Source: Ashland Gazette, July 26, 1895

The Beginning of Ashland

From the Summer Breeze.

In 1862 Fuller and Moe built a little store near the crossing of Salt Creek, which was just below the present dam. That was the beginning of the town of Saline Ford and before long there was a string of houses on each side of the road and caused it to look like a hamlet. The road run in a northwesterly direction from the crossing to the Barnhill House, the old hotel that was torn down only a few years ago. Great times that little street and that old hotel had for a few years, with the life and bustle of the overland freighters and the incoming settlers. It was the town from 1862 till 1868. Then it yielded to its more aristocratic rival, Main street.

Main street is the street running across the bridge to the depot. Most people fail to understand why it is called Main street. The time was from 1868 to 1870 when it was the booming street of the town. Snell Bros. built the brick store--the one solitary brick that remains--on the bottom. Vollentine built the old stone building so recently torn down. Other buildings followed rapidly and there was excitement and high prices for lots. The owner of the lot on the corner east of where the old stone building was, refused at that time $1,000 for the lot. The railroad which was under way, boomed the town and this street. Several bricks were erected and one long block of two story frame stores was built. These stores finally one by one took their way up the hill to Silver street—Scott's Grocery, part of Shedd's frame clothing store, part of what is now the Commercial Hotel, the room where the Chicago store and other buildings. It was not till 1878 that Main street threw up the sponge and quit.

The settlement of Salt Creek Crossing, now Ashland, started as the result of the large overland trail to the mountains after gold was discovered. Salt Creek was something of a barrier on the road and on account of the rock bottom, the regular route lay by this place and gave it its first name. The road always followed the divide, winding around and never crossing a stream when possible to avoid it. The Plattsmouth and Nebraska City roads came together a few miles southeast of Salt Creek Crossing, continued up the divide between the Wahoo and Rock Creeks to the Platte River and west to Fort Kearney. All the different roads from the Missouri river centered at Fort Kearney and followed the south bank of the Platte to Denver.

Ranches were established at different points along the line of the road. They were a rude kind of border hotel, at which meals and lodging could be obtained or food, grain, medicines etc. purchased by campers. Stock could be placed in their corrals at night. They furnished a kind of centre of defense against Indians in time of danger. Sometimes hundreds of teams would be camped around them at night. Mullen's ranch was 12 miles southeast of Ashland and Mr. Barnhill kept a ranch not far from where Weston now is. Some noted men kept ranches in those days. Ex-Gov. Boyd was one of them.

Fort Kearney was originally located where Nebraska City now is but in a short time was relocated south of the Platte a few miles from the present town of Kearney. It was of great importance in controlling the Indians and outlaws on the plains. It was the liveliest spot to be found between the Missouri and the mountains. With the immense travel back and forth of great wagon trains, with the U. S. troops, with the settlers and hangers-on, the Indians, the ranchmen, the gamblers and adventurers of all kinds, it was the greatest point on the plains.

Ashland caught some of the life and that was passing along and was born the child of the overland route. Mr. Dean's mill was built in '63 and was a great attraction. The flood of travel reached its height in '65. In '67 the U. P. road was well out on the plains, the overland route was dead and the ranches abandoned.