John Elsworth Scamahorn
John E. Scamahorn, who is engaged in general contracting at Brilliant, O., is president of the Union Lumber Company of Steubenville, O. He was born December 6, 1862, on his father's farm in Warren Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, a son of Luke and Eliza (Haythorn) Scamahorn.
The Scamahorn family, who originally spelled their name, Schemerhorn, are of German descent, and have long been established in Jefferson County, Ohio. They originally settled in New York state, but later moved to Virginia and thence to Wellsburg, W. Va., where Luke Scamahorn one of the early ancestors, was killed by the Indians. The great-grandfather of our subject came to Wells Township in 1797 and settled near the Block House, but subsequently located on a farm on Warren Ridge, Warren Township, where Henry, the grandfather, and Luke, the father, John E., were both born. Luke Scamahorn engaged in agricultural pursuits here during the greater part of his life. He married Eliza Haythorn, a native of Warren Township, and a daughter of Richard and Mary Haythorn, and of their union were born five children: John Elsworth, subject of this record; Clara, who died aged sixteen years; Winfield S., manager of the Union Lumber Company of Steubenville, O.; and William L. and Maude, both residents of Akron, O., where Luke Scamahorn also resides, now being seventy-six years of age. The mother of the above family died at Mingo Junction aged seventy-one years.
John Elsworth Scamahorn was twelve years old when his parents came from Warren to Wells Township, and was reared on his father's farm here. His early education, which was obtained in the district schools and Mt. Pleasant High School, was supplemented by a course at Scio College. He then taught continuously from 1885 until 1900, during which time he spent two years as an instructor in the Kansas schools, and one in the Wellsburg High School. He was also for eight years principal of the schools at Brilliant, O. In 1900 he gave up teaching and has since devoted his entire time to general contracting. His first contract was in connection with the mines at Rush Run, and he has also done considerable work at Mingo Junction and other places. Since the spring of 1909, Mr. Scamahorn has been in partnership with Newton Gilchrist, of Brilliant, O.
On December 31, 1908, Mr. Scaniahorn was joined in marriage with Mrs. Laura Barr. He has been a resident of Brilliant since his marriage, and resides on Main Street. He is politically a Republican and is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. He and Mrs. Scamahorn are members of the Presbyterian Church.
20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910