Jenks Township was organized in 1838 from Barnett Township, taking in all of Jefferson County lying north of the Clarion River and including what became Blood’s Settlement (later Marienville). In 1843 Jenks, its twin township Tionesta, and the rest of Barnett north of the Clarion were detached to form part of Forest County, making Jenks a “lost” Jefferson County township for genealogical purposes.
After 1843, Jenks Township records belong to Forest County. For modern records, local histories, and additional cemetery and township data, see the Forest County PAGenWeb site.
Tip: Combine Jenks Township, Blood Settlement, Marienville, Salmon Creek, or Clarion River with key surnames and, for later records, add Forest County to your searches.
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When searching, try combinations such as Jenks Twp., Blood Settlement, Marienville, Salmon Creek, north of Clarion River, and later Forest Co., Pa. along with neighboring Barnett and Tionesta.
Strategy: For families along Salmon Creek, Clarion River, or early Marienville, use Barnett Township and Jenks in Jefferson County up to 1843, then follow them into Forest County for later records.
Jenks Township was set off in 1838 from Barnett, and at the time of its organization included all the Jefferson County land north of the Clarion River. Contemporary histories emphasize that Jenks and Tionesta were created together and “properly called the twin townships,” both being carved from Barnett during the same legislative act and oriented along the Clarion and Tionesta watersheds.
In 1843 the Pennsylvania legislature created Forest County. As part of that change, Ridgway Township was removed to Elk County, and Jenks, Tionesta, and Barnett north of the Clarion River were detached from Jefferson to form a core of the new Forest County. From that point forward, Jenks ceased to be a Jefferson County township and became, in Jefferson terms, a former or “lost” township.
Township narratives single out Colonel Cyrus Blood as the pioneer and “founder” of the Jenks–Tionesta region. Living in Hagerstown, Maryland, he became convinced—after a vivid dream of a beautiful rolling, timbered country with springs of clear water—that his fortune lay in the northern wilderness. Traveling through this tier of counties, he finally recognized the landscape of his dream along Salmon Creek and the north side of the Clarion River, where he purchased a large tract (about six thousand acres) and established a clearing that came to be known as “Blood’s Settlement.”
Blood brought his family into the wilderness about 1833, at a time when panthers, bears, wolves, wildcats, and deer still roamed the forests. His home served as the first inn (tavern), the first schoolroom, and the gathering place for early worship. He built the pioneer sawmill in 1834 and the first gristmill around 1840 on Salmon Creek, anchoring the settlement that would eventually become Marienville.
Later county histories note that the area long known as Blood’s Settlement grew into Marienville, which not only became a prominent village in the woods, but also the site of the first Forest County courthouse. For genealogists, this means that families appearing in early Jefferson County records under Blood’s Settlement or Jenks Township are often the same people whose later deeds, court cases, and obituaries are filed in Forest County records under Marienville.
Despite its remote location, Jenks shows steady growth in the early decades. Assessment lists in the 1840s record about 16 taxables in 1842 and 32 by 1849, with census population rising from roughly 40 in 1840 to 88 in 1850. These numbers are small compared with older townships but reflect a concentrated community built around Blood’s mills, the Salmon Creek valley, and the Clarion River corridor.
Historical summary adapted from Scott’s History of Jefferson County and McKnight’s Pioneer History of Jefferson County, focusing on genealogically useful details such as township formation, boundary changes, pioneer settlers, and the transition into Forest County.
These early families cluster along Salmon Creek, the Clarion River, and the emerging village that became Marienville. Use them as neighbors and FAN club (Friends, Associates, Neighbors) when reconstructing the lives of hard-to-trace ancestors in the Jenks–Tionesta region.
Tip: Cross-check these surnames in Barnett Township assessment lists just before 1838, then in Forest County tax, land, and court records after 1843.
Jenks Township had no large towns while it was part of Jefferson County, but several local names recur in histories and records. Use these mini-profiles with maps and land descriptions to interpret census entries, deeds, and obituaries.
The original clearing and farm of Cyrus Blood on Salmon Creek became known as Blood’s Settlement. Over time it grew into Marienville, where the first Forest County courthouse was built. Many early Jenks families later appear in records simply as residents of Marienville.
