SETTLEMENT AND EARLY INCIDENTS

     Very soon after the termination of the memorable revolutionary war the first settlements in what is now Warren township began.  Although the lands yet being fresh, as it were, with the tracks of its native inhabitants - the Indians - the whites ventured across the Ohio from the east and attempted a settlement here.  The attractiveness of the situation, the richness of the soil, and the prospectiveness of a healthy climate, apparently satisfied the pioneer’s “fairy dreams” of his western home.  The Indian was so hostile to the new comer that every conceivable strategy the barbarous mind could conjecture was by him brought into requisition that he might make sure of his palefaced intruder’s scalp.  Nothing but the most determined purpose of man would have endured the hardships, privations and dangers that the earliest pioneers experienced.  It is true that the first settlers were several times driven back across the river by the Indian, but returned again and again, and many made here their permanent home; cleared, improved and cultivated their lands, and to their posterity bequeathed pleasant homes and plenty of land after old age and infirmity incapacitated them for toil.  To guard against the treacherous and inhuman depredations of the redskins, the early settlers were obliged to secure themselves in some manner, and so they erected

HOTELS.

     A number of these were built not far from the river’s edge, into which the settlers would gather during the night when Indians were known to be prowling about the neighborhood.  As to the exact spot these houses stood is not positively known.  Tradition, upon which the author, at this late day, can only rely, fixes one of these block houses on the present ground upon which the stone house of Mr. Joseph Stringer is situated.  Mrs. Bayless, the widow, and third wife of John B. Bayless, says that one of these forts was located here, and there are several other old persons, with whom we have had interviews, who corroborate her statement.  This was built a short

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known as Carpenter’s fort.  It is believed that there were a couple more block houses in this township, hut as to their exact location the author cannot definitely conclude.  The oldest and the most important was that of

CARPENTER'S FORT.

“Which was originally nothing more than an ordinary settler’s cabin, stood some distance above the mouth of Short creek, and less than one hundred yards from the Cleveland and Pittsburgh railroad, above Portland station.
     “It was built in the summer of 1781, by John Carpenter, who resided at the time on Buffalo creek, some miles east of the Ohio river.  In his hunting expeditions he was in the habit of crossing to the west side for the purpose of hunting game along the Short creek valleys, when he determined to be the first to get possession of these lands, which everybody believed would, in due time, belong to the United States.  He determined to take the risks, which he did by building a cabin and clearing off a piece of ground ready for planting in corn the next season.
     “But not thinking it safe at that time to remove his family across the river, he took a couple of horses and started back to Fort Pitt, for the purpose of getting a supply of salt, which they were obliged to carry across the country on pack horses.  On the way he was captured by a band of Wyandotts, taken to the Moravian towns, where his dress was changed for an Indian outfit, when he was carried back to Sandusky, where he was kept a prisoner until the following spring, when he escaped and made his way to Fort Pitt, from whence he returned to his family, which he removed across the Ohio to the improvement he had made the previous summer.
     “One day, while at work in his own patch, he was fired on by an Indian from the adjoining woods and severely wounded, when the Indian attempted to scalp him but was driven off by his wife, a stout, resolute woman, who went to his assistance and made such a vigorous resistance that her husband escaped into their cabin, when the Indian fled.
     “After Colonel Williamson’s unfortunate expedition which resulted in the massacre of the Moravian Indians and the destruction of their towns on the Tuscarawas, a court of inquiry was called at Fort Pitt to investigate his conduct. John Carpenter was summoned as a witness on behalf of the accused and identified his own clothing among that found by Williamson in the possession of the Moravians, proving a valuable witness for that officer. “Other families soon followed Carpenter across the Ohio into the Short creek neighborhood, and as the Indians became trouble-some his cabin was strengthened and converted into a kind of fort, into which the settlers and their families fled for safety in cases of alarm.”
     J. C. McCleary, Esq., says: “George Carpenter, a noted Indian spy, established a blockhouse below the mouth of Bush run, in about 1785.  The next year Enos Kimberly, Robert McCleary, Benedick Wells, John McElroy, John Humphrey and some others, made a settlement at the mouth of Short creek, where the town of Warrenton is now situated.  About the year 1784 or 1785 John Tilton, Charles Kimball and two or three others, crossed the Ohio river with their families, and settled on the present site of the village of Tiltonville.  In a blockhouse at this point, Caleb Tilton was born, and is believed by some to be the first white child born west of the Ohio river.  These persons are long since deceased, but quite a number of their descendants are still living and residing upon the lands purchased by their ancestors."
     Robert McCleary was born in York county, Pa,, in 1760, and at the age of thirty years migrated to what is now Jefferson county.
     Joseph Tilton was born in 1766, and died on the land upon which he settled, in Warren township, in 1860.
     Solomon Scamehorn, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and emigrated from said state to Jefferson county, and settled in Warren township, in 1797.
     The Lisby’s emigrated to Warren township from Maryland and located in now Portland, in 1801.
     Willian Lewis, settled in Warren township in 1801-2.  He was born in Fayette county. Pennsylvania, in 1796.
     James McCormick came from Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, (where he was born,) and located m Warren township.
     The Maxwells emigrated to Warren township, in 1810.  They wore natives of Ireland, and came to America in 1782, first settling near Winchester.
     The lands in this township were first located by the early settlers, along the Ohio river, between what is now known as Yorkville and Rush Run, and then they gradually penetrated the forests westward.  The author would like very much to have given a larger list of the pioneers, but is unable to get their names traditionally and is necessarily obliged to omit many, no doubt, of other prominent setttlers besides those given.

