Papers of American Missionaries to Asia: The Ashmore Family in China, Thailand, and Japan, 1850-1937
Collection comprises papers of American missionaries to Asia, William Ashmore Jr and Lida Scott. Following his marriage to Lida Scott on October 10, 1879, William Ashmore, Jr. embarked upon a Baptist missionary career in his father's territory, the Swatow District, which encompassed 46 years. During this time he fathered two children, Edith, born May 27, 1882 and Frank, born January 5 1885. In addition to his duties as administrator and teacher at the mission, William, Jr. used his knowledge of and aptitude for language to translate the Bible into Swatow's Tei-chi dialect. He began this translation early in his missionary career, the first mention was in 1895. The New Testament was completed in the spring of 1898. The final, complete version was translated predominately from 1920 to 1926.
William retired from overseas duties in 1926 to Santa Ana, California. There he lived out his final days finishing his translation and interacting with missionaries. He died March 11, 1937.