Anna Elizabeth Ashburn (1876 - 1908)

Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Anna's lifetime.

In 1876, in the year that Anna Elizabeth Ashburn was born, on June 4th, the Transcontinental Express - an express train - arrived in San Francisco, using the 7 year old transcontinental railroad line. It took 83 hours and 39 minutes from New York City - about 3.5 days - to cross the country.

In 1882, Anna was merely 6 years old when on August 3rd, President Chester Arthur signed the 1882 Immigration Act. "Criminals, the insane, or any person unable to take care of him or herself" were not allowed in the U.S. according to the Act. It also imposed a "head tax" on non-citizens entering the U.S.

In 1888, by the time she was merely 12 years old, Irishman John Robert Gregg published a pamphlet in the U.S., teaching his first version of shorthand - Gregg shorthand. When he improved on the first version and published it 5 years later, Gregg shorthand became popular.

In 1891, at the age of only 15 years old, Anna was alive when from March 9th through the 12th, a blizzard hit the south and west of England. Called the Great Blizzard of 1891, it led to snow drifts of up to 15 feet and killed 200 people and 6,000 animals. Fourteen ships sank.

In 1908, in the year of Anna Elizabeth Ashburn's passing, Henry Ford developed the first Model T automobile, often called the Tin Lizzy or flivver. Produced from 1908 through 1927, it first sold for $850 - which made it affordable for every middle class family. Previously, cars were the province of the upper class and the introduction of the Model T and its availability changed U.S. culture. Within days of its release, over 15,000 cars had been ordered.