When William Emer Ashcroft was born on 11 April 1911, in Ramah, McKinley, New Mexico, United States, his father, Josiah Emer Ashcroft, was 45 and his mother, Arrilla Hamblin, was 24. He married Eva Willamina Hall on 1 June 1933, in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States. He lived in Widtsoe, Garfield, Utah, United States in 1920. He died on 24 May 1961, in McNary, Apache, Arizona, United States, at the age of 50, and was buried in Eagar, Apache, Arizona, United States.