* Henry Clay, Sr. (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852) was a nineteenth-century American statesman and orator He was a dominant figure in both the first and Second Party Systems. As a leading war hawk, he favored war with Britain and played a significant role in leading the nation to war in 1812.
He was a major supporter of the American System, fighting for an increase in tariffs to foster industry in the United States, the use of federal funding to build and maintain infrastructure,
and a strong national bank. Dubbed the "Great Compromiser," he brokered important compromises during the Nullification Crisis and on the slavery issue, especially in 1820 and 1850,
during which he was part of the "Great Triumvirate" or "Immortal Trio," along with his colleagues Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun.
He was viewed as the primary representative of Western interests in this group, and was given the names "Henry of the West" and "The Western Star." In 1957,
a Senate committee chaired by John F. Kennedy named Clay as one of the five greatest senators in U.S. history.
In his early involvement in Illinois politics and as a fellow Kentucky native, Abraham Lincoln was a great admirer of Clay.
With acknowledgement to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, the information above, gives a brief bio of Henry Clay, Sr.
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The most recent quarterly meeting
of the AHS was APRIL 1, 2012
Tom Bassett of Lincoln appraised many items
brought by members and friends
Also watch the Ashland Gazette
for details & meeting times & location
of recent meetings may be found there
NEWS - APRIL 30, 2012 - NEW 'web platform' **for the Ashland Historical Society website.
** "web platform", a computer geek term simply means
that the AHS has a new 'webhost'
May 14th update
the new page formats are nearly done !
most of the previous features are already there
many have been 'restored' & several new ones added
We sincerely thank you for your patience with us, during this transition !
We are & will be continually updating and preparing
this website for your information and enjoyment
Send us an e-mail ! . . . Let us know how we are doing . . please !
We have developed FOUR brand new pages !check these new pages out and follow our progress !
The link > Ashland - Sheffer Cemeteries page
contains information & the directories of both cemeteries.
The link > AHS Quarterly Meeting Recap
contains RECAPS of recent meetings of the AHS
The link > page ASHLAND GAZETTE history < < compiled by AHS 
contains the storied history of the Ashland Gazette < < link to their website
the oldest continually operating business in Ashland, dating to 1879
LINK to > ASHLAND STIR UP DAYS brand new page
this NEW page describes our Annual Celebration,
provides pictures from the past & will have NEWS
and EVENTS scheduled for our 2012 STIR UP
2012 - 64 years of CELEBRATION and still COUNTING
IN THE BEGINNING
Settlement in the Ashland area is over 150 years old
so it is fitting to pause and look backward.
Saline Ford, Flora City and Ashland, as the town has been variously called,
came into being by virtue of brave and enduring men and women with the spirit of adventure,
strong enough to bear the hardships of traveling to an unknown land to establish homes.
NEBRASKA was part of the great Louisiana Purchase of 1803.
Maps discovered in Canada were drawn by Father Marquette in 1673,
with both the Missouri and Platte Rivers accurately charted.
In the summer of 1804 the Corps of Discovery under Lewis and Clark came up the
Missouri River from St. Louis, and detached a party to investigate the Platte River.
They went as far upstream as the present day Yutan area,
and decided the Platte was not a navigable stream.
In 1819, Major Stephen H. Long was charged with exploring
the sources of the Platte River and the Arkansas River Valley.
He reported Nebraska was 'unfit for cultivation and uninhabitable'. J
Nebraska is about the geographical center of the 'continental United States' - "lower 48"
and at one time reached as far north as Canada.
It was called Indian Territory until treaties began to be made with the Indians in 1854.
Before that time, persons coming to Nebraska to stay had to get a permit
from Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis.
Meanwhile, the great Western migrations to Oregon and California had begun.
The famed Oregon Trail was used by the first great emigrant train in 1841,
beginning at the Missouri River and crossing Nebraska lands, with 900 persons and a thousand animals.
Various groups, lone families, and loners headed for the valley of the Platte at Fort Kearny,
"the only route of travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific within the temperate latitudes".
There were several starting points (Independence MO, Nebraska City and Plattsmouth NE)
which likely came together at the Saline Ford crossing on Salt River,
where the only known rock-bottomed ford lay to furnish a safe crossing for freight caravans.
Most of the Saints on the Mormon Trail kept to the north of the Platte,
but a monument along the Salt Creek in Ashland remembers a lad
who died here, far from the goal of Utah.
After Nebraska became an organized Territory in 1854, Governor Cuming proclaimed
that Cass County was to extend "to the limit of the ceded lands to the west",
100 miles from the Missouri River.
In 1862, "the people" petitioned that Calhoun County's name be changed to honor Governor Alvin Saunders.
Today's boundaries reflect the arrangement made to give Saunders Countycitizens 12 sections of land
that included the infant town of Ashland which was established as the Saunders County Seat.
