Emma Priscilla Clayson Ashby Garfield

Emma Priscilla Clayson is the daughter of Priscilla Sims and Thomas Clayson.

Her childhood home was two blocks north of the present Fourth Ward Chapel. While she was small her parents built a two-room adobe home where Payson Park is now located. Emma's parents were converts and had emigrated from England. They homesteaded a farm in the west end of Lake Shore. There were no schools there so they moved to Payson in the winter and went back to the farm in the spring. Emma did housework in her early years. She worked for George Hone.

It was while she was thus employed that she nearly lost her life by drowning. A young group of people went from Benjamin to the point of the mountain on Utah Lake for an outing. In the afternoon, Thomas Yates, took his sister Mar, Mary Ann Reese, Minnie Ann Ockey, Lottie Hawkins and Emma for a boat ride. Something happened and the boat capsized. A brother to John Shepherd was standing on the shore, a boat was chained to the dock, he pulled it loose and rowed out. Emma's braids were above the water so he grabbed them and got her into the boat. She was the only one saved. Thomas Yates drowned trying to save his sister. At the time of the accident was weather was clear and calm, that evening there was an electrical storm and it was nearly midnight when they found the last body.

When Emma was 17 she married Samuel Ashby who was 28. They were married November 25, 1886 and moved into the two-roomed brick home Samuel had built.

Seven sons were born before any daughters so Samuel always had the older boys take turns helping their mother. Emma was never strong, Samuel helped, he'd bring in scrubbed new poatatoes and shelled peas that were prepared outside at the old well trough. They always had company and Emma loved to cook. Samuel planned a surprise party for Emma's birthday. He shelled peas to cook and new potatoes, they had osters and home made ice cream. A piano was borrowed and brought to their home and the fun lasted well into the night.

In 1901 Samuel went on a mission and after he returned they had three more daughters. The last one died of whooping cough.

Samuel died in 1917. Emma married Thomas H. Garfield March 4, 1921.