The Old Pike Part 18

John Strong, one of the earliest regular wagoners, is still living in c.u.mberland, and has been Coroner at that place for many years.

John Kelso, a steady old regular, well remembered and well liked, died at c.u.mberland about two years ago.

Robert Nelson was run over by his wagon many years ago, and died from injuries inflicted by the accident.

Col. James Gardner was an old wagoner and an old soldier. He was a native of Winchester, Virginia, but spent the greater portion of his life in Uniontown.

John Phillips, of Was.h.i.+ngton county, Pennsylvania, an old wagoner, was noted for using the heaviest gears on the road. When in need of new ones he ordered them an inch wider than the widest in use. The gear pole boys at the old taverns groaned under the weight of Phillips' gears.

William C. McKean, nine years a deputy Sheriff of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, was in early life a regular wagoner of the road. He was a native of German towns.h.i.+p, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and died in the Sheriff's house, at Uniontown, in 1859. He was noted for his energy and habit of pus.h.i.+ng things. The prominent young attorney of Uniontown of the same name is a nephew of the old wagoner.

Peter Skiles, an old wagoner of the vicinity of Uniontown, died in c.u.mberland of typhoid fever, while at that place with his team and wagon.

Christian Herr, an old wagoner, was a very profane man, going to show that there is nothing in a name. He, Wilse Clement and Michael Teeters were the hardest swearers on the road.

Wyney Hunter, still living, an octogenarian, and rich, was an old wagoner. His residence is on the roadside five miles east of Hagerstown, Maryland.

Charles Allum and James Brownlee drove for Leonard Vail, an old pork-packer of the vicinity of Prosperity, Was.h.i.+ngton county, Pennsylvania. Lott Lantz, of Willow Tree, Greene county, Pennsylvania, had a pork-packing establishment in the olden time, and sent his produce over the road to Baltimore by the regular broad wheeled wagons in charge of hired drivers.

Isaac Browning, an old wagoner, at one time owned the "Browning farm,"

near Uniontown, whence its name is derived. This farm now belongs to Robert Hogsett.

John Wright, an old wagoner, is still living in Salisbury, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and has pa.s.sed the ninetieth mile-post of his age.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JACOB NEWCOMER.]

Capt. James Gilmore was a sharpshooter. He owned a little farm in Menallen towns.h.i.+p, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, which he sold long ago and went West.

n.o.ble McCormick, a regular old wagoner, was, while on the road, the owner of the Semans farm, near Uniontown. He sold his farm to Thomas Semans and went West. He is remembered as an habitual wearer of the broad-rimmed, yellow, long-napped regulation hat.

John Christy, an old wagoner, was eccentric as to his apparel, and careful of his money. He wore a full suit of buckskin, and improvised a savings bank by boring holes in blocks in which he placed his money, and secured it by plugging up the holes.

Charles Guttery, who recently died at an advanced age in Beallsville, Was.h.i.+ngton county, Pennsylvania, was one of the best known and most esteemed old wagoners of the road. After many years experience as a wagoner, he devoted the remainder of his life to tavern keeping.

John Yardley, as the saying goes, was a natural born wagoner. He loved the occupation, and was faithful in it, for many years. He was born in Maryland, but lived a long time at Searights, where he died. He was the father of William and Gus Yardley, of Uniontown.

David Newcomer, a farmer of German towns.h.i.+p, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, who served a term as County Commissioner, belongs to the long list of wagoners. His father, Jacob Newcomer, and Jacob F.

Longanecker went to Loudon, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1849, and each bought a new wagon and a new whip at that place. Jacob Newcomer soon thereafter became afflicted with rheumatism, and turned over his team and wagon to his son David, who traversed the road until the close of its busy era. Jacob Newcomer died in 1866, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son David.

John Ferren drove a six-horse team on the road many years for William Searight, and is remembered as a careful and discreet driver and an honest and industrious man. At the close of active business on the road, and while yet under the influence of its ancient grandeur, he married a daughter of "Wagoner Billy Shaw," and with his newly-wedded wife went to Iowa to work out his destiny, where he has achieved success as a farmer.

