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
The first coach of the Troy pattern was placed on the road in the year
1829 by James Reeside, and tradition has it that he won this coach with
a bet on Gen. Jackson's election to the presidency. Mr. Reeside was
desirous that Gen. Jackson should be the first person to ride in this
coach, and accordingly tendered it to the President-elect when on his
way to Washington, who true to his habit of refusing gifts, declined the
proffered compliment as to himself, but consented that his family might
occupy the coach. Charley Howell was the driver, and his team was one of
the finest on the road. Many coaches were brought out on the road
afterward from the Troy and Concord factories. These coaches cost
between five and six hundred dollars each.
John Buck was one of the oldest and best stage drivers on the road. He
lived in Washington, Pennsylvania, and drove on the old line in the
life-time of Daniel Moore, and was a great favorite of that ancient
stage proprietor. When Lafayette visited Washington in 1825, Mr. Moore
was active and prominent in arranging for his reception at that place,
and assigned John Buck to drive the coach in which the illustrious
visitor entered the town. It was a proud day for the old driver, who
shared with the hero of the occasion, the plaudits of the people. Buck
subsequently became the senior member of the firm of Buck, Lyon & Wolf,
contractors, who built most of the locks and dams on the Muskingum
river, in the State of Ohio. This old firm was called the "Menagerie
Company," on account of the names of its members.
[Illustration: THE NARROWS.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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