ELECTION OF WARREN TOWNSHIP.

     The following is from J. C. McClary, Esq., an old citizen of the township:
     "This township was organized soon after the organization of the territorial government.  John Humphrey, John McElroy and Benedick Wells were the first trustees elected, and Robert McCleary, the first justice of the peace, in said township, he having received the appointment by Governor St. Clair, under the territorial government.  The state of Ohio having formed a constitution, and having been admitted into the Union as a state, the first election for township officers under the state government, was held at the mouth of Short creek, on the first Monday, in April, 1803.  At said election, Robert McCleary and George Humphrey were elected justices of the peace; Joseph McKee, James Reilly and John Patterson were elected trustees and the township organized under the new Constitution."
     The township officers for 1879 are as follows:
     Justices of the Peace - A. M. Keith and and William Medill.
     Trustees - John Medill, John A. Chambers and W. A. Baker.
     Clerk - T. O. Betton.
     Treasurer - J. M. Kelly.
     Constables - W. S. Hatheway and M. M. Neely.
     Warren lies in the south east corner of Jefferson county and is bounded as follows:
     On the north by Wells township, on the east by the Ohio river, south by Belmont county, on the west by Mt. Pleasant and Smithfield townships.
     The principal streams besides the river which bounds Warren's eastern limits, are Short Creek and Rush Run.  There are a number of runs and rivulets which course through the township forming tributaries to the above alluded streams.
     Warren township contains five churches, namely: Presbyterian and M. E. Church, located in Warrenton; Presbyterian church at Portland; the M. E. Church at Tiltonville and the Hopedale M. E. Church.  We would have been pleased to give an account of these churches, but was disappointed in receiving the history promised by the different parties connected with the several congregations.
     From 1785 to 1808 emigration continued to flow into this township until the public lands were all taken up and the township until the public lands were all taken up and the township well settled with an enterprising and industrious population.
     Warren township is probably the best agricultural and mineral township in Jefferson county, Ohio.  About one-half of the lands are river and creek bottoms, which, for fertility of soil, cannot be surpassed in the state, while the other lands are beautifully rolling, producing fine crops of wheat, corn, barley, oats, potatoes, &c.  The uplands have a six foot vein of superior coal, easy of access, and the whole of the township is underlaid with a seven-foot vein, which, for manufacturing purposes excels any other coal in Jefferson county, by some manufacturers said to be equal to coke.  This under strata is now being successfully mined by shaft at the mouth of Rush run at a distance of two hundred feet below the surface.  The New York Coal Company largely operates the Yorkville mines in this township, near the Jefferson and Belmont county lines.  Employment is given by these two mines to quite a number of miners.  From 10,000 to 20,000 bushels of coal are mined here per day.
     Coke is also manufactured in this township to some considerable extent.

WOOL GROWING.

     Wool growing has become an extensive business here.  The fine breed sheep of Jacob Creamer, John Medill, J. C. McCleary and E. M. Norton cannot be surpassed in the state.

MILLS.

     The township is dotted all over with flouring mills, permanent and portable saw mills, manufacturing establishments, &c., and is destined to become one of the leading townships of the county.

THE MASSACRE OF FOUR INDIANS,

     Sometime near the close of the eighteenth century four Indians journeyed into the small village of Warrenton, where

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whisky was sold, and bought and drank until they became very much intoxicated.  Whilst in this condition they left the place and started for their wigwam.  They were followed by a party of whites who intended massacreing them, and did.  On what is known as the point, above Portland, the Indians laid down to rest, and, we suppose, fell into a drunken stupor.  In this condition they were attacked by the party that followed them and all killed on the spot.  A short time after this massacre they were buried where they lay by a number of the pioneers.  The point is now owned by Mr. J. D. Stringer, who says he plowed up some of the bones a number of years ago on the very spot where it is said they were buried.  Whether these Indians had ever committed any depredations on the settlers, or whether they were quiet, peaceful and harmless is not exactly known, but the supposition is that they were not regarded as safe persons to run around loose among the settlers, and for that reason were dealt with in that manner.

