Ashland City

Ashland City

formerly Uniontown, in Montgomery township, was laid out by William Montgomery, July 28, 1S15, and was the fourth town within the present limits of Ashland c ounty. It retained the name of Uniontown, until the establishment of a post-office, in 1822, which was called Ashland, because there was another Uniontown in the State. The village thereupon received the name of Ashland. Mr. Frank Graham, now (1876) eighty-five years old, was the first postmaster.

Ashland is situated on sections seven, eight, seventeen . and eighteen, and is estimated to contain a population of three thousand. In 1822, the village contained about twenty log cabins, one small dry goods store, a blacksmith, two distilleries, a tannery, a shoemaker, a tailor, a hatter, a. cooper, a wheelwright, a small tavern, and one phvsician. The inhabitants of the village were William Montgomery, farmer; Philip Shaffer, shoemaker: Elias Slocum, tavern keeper; Alanson Andrews, farmer: George W. Palmer distiller; Samuel Urie, blacksmith ; Joseph Sheets, tailor; Joseph Markley, distiller; David Markley; Amos Antibus, hatter; Ebenezer D. Nightirgili, hatter; Mr. Barr, cooper; Francis Graham, storekeeper; John Croft, tanner: Alexander Miller, cabinetmaker: Joel Luther, physician. This was really the beginning of the village. The principal street was very crooked, and the cabins were ranged along either Mde of it. A grist- and saw-mill or two, all propelled bv water, soon appeared. Jacob Grubb, an excellent cabinetmaker, and other ifiechanics, soon erected dwellings. A demand for more goods introduced other business men, and 'in. re stores were opened. The original plat fil1- d rapidlv, and more room was re piirvd. Mark!., ;. ' uldi tion was laid out, and, in a few wars, Alanson \nd>vws, Francis Graham, Joseph Sheets and Christo; Vr M\ krantz added their additions. Then, in 1840, Ashland became live seat of justice, and South Ashland was laid out. More recently, the additions of Rocky, Cowan & Myers, and Willis, have been added. Some of the original streets have been straightened and considerably extended, while Main and Orange streets have been paved and guttered with bowlders. The original cabins and frame structures have gradually disappeared, and been replaced by fine brick buildings along Main and other streets. Tor many years Ashland was noted for its ex- | ce!lent academy. This was suffered to be merged into j the union school system in 1850. At present, her | schools are in a prosperous condition. The town con- 1 tains ten churches, nine l'rotestant and one Catholic. It | has three banks, an Odd Fellows' hall, and a masonic j lodge, two manufactories of agricultural implements, four j blacksmith shops, two large steam grist-mills, three car- ! riage and wagon manufactories, two steam saw-mills, two j lumber yards, two large tanneries, four harness and sad- j die Shops, four shoe stores, three hardware stores, three j clothing stores, two hotels, five dry goods stores, four provision stores, three stove and tin stores; two silverware and jewelry stores, two bakery establishments, two printing offices, one gun store, three butcher shops, two furniture stores, one furniture manufactory, sixteen physicians, two dentists, thirteen lawyers, three livery establishments and two book stoies.

The county buildings add to the business of the place j during the sessions of the court, and the payment of , taxes. The New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio railroad, with its warehouses and depot, is within the northern limits of the town, and adds to its property wealth. All in all, we conclude that in the future, as in the past, Ashland will go steadily forward in the increase of her population, in wealth, and number of valuable impiovements. It is surrounded by a fine, productive country, and can sustain a much greater population.

James E. Yocum, E. V. Kendig, O. C. McCarty, N. Waddle, Joseph Sheets, Thomas S. Harter, Lewis Armstrong. Drs. Yocum and Kendig are the only physicians at the present time.