Ada, Ohio - brief historical highlights

 Brief history Ada, OH, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada,_Ohio

"Ada is a village in Hardin County, Ohio, United States, located about 69 miles (111 km) southwest of Toledo. The population was 5,334 at the 2020 census. It is the home of Ohio Northern University and Ada High School. 

History 

Following the 1817 Treaty of Fort Meigs, the Shawnee Indians held reservation land at Hog Creek near Ada. Ada itself was originally called Johnstown, platted in 1853 by S. M. Johnson when the railroad was extended to that point. When a post office was established it was called Ada Post Office, named after the postmaster's daughter, Ada. The post office has been in operation since 1854.The growth of the village is due in large part to the founding of the Ohio Normal School, now known as Ohio Northern University. The University was founded in 1871 by Henry Solomon Lehr, just eighteen years after Ada was first settled. Today, Ada is the second largest incorporated community in Hardin County. In 1910, President William Howard Taft visited Ada, to give the fall commencement speech at Ohio Northern University. To date, Taft is the only president to visit the village. Ada welcomed Martin Luther King Jr. to the village in January of 1968, just three months before his assassination. Ada has been noted for having one of the shortest place names in Ohio. The National Arbor Day Foundation has qualified Ada as a Tree City USA since 1981."

Brief history of Kenton, Ohio

Brief history of the local county seat - Kenton, OH, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenton,_Ohio

"Kenton is a city in and the county seat of Hardin County, Ohio, United States, located in the west-central part of Ohio about 57 mi (92 km) northwest of Columbus and 70 mi (113 km) south of Toledo. Its population was 7,947 at the 2020 census. The city was named for frontiersman Simon Kenton of Kentucky and Ohio. 

History

Kenton was originally the site of Fort McArthur, erected in 1812 by Colonel Duncan McArthur as one of the forts along the line of General William Hull's march against the British headquarters at Fort Detroit during the War of 1812. 

In 1845, Kenton was incorporated as a village; it became a city in 1886. The city was named after frontiersman Simon Kenton. The city began as a center for agricultural trade, then in the late 19th century, developed industry common to America of the time.

From 1890 to 1952, Kenton was home to the Kenton Hardware Company, manufacturers of locks, cast-iron toys, and the very popular Gene Autry toy cap guns. International Car Company, a manufacturer of rail cabooses, operated in Kenton for many years. In 1975, it was purchased by Paccar, a manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. In 1983, Paccar closed down the business, noting a decrease in demand for rail equipment. The 2001 CSX 8888 incident involving an unmanned freight train ended in Kenton."