The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-29
THE NATIONAL ROAD.
"reminiscences Of Old Wagoners
who Drove Ola Time Stages
ON THE Gu MBERL AND PIKE.
Well Known Figures who were Well
Acquainted With the Ancestors Of
the Present Observation-Disclosures
HAbout tho Drlvcrs...Col. scariEht's
Interesting story...Iic Took Dinner
With Blaine. 4NE .g

| iH'eEcs''HS StorJs-siic lUUA AihhSi
With Blaine.
The stories OF the old National Road
during tho good old days OF stage driv.
ing arc as numerous MS the blades OF
grass that grow on tho roadside. In the
days OF stages Wheeling was very i'm.
portant point, both for passenger and
freight traffic. In travelling TO the West,
Wheeling was the point whore people
took boats for u further penetration Of
the wilderness, as II was then called.
Many old wagoners wero we'll known
in this city, and many Of them made
their headquarters hero in those times,
OF some OF them Mr.. 4. D. Scaright
writes rs follows to tho Washinsto II
Pa, ObSerreE
s'Somc OF tho old wagoncrs OF the M.
tional road became rich. John Snider
was ono OF these. Snidcr was q man OF
even temper, and high order OF in.
telllgenco. lie drove six horse team
on the. road for twenty years. He died
on his farm near Uniontown in Dcccm-
ber, 1889, much lamentcd. Few men
possessed more OF the higher attributes
OF true manhood than John Snider.
John Grace was another old WAGNER,
who became wealthy. The >old pike
boys will remember him as the driver
OF black team. lie was Maryland
man, believe, but am not certain.
| When the old road yielded its grasp on
trade to the iron railway, Grace settled
i'll or near GAINESVILLE. Ohio, where he
still lives, or was living few years ago,
worth 100000. He transported his
family to Ohio in his big road wagon.
John Manaway, late owner OF the
Spottsylvania House, Uniontown, drove
a team on the road for many years, and
no man enjoyed the business more than
he.
William G. Patterson, now an aged
well-to-do farmer Of Jefferson township,
Fayet.e county, was an old WAGNER.
| There was an Ohio man OF the name
OF Lucas, called Gov. Lucas, because q
man OF like name WIS an early governor
OF Ohio, who was IN old WAGNER, and
his team consisted OF but five horses,
yet he hauled the biggest loads on the
road. lie was owner OF the team he
drove.
William King, OF Washington county,
Pa, IN old WAGNER, was noted ior his
steady habits. On one OF his trips over
the road, and going down the eastern
slope OF Laurel hill, which was covered
with ice, his wagon slipped from the
road and fell ovor the bank near the
old Price residence. dragging the team
after it. Strange to say the horses were
uninjured and but little damage done to
the wagon. The contents OF the wagon
were Ohio tobacco and bacon. After
getting things restored, King drove
down to Jimmy Snyder's, stayed NIL
night, and the next morning proceeded
on his journey to Baltimore. King was
the owner OF a farm in Washington
county.
Jacob Probasco was an old WAGNER,
and also kept tavern at Jockey IIol-
low. He went west and found 4 fortune.
| Joseph Lawson, an old WAGNER, kept
tavern for many years in West Alex
andcr, Washington county, and died
the possessor OF q valuable estate. l
took dinner in lS4S at Lawson's tavern
in company with James G. Blaine, the
now distinguished secretary OF state.
| Matthias Fry, an old WAGNER, kept
the Scaright house in 1910, and suisse
qnently presided as landlord over sew
cral houses at different times in Hop
wood. He was one OF the best men on
the road. His large and well proper
toned form will be readily recalled by
the old pike boys. lle was native OF
Old Virginia and died in Hopwood.
David Hill was one OF the noted
wagoners OF the road. He was m &C.
tive, bustling man, and given to witty
sayings. He belonged to Washington
county, and was the father-in-law of
Rev. j. X. NIelhorn, who preached for
many years in the vicinity OF McClel-
| land town.
Andrew Prentice, who died recently
in Uniontown, the possessor OF consid-
cradle money, drove team on the road
in his early days.
William Hall, OF Cumberland, was
one of the regular wagoncrs on the road
forty years ago. He subsequently be-
came u stage proprietor, and is one OF
the leading citizens OF Cumberland. He
married 4 daughter OF Aaron Wyatt, a
well remembered tavern keeper on the
old road. FL. :.
Henry Clay Rush, prominent citi-
zen OF Uniontown, and ex-jury. commits
sioner, was once the proud driver OF n
big six horse team. He drove clear
through from Baltimore to Wheeling.
and can recount incidents Of every mile
OF the road to this day. None OF the old
pike boys enjoys with kcener relish a
recital OF the stories OF the old pike
than Rush. (
"William Worthington, who died not
long since in Dunbar township, aged up-
wards OF ninety years, was one of the
earliest wagoners on the National road,
When he madehis first trip he was only
thirteen years oldNand the road was
then recently opened for travel. He con-
tinued rs wagner on the road for
many years, and located in Dunbar
township, where he purchased his prop
erty, which subsequently became very
valuable by reason OF the coal develop
ment."
Inc Joseph Lawson mentioned above
afterwards kept hotel at Triadelphia,
and died only few years ago. He was
a typical stage man and a hearty land
lord, and will be remembered by many
OF the present generation. To write Il
complete history OF the National Road
"stasers" would fill a book-yes, two
books.
"Wntch Night" Service.
A watch Night" service will be held
at the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton building on Now Ycar's aye. from