Our list of people would not be complete without Edward Warren. Our town was named Warren when it was founded in 1816 after Warren, but he is a vague figure of history. The following is based on some known facts and much speculation. It does give an idea of the man and the area once known as “Warren’s Sleeping Place”. We don’t know if that referred to his grave or just a place where he would sleep after trading in the area. We hope you enjoy this story.

Edward Warren was a Native American trader (may have been adopted by a tribe) who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was born around 1765. He was curious and adventurous. He wanted to see the world beyond his homeland. He decided to become a trader and traveled along the rivers and trails that connected different regions and peoples.
He traded with various tribes, such as the Shawnee, Delaware, Seneca, and Iroquois, as well as with white settlers and merchants. He exchanged furs, skins, hides, and other goods for weapons, tools, clothing, blankets, and alcohol. He traveled along the Ohio River and its tributaries, such as the Allegheny River and the Kiskiminetas River.
He had a close relationship with the town of Apollo, Pennsylvania, which was originally called Warren’s Sleeping Place. The town was named after him because he often camped there on his trading journeys. He had a grave there (possibly), which was said to be that of an Indian chief. He also had a friend named John Cochran, who was one of the first settlers of Apollo. Cochran was a farmer and a miller who owned a large tract of land along the Kiskiminetas River. He welcomed him to his home and treated him with respect and hospitality. Cochran also helped him in his trading business by providing him with supplies and storage space.
He was a respected and influential figure among both Native Americans and white people. He was known for his honesty, generosity, and diplomacy. He helped to maintain peace and friendship between different groups of people. He also shared his knowledge and culture with others. He died sometime in the early 1800s. His exact date and cause of death are unknown.

From Smith, Robert Walter. History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Chicago, 1883. 281. The town of Apollo, PA, was originally called Warren after Indian Chief Warren. Chief Warren was buried about a mile below Apollo, near the outlet locks. The tract containing his grave came to be called Warren’s Sleeping Place, which is so designated on an old county map (or map of original tracts of land).

LEGENDARY From Dr. Henry’s book 1816-1916 History of Apollo The Year of 100 Years.

The late Wm. Trout, a local historian of note, was of the opinion that Warren was an Indian chief. His story is that White Mattock, Warren and Shelocta were all Indians who had taken out patents for land after the manner of the white man. White Mattock had taken up the site of Leechburg. Credit to this is given in Smith’s History of Armstrong Co. Warren was said to have owned all the bottom lands a part of which constitutes the Allison farm.

Shelocta was the holder of the land upon which the town of Shelocta is built. White Mattock had a son , Warren and Shelocta had daughters. There it is, that everlasting triangle of trouble, two of one sex and one of another. White Mattock’s son had made love to the pretty daughter of Warren and his affection was returned. The young brave, however, met Shelocta’s daughter. She too was a comely maiden and the son of White Mattock, after the manner of the whites again, paid court to her. Warren’s daughter persuaded the vacillating lover to take a stroll along the hills of the Kiskiminetas to talk it over. They wandered on until they reached a cliff of great height near Leechburg’s site. The young warrior was obstinate to the maiden’s pleading, suddenly she felt all her red blood boil and she turned with a fierceness unexpected and shoved him over the declivity. As he fell he grasped her girdle and together they went over “Lovers’ Leap.”

Mr. Trout was of the opinion that the grave dug up by workmen in East Vandergrift was the grave of Warren, he being buried on that side of the river to hide it from desecration by the whites.

It is told elsewhere that a grave of unusual construction was found by workmen while excavating a cellar for Mr. Hunger. A flat stone constituted the bottom of this rude vault. A row of stones formed a wall around this. The body of the Indian had been placed in this along with his flintlock gun and some beads and shells. Over the now eyeless skull was a mirror. Another large stone covered this last resting place of some important savage. This grave was discovered Oct. 14, 1908