said that Ashcraft and Miss Thomas had lived together many years in Granby, but they never heard of their being married. That Martha Thomas did not charge Ashcraft with bigamy when he married Theresa Ashcraft was considered a ? point in favor of the defendant Ashcraft and his wife lived was twenty-five miles of Martha Thomas, who afterward was married to Matthew Hoskins.
Judge Blair expressed the opinion that if Ashcraft had been committing bigamy, Martha Thomas would have protested against the marriage to Theresa Ashcraft at the time, as she undoubtedly knew of it. The marriage of Martha Thomas to Matthew Hoskins was considered further proof that Ashcraft had not committed bigamy.
This was filed nearly a year ago created a sensation. It was tried in the January term of court."
-----
Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
"FORMER WEBB CITY PIONEER IS DEAD
Mrs. Theresa Ashcraft, Widow of Pioneer Mining Man, Succumbs in California.
Webb City, Mo., Jan. 18 - Mrs. Theresa Belle Ashcraft, 72 years old, a pioneer Webb City resident and widow of Grant Ashcraft, died suddenly following a heart attack this morning at her home in Culver City, Calif., according to information received by a niece, Miss Margaret Ashcraft, 216 Ball Street.
Funeral services were conducted at Culver City this afternoon. Although no further information has been received here, it is presumed the body will be returned to Webb City for burial in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mrs. Ashcraft had resided at Culver City the last three years. she left here after the death of her husband, going to Galena, Mo., to reside a number of years with a son, Eli Ashcraft and then to Carlsbad, N.M. to make her home with a daughter, Mrs. Allen Hardy.
Surviving her are three children, Mrs. Bernice Burch of Chicago, Mrs. Allen Hardy, Jr. of Carlsbad, N.M. and Eli Ashcraft of Culver City.
Mrs. Ashcraft was well known here. Her husband, Grant Ashcraft, was a pioneer mining man and played an influential part in transforming Webb City from a mining camp.
Samuel P. Ashcraft, 216 North Ball street, was a brother of the late Grant Ashcraft."
FORMER WEBB CITY PIONEER IS DEAD
Mrs. Theresa Ashcraft, Widow of Pioneer Mining Man, Succumbs in California.
Webb City, Mo., Jan. 18 - Mrs. Theresa Belle Ashcraft, 72 years old, a pioneer Webb City resident and widow of Grant Ashcraft, died suddenly following a heart attack this morning at her home in Culver City, Calif., according to information received by a niece, Miss Margaret Ashcraft, 216 Ball Street.
Funeral services were conducted at Culver City this afternoon. Although no further information has been received here, it is presumed the body will be returned to Webb City for burial in Mount Hope Cemetery. [The body is not buried in Mount Hope Cemetery]
Mrs. Ashcraft had resided at Culver City the last three years. She left here after the death of her husband, going to Galena, Mo., to reside a number of years with a son, Eli Ashcraft and then to Carlsbad, N.M. to make her home with a daughter, Mrs. Allen Hardy.
Surviving her are three children, Mrs. Bernice Burch of Chicago, Mrs. Allen Hardy, Jr. of Carlsbad, N.M. and Eli Ashcraft of Culver City.
Mrs. Ashcraft was well known here. Her husband, Grant Ashcraft, was a pioneer mining man and played an influential part in transforming Webb City from a mining camp.
Samuel P. Ashcraft, 216 North Ball street, was a brother of the late Grant Ashcraft."
This obituary was posted in the Joplin, Missouri newspaper:
The Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
Obituary thanks to T. Richey
ALSO: On October 30, 1874, Mr. Ashcroft was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Belle Baker, a native of Springfield, Illinois. They became the parents of three children: Mrs. Bernice Ashcraft Burch; Mrs. Allen Ashcroft Hardy and Eli Ashcroft. Mrs. Burch is one of the leaders in the social circles of Webb City and Carterville and an excellent business woman, She is employed as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Carterville, a lady of brilliant attainments in scholarship and literature and of superior mental force in many lines of development. [The History of Jasper County and its people, by Joel Thomas Livingston, Public Domain]
--------------------------------------------
∼Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
"WIFE NO. 1 OF G.P. ASHCRAFT SEEKS ESTATE
California Woman Declares She Is Only Rightful Heir to Fortune Left by Rich Operator.
ALLEGES ILLEGAL WEDDING
In Petition for $300,000
Holdings She Asserts He Was Never Divorced From Her.
A suit to obtain possession of the property of Granville P. Ashcraft of Webb city, who died in July, 1911, on the grounds that she was his wife and had never been divorced, was filed in the office of the clerk of the federal court here by Mrs. Martha Hoskins of Sacramento, Cal., yesterday. The petition recites that the marriage of Ashcraft to Mrs. Theresa B. Ashcraft, to whom he willed his estate, was illegal.