A TOWN IS BORN
The first settlers who came to Ashland, and, in fact, to Saunders County,
were Joseph Stambaugh, his wife, and three small children.
They stayed one month because of the 'unseasonable weather': August of 1856.
In March of 1857, Reuben Warbritton and his wife, John Aughe
and the Stambaugh family came, and the men staked out claims and built homes.
The Staumbaugh home, 17 X 17 feet, reportedly stood on the corner of 13th and Silver Streets.
The other two homes were 10 X 12 feet; all were made of sod; and all were located in Section 35.
In June, 1857, Harrison Ramsey settled nearby and was the father of the first born settler in the county.
The second child was the Stambaugh's fourth, their son, John.
The Stambaughs had 10 children who survived the rigors of pioneering.
( photo below taken from a picture-postcard - mailed in 1909 )
(The building above was both the Selma Hotel and the Farmers and Merchants Bank)
(The building, below - with the cupola - is the National Bank - today the Lutton Law Offices)
entrance to the 'F & M Bank' was the corner entrance - Selma entrance at the 'canopy', shown above;
entrance to the Selma Hotel, was at the 'canopy' - near where the carriage is parked, pictured below
Farmers & Merchants Bank has extensively remodeled the building over the years
The bank now occupies the entire first floor, the canopy has been removed
The Selma Hotel has been closed - remodeled into several very fine apartments;
the entrance to which is toward the west front of the building, maintaining the
Selma name - simply carrying on the tradition - now called The Selma.
TRADE BEGINS
Business started in Ashland with the first frame building in 1863, housing Fuller and Moes' general store.
Dennis Dean built a mill in 1864 at the site of the brush dam on the creek made by Archibald Wiggins.
Joseph Humes and Mr. Warbritton operated a sawmill; Henry Howe opened a wagon shop;
Henry Reasoner set up the first blacksmithy in the county; and Audrey Barnhill operated the first hotel,
coming to Ashland in 1864, being driven by Indians from his property near the present site of Wahoo.
This hotel is presumed the first west of Plattsmouth,
and was constructed from a two room house built partly with logs.
The house was purchased from Warbritton and was enlarged with a porch
The hotel stood at the foot of Third Street,
now determined to be 13th Street south of Silver.
Main Street lay on the lowland at the fording and is now known as Birch Street.
It extended on both sides of the creek, and Haine and Valentine
put up the first stone building and opened a general store.
ASHLAND, CENTER OF GOVERNMENT
Ashland became the first County Seat of Saunders County in 1866 and bore that status for seven years.
A court house was built in Ashland in 1870, with the deed of conveyance dated June 7, 1871.
Picture above is of the Courthouse and Grounds (between Silver and Adams Street
and North 19th and North 20th Streets, in today's description.)
Agitation began in 1873 to move the county seat to Wahoo
but the proposition was fought every step ot the way.
Tales still circulate concerning the removal and relocation
of the county seat to Wahoo in December of 1873, which occured after a four- way
referendum on where the county seat should be, showed Ashland in second place !
The county records were taken to Wahoo in December of that year,
allegedly by stealth in the middle of the night, and the changeover was achieved.
In November, 1878, the courthouse
and grounds were sold to Dr. von Mansfelde.
As late as 1903, every precinct in Saunders County voted for bonds
for a new courthouse (in Wahoo), except East and West Ashland.
The vote: West Ashland 71-38 against; East Ashland 59-20 against.
Nearly a century later, a Saunders County hospital issue passed
in spite of Ashland's opposition to the Wahoo facility.
But bonds for a new judicial center and jail received strong support from Ashland.
That facility was built and opened in 2009.
Although Ashland was reported in 1869 as
"a small village with a few cottonwood shanties",
with the migration to Silver Street came more "stately mansions."
In 1870 Hiram Paddock is said to have erected the first store there,
a frame building made from lumber hauled by teams from Omaha.
The building boom continued with the Snell "block"
* * "now" refers to a caption from The First 100 Years Centennial Book in 1957
which was built in 1870 on the SW corner of 14th and Silver;
the bank "block" on the corner of 15th and Silver
(built by the Simingtons who introduced banking to Ashland in 1871);
the aforesaid courthouse; and a three story building with a photograph gallery
on the third floor, living quarters on the second floor, and a meat market on the ground floor.
James Thomas had a shop where he made wagons;
Theodore B. Wilson was the first lawyer in town
and in the county; Jacob A. Jury was a bookeeper and salesman;
David Dean started his lumber yard at the site of
Mead lumber Co. at 201 North 14th Street.
Thomas Bissell ran a road house.
Silas M. Nichols had "one of the principal . . furniture houses of the county," and was undertaker as well.
This business was taken over by O. D. Harford in 1886 and run by Harford's son-in-law, Kenneth Marcy,
assisted by his son-in-law, B. C. Perryman, later the full proprietor.
