Named after a Prussian officer who aided America during the Revolution, Fort Steuben was constructed in 1786 to protect government surveyors of the Old Northwest Territory. In 1797, Steubenville, one of the earliest settlements in Ohio, was founded and named after the fort. Located on the Ohio River, the town became a hub of transportation, bringing in settlers and industry. By the 20th century, Steubenville had become a center for steel production and coal mining. Important figures President Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, sports commentator "Jimmy the Greek," and entertainer Dean Martin all are natives of Ohio's eastern gateway, Steubenville.