The Old Pike: A History of the National Road, with Incidents, Accidents, and Anecdotes ThereonSearight, Thomas B. (Thomas Brownfield)
History
The Old Pike: A History of the National Road, with Incidents, Accidents, and Anecdotes Thereon
Searight, Thomas B. (Thomas Brownfield)
Cumberland Road; Pennsylvania -- Biography
Fielding Montague, an old wagoner and stage driver, is still living on
the road. His residence is in Henry Clay township, Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, where his sleep is undisturbed by the clatter which in
other years was heard at all hours of the night as well as day. Montague
was not a driver on the old stage lines, but after they were withdrawn
from the road, drove the mail hack for a considerable length of time
between Uniontown and Somerfield. He was, however, a regular wagoner in
the palmy days of the road.
[D]James Smith, now living in Wharton township, Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, well and favorably known, is an old wagoner. He enjoyed
the grand march along the old road, and was deeply grieved when
stillness took the place of the bustling activity that marked its palmy
days. The old veteran is bending to the storms of time, but glows with
enthusiasm when recounting the scenes he witnessed on the old highway
"in the days of yore."
[Footnote D: Deceased.]
Elijah Maxon was an old wagoner. His home was near the Charlestown
school house, in Luzerne township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He
owned the team he drove, and made money on the road. He moved west many
years ago, and in all probability has gone to that bourne whence no
traveler returns.
Jacob Marks was an old wagoner, and subsequently, like so many of his
fellows, became a tavern keeper. He first kept the stone house at
Malden, between Brownsville and Centreville, and afterward the old
Workman House at Brownsville. The glory of the old road had departed
before he took charge of the Workman House, and business was dull; but
the road was flush when he entertained the public at Malden, and he did
a thriving business there.
Thomas Starr was an old wagoner, and drove for John Riley, an old tavern
keeper of Bridgeport, Fayette county, Pa. The old citizens of Bridgeport
and Brownsville will remember Starr and Riley, as they were conspicuous
pike boys in their day.
Thomas Hastings was an old wagoner and tavern keeper. He kept the house
well known and well patronized in his day about four miles east of
Washington.
Henry Foster, late of North Union township, Fayette county, Pa., a well
known farmer in his day, was an old wagoner. He drove a six-horse team
to Baltimore in 1837, when but nineteen years old. His first load was
bacon, consigned to a Baltimore house by Edward Gavin, of Uniontown. His
return load was merchandise, consigned to William Bryson, a merchant of
that day at Uniontown.
David Blakely was an old wagoner and became a tavern keeper. He kept a
tavern in Washington in 1838, and subsequently in Wheeling. He was a
prominent man, well known all along the road. He was also an agent of
one of the transportation lines, and a very competent man for that
business.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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