ASHLAND — The Ashland County Historical Society (ACHS) will welcome Professor Peter Slade as the next speaker in the 2025 series.
On May 29, Slade will present “Seth Barber: The Hero Ashland Forgot” beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Freer Children’s Home at 1260 Center Street, Ashland.
Seth Barber served as Ashland’s school superintendent from 1852-1862 and 1866-1870. A pious man with a great love of learning, he laid the groundwork for public school education in the town at a time when the fight over slavery was ripping apart the country and the community.
When Col. James Garfield came to town in 1862 raising a regiment, Barber joined up to lead his “boys” — the young men of Ashland who had been his students – to war.
After the war he returned to his position as school superintendent with only one leg – having lost one during the Siege of Vicksburg.
Perhaps one of Ashland’s most notable citizens — a civic leader, military hero, and mentor to a generation — the town has no statue, street name, or marker for this remarkable man.
Barber’s personal papers are part of the archives at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums in Fremont, OH, and offer a fascinating insight into the educational, religious, and political world of Ashland in the 1850s.
In this illustrated presentation, Dr. Peter Slade will share his findings and offer suggestions as to why Seth Barber is the hero that Ashland forgot.
The event is free and open to the public. The program will take place in the historic Freer Children’s Home meeting room at 1260 Center St., Ashland, OH 44805. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program kicks off at 6:30 p.m. EDT. For more information, contact the museum at 419-289-3111 or by emailing achs@ashlandhistory.org.
ACHS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings Ashland County’s history alive through education, preservation, and community engagement. Located at 420 Center Street, Ashland. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for self-guided tours. Guided tours are available by appointment.
Its entire campus includes the Noonan and Manor Houses, Freer Home, and the Carriage House, which serves as its research library.
For more information, visit www.ashlandhistory.org or call 419-289-3111.