Editing Ashland, Ohio (section)

==History==
Ashland was laid out by William Montgomery<ref>https://ohiogenealogyexpress.com/ashland/ashlandco_hist_1863/ashlandco_history_1863_pg_215_chapt_viii_ashland.htm</ref><ref>https://genealogytrails.com/ohio/ashland/history1863_pg4.html</ref> in 1815. Ashland was originally called Uniontown, but in 1822 the city was compelled to adopt a new name because another city in Ohio was already named [[Uniontown, Ohio|Uniontown]]. The new name of Ashland was selected by supporters of the Kentucky congressman [[Henry Clay]], from [[Ashland (Henry Clay estate)|Ashland]], his estate near Lexington.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xzEWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA171 | title=History of Ashland County, Ohio, Volume 1 | publisher=S. J. Clarke Publishing Company | author=Baughman, Abraham J. | year=1909 | pages=171}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Overman|first=William Daniel|title=Ohio Town Names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015015361465;view=1up;seq=22|year=1958|publisher=Atlantic Press|location=Akron, OH|page=6}}</ref> Later, "Henry Clay High School" was considered as a name for what is now known as [[Ashland High School (Ohio)|Ashland High School]].

In the mid-1800s, Ashland pioneers traveled to [[Oregon]], naming a [[Ashland, Oregon|settlement]] after the town. In 1878, with financial assistance from the city, the German Baptist [[Brethren Church]] opened [[Ashland College]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Brief History of Ashland University {{!}} Administration {{!}} Ashland University|url=https://www.ashland.edu/administration/history|access-date=2020-06-15|website=ashland.edu}}</ref> Ashland became an early center of manufacturing in Ohio. In 1870, brothers Francis E. Myers and Philip A. Myers went into business selling farm equipment and operating a repair shop. They secured the patent for a double-action pump that delivered water in a steady stream rather than spurts. By 1915, F.E. Myers & Bro. had 800 workers. Myers was the largest of the 47 factories in Ashland at that time.<ref name="Shellhouse">{{Cite web|last=Shellhouse|first=Jan|title=A History of F.E. Myers and Bro. - Equipment|url=https://www.farmcollector.com/equipment/history-f-e-myers-and-bro|access-date=2020-06-15|website=Farm Collector|date=November 2006 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ashland County Historical Society - Myers Family|url=https://ashlandhistory.org/myers_family.html|access-date=2020-06-15|website=ashlandhistory.org}}</ref> Other factories included Reliable Match Co. ("Strike Anywhere Matches"), Kauffman Mfg. Co. (manufacturer of folding chairs used in Union Army encampments), Dr. Hess & Clark (veterinary supplies and disinfectants) and T.W. Miller's Faultless Rubber Co. (rubber sundries, surgical goods and bicycle tires).<ref name="Shellhouse" />

In 1912, Harry Ross Gill, an Ashland native, invented the way to make cigar-shaped balloons (until then they were only round).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Balzer|first=Mark|title=The History of Balloons|url=https://www.balloonhq.com/faq/history.html|access-date=2020-06-15|website=balloonhq.com |language=en-us}}</ref> He started the Eagle Rubber Company in 1913 and the National Latex company in 1929.<ref name="History">{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://www.hedstromplastics.com/our-company/history/|access-date=2020-06-15|website=Hedstrom Plastics|language=en-US}}</ref> The industry that Gill developed in Ashland led to the city becoming known as "the balloon capital of the world."<ref name="History"/> Ashland still celebrates its balloon heritage with its annual BalloonFest.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Historic Ashland - Balloon Festival was precursor to BalloonFest|url=https://www.times-gazette.com/article/20080705/NEWS/307059727|access-date=2020-06-15|website=Ashland Times-Gazette|language=en}}</ref>

Ashland was designated a [[Tree City USA]] by the [[Arbor Day|National Arbor Day Foundation]] in 1984.