Don and Lois Fick now own and direct the Marcy Morturary of Ashland
and the Svoboda Funeral Home of Wahoo.
Masonic Lodge chambers occupied the second floor of the building in Ashland.
* * 2012 - the Pomegranate Lodge (Ashland) closed their lodge
They have merged with the Masonic Lodge in Ceresco
MANY NEW ITEMS Stories - Pictures - Links
are now posted on HISTORY - ASHLAND NE < LINK
We invite you to DISCOVER Historic Ashland NE !
click above ^ ^ for a link to their website
The Ashland Chamber of Commerce
provides a wonderful website of current events,
a calendar of events & activities, links to merchants,
as well as many groups & churches in the Ashland area
We invite you to share your stories, your family history, your photos,
your proud heritage, that is embodied in your ASHLAND NE experiences !
Whether you are an Ashland pioneer family or a "newby" your stories
are important to the fabric that makes up this beautiful community.
After all . . . we like to describe Ashland NE asthe GROWING, NURTURING and LOVING COMMUNITY
that has (2) nearby "suburbs"
Omaha is about 25 - 30 miles east of us . . J
Lincoln is about 25 - 30 mile west of us
Come stay awhile . . there are NO parking meters . . NO 'rush hour traffic'
We are a community of FAITH with several growing & vibrant congregations;
AGPS public schools are second to none - one that others emulate !
Our Ashland NE Churches page provides information
about the many places of worship in the Ashland NE area,
as well as links to several of the area church websites
You may also want to visit the website of
the Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools
COME GROW WITH US ! !
TOWERS OF HISTORY
One of the greatest proposals to bring attention ot Ashland's historic past
and present is still on the drawing board. Contributions by many have
continued to keep this important project alive.
As other towns in Nebraska search for historic moments in their past to celebrate and spur on interest
in their cause, Ashland sits on some of the most documented important history in the whole state.
The TOWERS OF HISTORY Memorial
will be erected where many pioneers crossed on the 1846 Oxbow Trail,
where the Otoe and Missourian Indians lived in this area,
where the Lewis and Clark Expedition journeyed up the Platte River in the pirogue boat,
and where Nebraska’s First Astronaut; in 2007 & again in 2010,
Clayton C. "Clay" Anderson was raised and graduated high school in 1977.
Artist Gene Roncka, of Willow Point Gallery in Ashland,
continues to redesign portions of the Memorial
to cut costs as the country suffers from the economic downturn.
The approval of the cityof Ashland, the NRD, the Department of Roads,
the Governor, the Nebraska Travel and Tourism Department
and grants from the Comunity Cultural Development Partnership
and the Ashland Rotary Club; in addition to the very successful
TOWERS OF HISTORY
ornament sales and OPPD's offer to contribute plus the many
who have helped to support fundraisers dedicated to financing the
TOWERS OF HISTORY Memorial
proves the continuing interest in Ashland's history.
A conceptual replica of the
TOWERS OF HISTORY
may be seen at Willow Point Gallery * 1431 Silver Street
* Downtown Historic Ashland NE The Willow Point Gallery also displays the collections
of Mr. Ronckas's paintings, commemorative ornaments
and the Archie Hightshoe wildlife collection.
Visit the Gene Roncka Gallery / Museum and
experience what so many others have enjoyed.
Recognized by Nebraska Travel and Tourism
and featured in several national magazines.
A link to gallery & for Gene's bio & more info
click on the TOWERS OF HISTORY
photo of the gallery or the ornament, to learn more
HISTORIC TOURS of ASHLAND
Historic walking/driving tour maps of Ashland are available
at Willow Point Gallery and St. Stephen’s Church.
The maps show 24 historic sites which are identified
by signs in place from spring to fall.
BE SURE TO VISIT other merchants, galleries & historic sites, while you are here!
The Gift Niche Cooper Studio & Gallery
1414 Silver Street 1526 Silver Street
Photography by MJ - Silver Street Square
14th & Silver St. - AshlandNE
ALSO - be sure to visit
The Gift Niche, Cooper Gallery We have provided
Photography by MJ - Silver Street Square - 14th & Silver
We are very grateful to Photography by MJ for the use
of several copyrighted photos; (noted where placed)
Reprints are available from Photography by MJ Studio
Ashland NE is the Hometown of
Clayton C "Clay" Anderson
NEBRASKA's
First Astronaut
click above ^ ^ for " Clay's Page "
with pictures, stories, logs and more about his
2 Space Shuttle & ISS Missions - 'Clay's Adventures in Space'
LINK ^ ^ to US ROUTE 6 ^ ^ Tourist Association
LINK^ ^ to US Route 6 Tourist Association^ ^ - NEBRASKA page
See our NEW webpage of Historic U. S. 6 in ASHLAND
Many NEW photos, maps from 'long ago' & local history
Malerie Yolen-Cohen, author of the "Stay On Route 6" blog
visited Historic Ashland on Saturday the 11th of June,
while on her cross-country trip along US 6, which began May 20th,
at the east coast origin of US 6 in Provincetown MA
(Follow Malerie's blog by 'clicking' the blue link above)
She met with the 'AHS welcoming party' at Cheri O's for lunch
and was interviewed by Suzi Nelson of the Ashland Gazette
DATELINE MAY 2012
STAY ON ROUTE 6 - the BOOK has just been released !