Mrs. Hoskins declares she was married to Granville Ashcraft in 1872. Her petition states that they lived in Granby, Mo., for two years and during that time two children were born to them, a son, James Collier, and a daughter, Myrtle. Ashcraft, she says, left her and went to Arkansas, declaring his intention to obtain a divorce from her.
TOLD DIVORCE WAS OBTAINED.
Later, the petition states, she was notified by Ashcraft that he had secured the divorce. Believing this, she married mat Hoskins and moved to California with him. Later Ashcraft married Theresa B. Ashcraft of Granby, his second wife. From this union there has been three children, Bernice D. Burch, May Hardy, and Eli G. Ashcraft.
Last spring Ashcraft made a new will, in which he set aside all previous wills and left all of his property to his wife, Theresa B., with the exception of a house and lot in Webb City, which he gave to Bernice D. Burch, and one dollar each to the other two children. Mr. Ashcraft died last July and the will was probated.
A list of the property left by Ashcraft fills two typewritten pages, describing the location and nature of the property. It is said that the property would amount to about $200,000.
ASKS FOR FORTUNE
The petition asks the court to determine the legality of the first marriage, the failure to secure a divorce, the illegality of the second marriage, and finally, that the property left by Ashcraft, with rentals, interest and dividends, be given to Mrs. Hoskins.
the petition probably will be heard by Judge A.S. Van Valkenberg in the January term of federal court in Joplin.
Granville P. Ashcraft was one of the first miners to operate in the Webb City camp. He aided in opening up some of the biggest mines in the district. He also was actively interested in every movement for the betterment of the city and owned extensive property in and about Webb City and Carterville.
ESTATE RETAINS NO COUNSEL
He was widely known in the entire district, having been a stockholder in several leading companies in Jasper county. He lived in Webb City the greater portion of his life.
Mrs. Ashcraft and family are at present visiting relatives in Stone county. There are no attorneys at present representing the estate. The estate has only been represented in a formal way by attorneys, who looked after the filing and probating of the will before Probate Judge N.H. Kelso. It is not known when Mrs. Ashcraft will return from her visit in Stone county."
-----
Joplin Globe
Tuesday, May 25, 1915
"HOLD MRS HANLEY IS NOT LEGAL HEIR.
Evidence Shows That Relations Between Grant Ashcraft and Plantiffs Mother Were Illicit.
Judge D. E. Blair of division No. 2 of circu9it court yesterday handed down a decree for the defendants in the case of Myrtle Hanley against Theresa B. Ashcraft and others. Mrs. Hanley contended that she was a daughter of the late Grant Ashcraft of Webb City an alleged marriage of her mother, Martha Thomas, to him, and was entitled to a dower interest in the Ashcraft estate, which is valued at more than $50,000.
Judge Blair ruled that the relationship when existed between Ashcraft and Martha Thomas was an illicit one. The plaintiff alleged that Ashcraft had committed bigamy when he was married to Theresa Ashcraft. Witnesses said that Ashcraft and Miss Thomas had lived together many years in Granby, but they never heard of their being married. That Martha Thomas did not charge Ashcraft with bigamy when he married Theresa Ashcraft was considered a ? point in favor of the defendant Ashcraft and his wife lived was twenty-five miles of Martha Thomas, who afterward was married to Matthew Hoskins.
Judge Blair expressed the opinion that if Ashcraft had been committing bigamy, Martha Thomas would have protested against the marriage to Theresa Ashcraft at the time, as she undoubtedly knew of it. The marriage of Martha Thomas to Matthew Hoskins was considered further proof that Ashcraft had not committed bigamy.
This was filed nearly a year ago created a sensation. It was tried in the January term of court."
-----
Joplin Globe
Saturday, January 19, 1929
"FORMER WEBB CITY PIONEER IS DEAD
Mrs. Theresa Ashcraft, Widow of Pioneer Mining Man, Succumbs in California.
Webb City, Mo., Jan. 18 - Mrs. Theresa Belle Ashcraft, 72 years old, a pioneer Webb City resident and widow of Grant Ashcraft, died suddenly following a heart attack this morning at her home in Culver City, Calif., according to information received by a niece, Miss Margaret Ashcraft, 216 Ball Street.
Funeral services were conducted at Culver City this afternoon. Although no further information has been received here, it is presumed the body will be returned to Webb City for burial in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mrs. Ashcraft had resided at Culver City the last three years. she left here after the death of her husband, going to Galena, Mo., to reside a number of years with a son, Eli Ashcraft and then to Carlsbad, N.M. to make her home with a daughter, Mrs. Allen Hardy.
Surviving her are three children, Mrs. Bernice Burch of Chicago, Mrs. Allen Hardy, Jr. of Carlsbad, N.M. and Eli Ashcraft of Culver City.
Mrs. Ashcraft was well known here. Her husband, Grant Ashcraft, was a pioneer mining man and played an influential part in transforming Webb City from a mining camp.
Samuel P. Ashcraft, 216 North Ball street, was a brother of the late Grant Ashcraft."
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