John Hubbard, who platted the townsite of Ashtabula in Section 4, Ashtabula Township on April 24, 1882, named the site "Ashtabula" from Ashtabula, Ohio.

Rumors of a railroad which would cross the Sheyenne River at or near the mouth of the Bald Hill Creek caused Hubbard to plat the townsite. A post office was established in October, 1882 in the only building on the site, a general merchandise store owned by John B. Rich.

Rich, realizing that the rumors of a railroad were not true, sold the store and the plat was vacated. The post office was then moved to the home of A. T. Anderson in Section 34, Sibley Township, about a mile north of the original site. Here it remained until 1893, when it was moved to Section 2, Ashtabula Township. The postmaster during this time was James Scott and locally the post office was sometimes known as Scott's. The office was discontinued on May 13, 1913.

When the townsite was platted, advertisements were run in the eastern papers urging investors to purchase lots in Ashtabula, giving the impression that it was a viable village, with all sorts of businesses already there and a school being erected. Few, if any, bought lots.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 282