Early on during the settlement of Clarion County in the late 1700’s, a blacksmith named Thomas Harrington made his way through the thick forest, traveling northward, until he found an ideal place to build a cabin. As time passed, the spot carefully chosen by Harrington became one of the fastest growing small towns in the area, and was named Salem, after the township it was located in.

Today, it is still widely known as Salem, but the post office was listed as Lamartine when it was established in 1850. The name Lamartine, is believed to have come from Alphonse Marie Louis Lamartine, the minister of foreign affairs for France from 1848 to1850. He came to visit the area during its early years of settlement.

The town steadily grew into the early 1900’s. At the turn of the century there was one hotel, one drug store, one doctor’s office, one millinery shop, two blacksmith shops, one meat shop, three carpenter shops, three dry goods and notions stores, three large churches, a schoolhouse, and a post office. The oil industry attracted many people to Lamartine during this time, but agriculture also played a very important role in bringing people into the area.

The small Indian trail known as the Nemacolin Path as widely used before the area was settled and after. It was kept open by fur traders traveling through the frontier region. George Washington traveled on this path when he was sent to Fort Le Boeuf in 1753 to deliver the message to the French that basically started the French and Indian War. He actually named the path after an old Indian guide that he employed to help him on his long journey. According to his journal and maps, he crossed straight through Salem Township, and through Lamartine. General Braddock also used this path on his way to capture Fort Duquesne at the forks of the Ohio in 1775. On his way through, he widened the path to twelve feet so he could fit his artillery and baggage wagons through. Many of these paths were later turned into roads across the region.

Wildcats, bears, panthers, and mountain lions made it necessary for early settlers of Lamartine to carry a gun in hand at all times outdoors. Many types of snakes were also present at the same time. Today, there are only a few wildcats and bears roaming the forests. There still are many snakes in the area, but there is a smaller number of venomous snakes.

When the first settlers moved into the area, they became fairly good friends with the Native Americans. They often traded together, especially during the harsh winter, when both groups found it hardest to survive. The Indians, often time, were very interested in whiskey that the white settlers had brought. After they learned the effects of the alcohol, they would always have at least one person stay sober to make sure that they weren’t taken advantage of. Both groups taught each other their customs and beliefs. The Indians would even go through ceremonial dances and games, which amused the white settlers very much. The settlers taught the Indians the English language and educated their children alongside some of their own. There is no record of any violence or treachery by the Indians, but they sometimes would walk into houses uninvited when under the influence of alcohol. The Indians stayed in the area until the 1830’s when they felt that too many people were moving into the region.

James Cochran, Henry Shaner, John Sheffer, and Daniel Beels were all early settlers of the Lamartine area. Cochran came from Butler County to Salem Township in 1826, and cleared a large portion of land where he built a small cabin. Today, the property is owned by the Cochran family.

Henry Shaner was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Shortly before his family was going to move to Salem Township from Lehigh County, he suddenly passed away. So, his wife, Mary, and their three children moved here together in the 1830’s. His son, Samuel, fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. Mary and all three children are buried in the Salem Lutheran Church Cemetary.

John Sheffer was born in Germany in 1751, and came over to America at the age of sixteen on a boat called, "Chance." 207 other passengers were onboard with him, and the journey took roughly three months. He came from Philadelphia and later joined the army. He went on to fight under General Braddock on his way to Fort Duquesne in 1775. He died in 1840, and was buried in the Salem Lutheran Church Cemetary. He has many ancestors that still live in Lamartine today.

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Daniel Beels was another early settler of the Lamartine area who built a log cabin. He and his family came over to Salem Township from Germany, smuggling their way across the Atlantic Ocean on a small ship in the early 1830’s. It wasn’t any easier once he made it over here, though. He built a log cabin and cleared out some land to build a farm on what is now Beels’ Hill. The first summer he was here, he had to dig up most of his half grown potatoes to use in order for him and other settlers in area to survive. Many descendents of Daniel Beels live in Lamartine and the surrounding area in the present day and age. The log cabin Daniel built is still standing today, and was the home of Harold and Marie Beels until the mid 1990’s. Today, Beels’ Hill is the highest point in Salem Township, and in all of Clarion County.

Bibliography

1. Kurtz, Mrs. Walter.  "History of Salem Township." 1976

2. Heath, Shirley.  Personal Interview.  17 December 2001

3. Heath, Wilmer.  Personal Interview.  17 December 2001

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