James E. Kline, a driver for Jacob A. Hoover, was a soldier in the late war between the States, and died in German towns.h.i.+p, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, after the conflict ended.

Robert Hogsett, the millionaire farmer, stock dealer, manufacturer, and c.o.ke operator of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, was a sharpshooter, and hauled many a load of goods from c.u.mberland to Brownsville at remunerative rates per hundred. His "down loads" consisted for the most part of corn of his own raising, which he sold out through the mountains at good prices.

Hiram Hackney, for many years a prosperous farmer of Menallen towns.h.i.+p, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, now a retired resident of Uniontown, and a director in the First National Bank of that place, was a sharpshooter and a drover.

Samuel Flowers was one of the earliest wagoners on the road, and of the regular order. He was a tall man, of quiet demeanor. His home was on Egg Nog Hill, where he lived until called away by the last summons.

John Means, an old wagoner, was killed by an accident on the road near Wheeling.

John Munce, of Was.h.i.+ngton, Pennsylvania, who became rich through the oil development in the vicinity of that place, is an old wagoner. He is still living.

John Olwine was an old wagoner, and by his union with the Widow Metzgar became a tavern keeper. He died at Chalk Hill a few years ago.

John Neff, an old wagoner, subsequently became a member of the Maryland Legislature, and played the role of statesmans.h.i.+p as gracefully as he drove a six-horse team on the old pike.

Abner and David Peirt, brothers, were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania--steady-going straightforward, honest "Pennsylvania Dutch,"

and wagoners on the road with teams of the genuine Conestoga strain.

John McIlree, called "Broadhead," was an old wagoner and a native of Adams county, Pennsylvania; and James Bell, William and Robert Hall were natives also of Adams county.

Arthur Wallace, an old wagoner devoted to the road, and esteemed for many good qualities of head and heart, subsequently became a tavern keeper. He was the father-in-law of Peter Frasher, the adamantine Democrat of 1844, and up to the date of his death, in 1893. Charles Wallace, a brother of Arthur, and an old wagoner, was killed by an accident on Laurel Hill many years ago.

William Reynolds, mentioned under the head of old tavern keepers, was likewise an old wagoner. He was on the road with a team as early as 1832. His son, John, present postmaster at Confluence, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was also a wagoner.

Samuel Trauger, an old wagoner, fell from his lazy board while descending Laurel Hill, and was killed, the hind wheel of his wagon running over him.

John Curtis, who drove for William King, was accounted one of the best drivers on the road. His companions called him a "strong driver,"

meaning that he was skillful and careful. He followed the tide of emigration, and became a stage driver west of the Ohio river.

James and Benjamin Paul, sons of Major William Paul, were old wagoners.

Joseph Doak, of Was.h.i.+ngton county, Pennsylvania, was an old wagoner, subsequently a tavern keeper, and later a superintendent of the road.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JOHN FERREN.]

Martin Horn, a native of Was.h.i.+ngton county, Pennsylvania, was known as the "swift wagoner." He made the trip from c.u.mberland to Wheeling with his six-horse team and a big load, in five days.

The following old wagoners were residents, when at home, and citizens of Fayette county, Pennsylvania: Harvey Grove, Adam Yeast, Solomon Bird, Louis Langley, James Paul, Joseph Wells, Isaiah Fouch, Ellis Campbell, William Sullivan, George Miller, William Bird, Barney Neiman, Jesse Hardin, John Hardin, James Marshall, Samuel Sidebottom, John Rutledge, Robert Hogsett, Samuel Milligan, Thomas Cook, Benjamin Paul, Jeff Nixon, George Miller, Moses Richer, John Rankin, Peter Fowler, William Ball, James Henshaw, William McShane, Henry Frasher, Peter Frasher, Jacob Wolf, West Jones, Daniel Turney, Eli Marlow, William Turney, William Cooper, Dawson Marlow, Robert Henderson, John Ferren, Robinson Murphy, Parker McDonald, William Betts, Rezin Lynch, Joseph Bixler, Moses Husted, William Pastoris, John McClure, Thomas Cochran, William Peirsol, Robert Lynch, Morgan Campbell, Martin Leighty, John Stentz, Philip D.

