Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-07-06
From the Geneva Times.
AN ASaTABULA INSTITUTION.

Ed. TFnaes-Sixty years ago, a man
of this place by the name OF Rugg,
while hunting IN the woods for a
stray COW, discovered a very susPi-
cious looking log house, situated in
the eastern part of Ashtabula town
ship, about three-quarters of a mile
from the lake. 1t was built close in
the bank of a sharp ravlue, densely
surrounded by timber of all growth,
no clearing except here and there a
tree cut to furnish building material
As the concern was low and forbid
ding IN appearance, and seemed to
be inhabited, Rugg concluded it to
be den for pirates, and the idea of
beng caught in such easy range, to
lose his cash and possibly his life,
was not pleasing sensation; he,
therefore, took to his heels for very
life. The news soon spread through
the different settlements, but no one
felt disposed to be foremost in max
ing explorations. This gave the in
mates plenty of time to vacate the
premises and hide their machinery,
for the establishment proved to be
veritable mint, with all the requisite
machinery for making and stamping
money.
1t appeared on investigation, that
a company had been formed consist
ing of a dozen or more men of Ash
tabula and half as many more from
Kingsville, with a very ingenius me-
chanic at their head, who supplied
the machinery, had commenced OPP
erations on the South Ridge in West
Kingsville; but that place was too
much exposed to suit their notions
of safety, hence they established
themselves in the deep, dark woods
of Ashtabula, where they supposed
no one would ever discover them
at least, till they had efeetually re-
moved hard times, By the plentiful
introduction of money. The article
began to circulate, giving promise of
better times to the inhabitants, who
at first were a good deal mystified as
to where it came from. Whether
Providence had interposed and sent
down some rich man into the coun-
try, or some passing mover had spill
ed it out along the road, was the
question. At all events, it seemed
as though there was going to be
general letting up in the tightness
of the times. ---
One of the firm, feeling himself
much richer than formerly, purchas-
ed a pair of horses and started East
on a visit, expecting to pay his ex-
penses along the road with this mon
ey. Somewhere in the State of New
Y York an officer rode up behind him
and demanded his company in an
other direction. This disturbed his
wonderfully, and to be
let off, gave up his horses, money
and all. and came back on foot, a
much wiser, if not a better feeling
man. - ....... .,4-0 .s-....
The dies were found by an officer,
in house in Ashtabula,
5wo or three of the parties taken,
,ried and bound over by magIs-
rate, whose commission had expired
1 few days previous, and when this
;act became known they were dis
charged, and before anything more
vas done the parties made haste to
settle up and enter into
solemn promise to do better in the
and the matter was finally
The pledges were faith
'ully kept by all the parties during
,he balance of their lives. HA 4
Many of their descendants are
still living in this section, and are
the first in intelligence, en-
,erprise and respeetabillty.
Thus terminated one of Ashtabu-
as first institutions. F. B. P.
North Kingsville, June %, III. /