JOHNSTON BOYS.

     In this township is where the Johnston boys were carried off by the Indians, a full and complete account of which is given elsewhere in this volume.

MOUNDS.

     Warren township, like some other ones in this and Belmont counties, bears traces of once being the home of the mound builders.  Several mounds are found here, small, of course, but very beautiful.

KILLED BY INDIANS.

     Noah Tilton says that sometime between 1789 and 1794 an uncle of his was captured and killed by the Indians.  He was known as Jack Tilton, and at the time of his death was a lad of twelve or fourteen years old; and, being sent after the cows, was run down by a party of Indians, then shot and scalped by them.  His dead body was found near the banks of Short creek, about half  a mile west of Portland, and not far from where the house of Shannon Bigger now stands.

SHOOLS.

WARRENTON.

PORTLAND.

TILTONVILLE.

YORKVILLE.

RUSH RUN.

     Is a station on the C. & P. R. R. and contains a few houses.

_______________

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

     ROBERT MCCLEARY,

     JOSEPH C. MCCLEARY,

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     SAMUEL LINDSAY. -

     JOHN MEDILL

     SMITHSON HAYTHORNWAIT

     WILLIAM AND AARON SCAMEHORN - These two brothers are the sons of Solomon and Sarah Scamehorn, and grandsons of Luke Scamehorn.  Their father was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Jefferson county in 1797, five years before Ohio became a state, and settled on Block House run.  Their grandfather, Luke Scamehorn, was killed by the Indians at the time the attack was made on the Wellsburg fort.  He, with five others, were on their way to reinforce the fort, when they were attacked by Indians, and but two of the six escaped.  Their father assisted in cutting the road through from Wellsburg to Cadiz, Harrison county, Ohio.

     WILLIAM SCAMEHORN now occupies the old homestead farm of his father.  He was married to Ann Eliza Martin in 1849.  They had born to them three children, but one, George, of whom are now living.  His wife died in 1852; one son was killed by lightning in 1870; the other died when one year old, a year after his wife's death.

     AARON SCAMEHORN was born in Warren township, May 12, 1820.  He was married to Emeline Marshall, Feb. 23, 1854.  They have reared a family of four children - three son and one daughter.  Mr. Scamehorn is fifty-nine years old, has always resided in Warren township; possesses a farm of one hundred and ten acres of choice land, and is a sound old Democrat.

     SAMUEL MYLER. -

     S. LISBY. -

     DR. R. VON MURALT. -

     S. J. THERY. -

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     CHRIST. VERWOHLT. -

     MISS HELEN HODGENS. -

     NOAH TILTON

     J. D. STRINGER - This gentleman was born in Chester county, Pa., Dec. 1, 1800.  His father was also born in the same county, in April, 1752, and emigrated to Belmont county in 1805, with his family, which consisted of father, mother and thirteen children, of which our subject was the youngest.  He settled on what is known as Scotch Ridge, Pease township, where he followed farming for a living until his death, which occurred in 1834, at the age of eighty-four years.  Of this large family, but two are now living, J. D. Stringer, our subject, and Mrs. Rebecca Pickens, who resides with her grandson in the village of Malaga, Monroe county, Ohio.  Mr. Stringer’s grandfather, as near as can be learned, was a native of Cheshire, England, and was born about the year 1692.  Nothing of a positive nature can be learned in regard to his great grandfather, except the name, which was William Stringer.  J.D. Stringer, our subject, removed from Belmont to Jefferson county in 1837, three years after his father’s death, and settled on the farm on which he now resides, near Portland station, Warren township.  He was married to Miss Miriam Tilton, daughter of Joseph Tilton, of Tiltonville. They reared a family of two children, both sons.  His wife died in 1834, three years after marriage.  Of these two sons but one now remains, named William, alter his grandfather.  The other son, Joseph, died in the fall of 1877, in bis 44th year.  Mr. Stringer now resides with his son on the farm.  This son, William, was married to Abzira Hutton, Oct. 24, 1862.  They now have a family of eight children.  Old Mr. Stringer is in his 80th year, mind still good.

COL. EDWARD M. NORTON.
(By Hon. Ralph Leet, Ironton, Ohio.)

PHOTO

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     A. J. CARPENTER

     JOHN A. CHAMBERS. -

     JAMES T. HODGENS. -

     S. B. McMANNIS, ESQ.,

     JAMES McCORMICK

     JOHN WEATHERSTON. -

     C. D. KAMINSKY,

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END OF WARREN TOWNSHIP -