Adelbert and Delilah Asay Family 1920 Census

Adelbert and Delila Asay Family
Mae (my mother) is second from left
Circa 1940.

This summer, I was reviewing genealogy documents check accuracy, and looking for anything of interest that may have been overlooked.  In doing so, I discovered a puzzlement... to me at least. The 1920 Census in which the Adelbert Asay Family appeared was in the Byron Precinct District 0012.  I had never heard of the family ever living in Byron, Wyoming until that moment.  I had heard of them living "on the bench" for a time but thought that was in the Lovell limits and just north of Lovell, not northwest. 

1920 Census Byron Precinct District 0012

I immediately sent out e-mails to my brothers and sisters and some cousins and aunts and uncles who might know more about this.  It was a fun exchange of thoughts, but two held the key to understanding.  Joye Marostica spent much time in dictating stories and histories while visiting Grandmother Asay in Lovell.  This has proven to be a very interesting writing, as well as important documentation of the family's earlier years for which I am forever grateful.  Joye responded, directing me to the section on "Their Homes" in her book "Till we Meet Again."

"Delbert and Delila's homes though often very meager were clean and pleasant, functional, and filled with His Spirit.  However, with ten children, I can not say they were quiet.  But they were a place of comfort and love; where children grew to adulthood knowing they were loved and having been taught the gospel were ready to face the world.

Their honeymoon home was her father's camp wagon.  Later they lived a short time with his parents, where their first baby was born.  Their much loved home in the mountains was next, and then a small house was started on their lot in Lovell.

Grandpa was given the chance in 1919 to lease the Hatch ranch in Byron.  This exciting opportunity, however, turned out to be disastrous. 

It started out well -- Grandma loved having an abundant supply of delicious apples and melons for her family, and the children were thrilled with all the riding horses available.

Then the winter hit...it was one of the worst on record all Grandpa's cattle froze in the fields... even Grandma's favorite cow, Snowball, perished as she huddled next to the haystack.

Horse draw school wagon, similar
to description of one used in Byron.

The covered school wagon, with seats on the side -- and a wood stove, was now unable to get out to the Asay ranch.  The children missed most of the school year, but Delila, making the best of the situation, read them Black Beauty, Tom Sawyer, and other classics belonging to the Hatches; and so the year wasn't a total academic loss.

Young Mae with puppy

In the spring a near calamity occurred to two year old Mae.  Just as company pulled into the yard she was discovered, without a stitch of clothing, standing on the roof with her toes curled over the edge.  Grandma was more frantic than embarrassed - and very carefully coaxed her back through the window.

It is hard to say whether there are more pleasant or unpleasant memories of the ranch... however Delila's journal indicates the move back to Lovell was welcomed.

She felt through this experience they had all grown in such spiritual qualities as courage, faith, and perseverance.  Ranching was difficult and humbling, but also a time for drawing close to one another and to the Lord.

In Lovell the big house was eventually completed.  Starting with only two rooms, Delbert and his sons kept adding on until a magnificent 10 room structure was created for their growing family.

The children now laugh about coming home from school and finding a door where a window had been, or two bedrooms in he place of one - changes were made as the need arose." 

As it turns out, the Hatch Ranch is located 3 1/2 miles northeast of Byron, right between Lovell and Byron.  Any references to the Asay Family living in Byron is coming from this 1920 Census record and or this story.

Uncle Cal and Aunt Colleen added interesting information when they responded.  Aunt Colleen wrote the following:  "Cal said it may have come from Church Records, when Grandpa Asay received his plot of land.  It was on the hill, on the road going to Byron from the "Y"., on the west side of the road, not far from where Grandpa Sessions' (my dad) drive-in movie place was in later years.  Cal believes that might have been in the Byron Precinct District.  We're not sure but it wouldn't be too far from the Hatch Farm (Ella Mae Alphin Hatch)  Cal says that Grandpa say's assigned plot of land, ten acres, back in the 1920's, was covered with alkali.  Grandma Asay pointed out to Cal that it was not a good piece of land.  He doesn't remember of ever doing anything with that plot."

So happy this little puzzle was found and resolved while we had those with first hand knowledge to help fill in interesting information. 

Joye wrote that her mother, Aunt Zela, said all their cows froze in that dreadful winter in Byron... they moved to Lovell and never came back.  Mother also told us of the time Aunt Mae just a toddler stood on the edge of the roof of the Hatch house they were renting in Byron with no clothes on!  Scarred them all to death! 

I have never heard any of mother's siblings telling this story on her.  I can only imagine her embarrassment if they had. 

The indexer of this census incorrectly interpreted D. (Delilah) Mae Asay's name to be "D. Mary" unfortunately an easy thing to do when extracting names.

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Sources: 1920 Census Byron Precinct District 0012
Till We Meet Again, "Their Homes" pages 70-71
Family e-mail correspondence