" Fan of the Open Road ? "
"Toss the Print Version of Stay On Route 6 on Your Dash and DRIVE: "
Malerie & the U S Route 6 Tourist Association are making
Route 6 is the longest continous highway in the nation;running from Provincetown,on Cape Cod,MA to
Long Beach / Lancaster CA; a distance of 3,652 miles
Learn more about Historic Route 6 across the nation:
click ^ on either logo ^ above ASHLAND is one of the NE communities along Historic Route 6
click here> >for printable MAPS of Ashland, Ashland Area & Historic Route U. S. 6
Ashland Stir Up Days
2012 marks the 64th annual celebration of Stir Up Days in Ashland
2012 Ashland Stir-Up Days
will be JULY 27, 28, 29, 2012
new updates & events schedule are now posted in 2012
2012 theme: "DOWN ON THE FARM"
GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Much of what you read here was compiled and published by the
Ashland Chamber of Commerce and the Saline Ford Historical Preservation Society, in a published
book entitled The First 150 Years * Ashland NE * 1857 - 2007, as well as photos from the families, friends,
patrons, anonymous donors,"antique buffs", and the Saunders County Museum - from literally everywhere !
We were able to glean information from The First 100 Years * 1857 - 1957, as well.
While that publication is out of print, the AHS maintains a digital copy
The AHS will be offering a CD of the The First 100 Years * 1857 - 1957 for sale very soon
As was written in the the INTRODUCTION of The First 150 Years * Ashland NE * 1857 - 2007;
"When Ashland celebrated its Centennial, men grew whiskers and women wore sun bonnets.
They produced a history of the first 100 years that we treasure today."
"The photos from that book and from the LOOKING OVER OUR SHOULDERS series
and ASHLAND'S MAIN STREET REMEMBERED documented Ashland as it was."
"We are attempting to document Ashland as it is today."
That INTRODUCTION went on to say;
"We have produced a book for the first 150 years -
a history of the people, by the people and for the people."
"Those who wrote these stories remain undentified
but you will hear your own voices in what they have written."
"We are given the opportunity to reflect upon the activities and accomplishments of our
unique city through the history of the businesses, organizations, and activities of its people."
" THIS IS ASHLAND ! THIS is who we are ! . . . "
The Ashland Historical Society and the Saline Ford Historical Preservation Society
are pleased, proud and humbled to be able take the "story" of our city to the next level;
by sharing and making it available to the entire WORLD, through the 'World Wide Web'.
We offer this thought, definition and analysis of the word history:
The term ‘history’ is derived from the Greek word ‘historia’ which means
‘information’ or ‘an inquiry designed to elicit truth’.
It is just “man — his story” — the story of efforts to satisfy his craving for an orderly social life.
“History is a connected account of the course of events of progress of ideas.”, Rapsonacknowledgement to www.articlesbase.com
NEWS BULLETIN ! !
The AHS – SFHPS is humbled and proud to have provided you the
Inaugural Edition of the Electronic Edition of our Newsletter.
The "e-mailed" edition was sent to Members and Friends
on Tuesday, March 02, 2010 SPRING 2012 edition
COMING SOON ! !
Watch your e-mail &/or your mailbox for
the SPRING 2012 of the AHS-SFHPS newsletter
If you would like to receive the e-mailed Electronic Edition of the Newsletter,
please complete your request on
our > Contact Us Page <click here
or send an e-mail to
AshlandHistoricalSociety@gmail.com or AshlandHistoricalSociety@live.com
Membership Information:
Ashland Historical Society
Saline Ford Historical Preservation Society
(Renewal / Annual Dues - October 1st each year):
Patron $75 Family $35 Single $20 Other $_____
We have provided a membership category
entitled "Other" for those who may wish to make a
contribution 'above & beyond' those listed above.
Dues payable at our meeting(s) OR:
Mail to: Marilyn (Kolb) Wright
26259 West Park Highway
Ashland NE 68003
Thank You for your generous & continuing support
- be that support be . . financial, contribution of articles, pictures and history -
as we now share the "living history" of Ashland NE to Members and the world !
Tax deductible SUPPORT of the AHS-SFHPS may now be made ! Make checks to Ashland Area Foundation
- please memo your donation check for AHS
address: Ashland Area Foundation