Stentz, William Bosley, Charles McLaughlin, J. Monroe Bute, John Canon, Levi Springer, George Dearth, John McCurdy, Calvin Springer, Zachariah Ball, Michael Cochran, Caleb Hibbs, Jacob Newcomer, John Rinehart, Benjamin Goodwin, Harvey Sutton, Clark Hutchinson, James Ebbert, Mifflin Jeffries, Jacob Vance, William Ullery, Abram Hall, George Tedrick, Alexander Osborn, James Abel, Harper Walker, Jerry Fouch, Elias Freeman, George Wilhelm, father of Sheriff Wilhelm, of Uniontown, Caleb Langly, Jacob Wagoner, Oliver Tate, Jacob Strickler, George Shaffer, John Newcomer, Jesse J. Peirsol, James Shaffer, Samuel Harris, Caleb Antrim, William Cooper, Andrew Prentice, Ira Strong, William Gray, William Kennedy, Samuel Hatfield, Bernard Dannels, Stewart Henderson, David Dunbar, George Grace, d.i.c.ky Richardson, Reuben Woodward, John King, John Williams, George McLaughlin, Darlington Jeffries, John Nelson, John Moore, Bazil Sheets, Isaac Young, Jerry Strawn, Samuel Renshaw, Reuben Parshall, Hiram Hackney, James Martin.

The following were of Was.h.i.+ngton county, Pennsylvania, and there were many others from that county, as well as from Fayette and the other counties mentioned, whose names, very much to the writer's regret, are unascertainable: Eberon Hurton, James Bradley, Jerome Heck, James Dennison, James Bard, Thomas Bailes, Charles Thurston, William Kirkman, Otho Hartzell, Seldon King, William King, Zeph Riggle, John Guttery, Samuel Charlton, George Hallam, Lewis Hallam, David Hill, Charles Redd.i.c.k, John Redd.i.c.k, Joseph Arnold, Moses Kline, James Brownlee, Elisha Brownlee, Charles Allen, Philip Slipe, John Valentine, Daniel Valentine, John Quinter, Robert Magee, William Robinson, Arthur Robinson, John Cook, William Darlington, Griffith Darlington, Joseph Whisson, David Blakely, Samuel Boyd, Joseph King, Joseph Sopher, Nimrod Sopher, Jack Sopher, Peter s.h.i.+res, John Smith, James Smith, Thomas Flack, James Blakely, William Darr, Robert Beggs, Josiah Brown, called "Squire" Brown, James Arthur, George Munce, Joseph Lawson, Robert Judson, John A. Smith, Elisha Ely, Charles Bower, William Dennison, John Phillips, Joseph Doak, Moses Little, Samuel Guttery, William Shouse, William Jones, Robert Sprowl, William Hastings, James Thompson, Robert Doak, James Doak, Charles Allen, John Hastings (called Doc).

The following were of Allegheny county, Maryland: Isaac Browning, James Browning, Michael Humbert, George McGruder, Peter Hager, Nathan Tracy, Thomas Plumer, Richard Gray (colored), Ben Carter, James McCartney, Joseph Brooks, John Carlisle, Joseph Turner, William Yeast, John Curtis, Louis Smith, John Smith, Fred s.h.i.+pley, Alex. Greer, John Keener, David Swaggart, George Lehman, Andrew Lehman, William McClintock, Jacob Albright, Thomas Ashbel, Charles McAleer, Caleb Madden, William Lowry, Augustus Butler, John Sheeres, Edward Finch, James Clary, Daniel Barcus, Ashael Willison, Hanson Willison, Joseph Strong, Thomas Plumer, Josiah Porter, John Kelso, John Magraw, Ira Ryan, John Ryan, Moses McKenzie, Moses Porter, Henry Porter, John Porter, George Huff, Lewis Lachbaus, Neil Connor, John Long, George Long, Upton Long, William Dixon, Hanson Clary, James Porter, Josiah McKenzie.