Watch for references to Blood’s Settlement, Marienville, and Salmon Creek in land descriptions, Forest County court dockets, and church minutes.
The valleys of Salmon Creek and the Clarion River form the backbone of early Jenks settlement. Mills, fords, and scattered farmsteads along these waterways often show up in deeds and newspaper items rather than as formal village names.
Look for descriptions such as “on Salmon Creek,” “north of the Clarion,” or “above Clarington” when matching ancestors to specific tracts.
Because Jenks was carved from Barnett and tied closely to Tionesta, early settlers move freely among these townships. Road and trail references between Clarington, Blood’s Settlement, and points downriver help link families across township lines.
Consider widening your search to Barnett, Tionesta, and Forest County townships when a residence is only described generically as “up the Clarion” or “toward Marienville.”
Early burials for Jenks families are associated with Blood’s Settlement / Marienville and nearby churchyard or family plots. Many of these are now cataloged under Forest County cemetery names. Use the county cemetery page and Forest County resources together.
Hint: If you cannot find a burial under “Jenks,” try searching for Marienville, Jenks Twp., Forest Co., or the surname alone in Forest County databases.
The pioneer school in Jenks was taught by John D. Hunt in the winter of 1833–34 in the home of Cyrus Blood. As population grew, formal school districts developed within Jenks and later Forest County, but early schooling was informal and often tied to private homes or log structures.
School records—where they survive—may be filed under Barnett, early Jenks, or later Forest County districts. Use county-level school reports, teacher pay lists, and township meeting minutes for indirect evidence of residence and guardianship.
Early preaching in Jenks is associated with Dr. Otis Smith, who delivered pioneer sermons in the Blood home. As settlement increased, congregations connected with wider circuits along the Clarion and Tionesta valleys, with later churches centered at Marienville and nearby communities in Forest County.
For sacramental registers and membership rolls, check Forest County church records, regional Methodist and Presbyterian circuit archives, and denominational histories that span the Clarion River region.
Because Jenks transferred to Forest County, many church records that document Jefferson-era families are now held in Forest County or denominational repositories rather than in Jefferson County archives.
In the early 1830s the settlement around Cyrus Blood’s farm received mail through the Brookville post office. As the community that became Marienville developed and Jenks passed into Forest County, local post offices shifted into Forest County jurisdiction. Modern obituaries and directories usually place Marienville in Forest County.
For mail references before 1843, look for Brookville or generic “Clarion River” addresses; for later dates, check Marienville and Forest County post offices.
This locality snapshot will eventually list key places tied to Jenks Township, including Blood’s Settlement, Marienville, Salmon Creek neighborhoods, and Clarion River landmarks. Use it along with historic atlases and Forest County maps to position families in the landscape north of the Clarion.
Jefferson County histories give only brief statistical snapshots for Jenks while it was part of the county:
After 1843, Jenks statistics are included with Forest County reports. To follow growth beyond the Jefferson era, consult Forest County census schedules, printed county histories, and state statistical summaries that treat Marienville as a Forest County community.
Use these figures mainly to gauge how small and close-knit the settlement was in early years; nearly every name in an 1840s assessment list represents a significant piece of the community’s story.
Because Jenks became part of Forest County in 1843, many records for Blood’s Settlement / Marienville and Salmon Creek families are now held there. Use Forest County PAGenWeb for local histories, cemeteries, and township-level records after the transfer.
Use Jefferson County and Forest County maps to locate Blood’s Settlement / Marienville, Salmon Creek, and tracts north of the Clarion River. Early deeds may be recorded under Barnett Township or Jenks in Jefferson County, with later transactions under Forest County townships.
Jenks-area burials are often cataloged under Forest County cemeteries, especially Marienville and nearby churchyards. Use the Jefferson County cemetery roundup for cross- county context and surname hunting, then pivot to Forest County databases for detailed plots.
For the brief period when Jenks belonged to Jefferson County, look for residents in Barnett and county-wide records: deeds, tax lists, road petitions, and early court dockets. After 1843, similar materials are in Forest County offices.
Regional papers in Brookville, Clarion, and later Forest County carried notices about lumbering, accidents, and obituaries from the Jenks / Marienville area. Some early settlers, including Cyrus Blood, had military or civic backgrounds mentioned in county histories.