The following were of Was.h.i.+ngton county, Maryland: Abram Herr, Fred Herr, David Herr, John Coffman, Samuel Kelly, William Jones, Joseph Watt, John Brentlinger, James Ambrose, James Dowler, William Ford, Robert Fowler, Peter Hawes, Samuel Emert, Michael Welty, John Duvall, Andrew Arnett, John Reinhart, Hiram Sutton, John Thomas, William Thomas, Barney Hitchin, Emanuel McGruder, William Orr, Emanuel Griffith, Michael Miller, John Makel, John Neibert, Samuel Brewer, Henry Stickle, Ezra Young, Joshua Johnson, Samuel Boyd, Joseph Myers, William Keefer, Peter Urtz, Jonas Speelman, Thomas Flack, David Connor, Eli Smith, John Galwix, Henry Urtz, Henry Puffenberger. John Snider, was born in Was.h.i.+ngton county, Maryland.

The following were of Somerset county, Pennsylvania: Michael Deets, Samuel Wable, Clem Engle, Samuel Thompson, John Livengood, Isaac Light, John Sloan, Joseph Light, Abram Hileman, Joseph Hileman, William Lenhart, Daniel Augustine, Andrew Hebner, James Klink, Andrew Bates, Robert Duncan, Robert Allison, John Dunbar, Alex. Dunbar, Joseph Skelly, James Irvin, John Fleck, William Moons.h.i.+re, Thomas Collier, Frank Bradfield, Samuel Shoaf, John Bradfield, Eli Marble, Henry Renger, Michael Longstaff, John Mitch.e.l.l, William McClintock, still living at Salisbury, nearly ninety years old.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MORRIS MAULER.]

The following were from the State of Ohio: James Gregory, William Hoover, David Hoover, Christian Hoover, Gov. Lucas, William Morely, Philip Slife, Samuel Breakbill, John Carroll, William Lefevre, John Lefevre, Alby Hall, Solomon Mercer, Jacob Breakbill, Joseph Mc.n.u.tt, John Scroggins, William Archie, Elias Petticord, Harvey Hamilton, Pryn Taylor, Alex. McGregor, Westley McBride, William George, Michael Neal, Tim Taylor, Joseph Vaughn, William Whittle, Daniel Kildo, Marion Gordon, Martin Kildo, George Clum, Oliver Mahon, William Chaney, Abner Bailey, Matthias Meek, John A. Smith, George Zane, Samuel Paxon, Benjamin Mc.n.u.tt, Knox Keyser, B. F. Dillon, Valentine Mann, Jacob Mann, Benjamin Corts, John Whittle, John Johnson (Old Sandy), William McDonald, John Moss, William Tracy, Joseph Watson, George Schaffer, William Reynolds, not the old tavern keeper.

Ohio county, Virginia, contributed the following names to the list of old wagoners: Wash. and Hiram Bennett, John Frasher, John Moss, John Weyman, Joseph Watson, Michael Detuck, James Johnson, David Church, William Brooks, Robert Boyce, Allen Davis, Thomas McDonald, James Jones, Charles Prettyman, John Christy, John Curtis, William, Adam, and David Barnhart, George Weddel, and William Tracy.

Greene county, Pennsylvania, contributed the following well remembered veterans: Christian and Was.h.i.+ngton Adams, John Snyder (not the old regular), Philip Snyder, George Miller, Samuel Milligan, Caldwell Holsworth, Joseph Milligan, Joseph Craft, Jack Dunaway, Otho W. Core, Thomas Chambers, Samuel Minor, Jacob Hart.