The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-04-15
ALONG THE OLD PIKE.

4
During the prosperous era of the
National road many quaint characters
flourished. Every old tavern had its
contingent of men who, in some sense,
were philosophers, in some sense, mere
loafers. They were indigenous to the
or dog fennel that grew 50 luxuriantly
around the stables. They could not, or
at least thought they could not live
away from the pike, and while the
subsistence was precarious in the ex
treme, yet they enjoyed it, and seemed
perfectly contented. Probably the
magnet that attracted them beyond all
other things and influences, was the
pure and cheap whisky. 1t was as
plentiful a. cheap, and did not contain
the elements Of more modern bever-
age known by the same name, which
makes men fit "for treason, strategy
| and spoils." There was usually ten
ement house or two near the old tav-
erns, in which these impecunious par
ties lived, but often they lived in the
near vicinity, and early in the morn
ing they could be seen vending their
way towards the old taverns, where
they would remain the greater part of
the day, watching their chance, which
was almost always a good one, to get
sundry and various potations on the
clear. These men were always ready
to unhitch team, or hitch it up, cur
ry horses, cut wood, wash bar bottles
and glasses, scrub the lar-room, or do
any odd job that came in their way,
expecting nothing in return but the
drinks" and on rare occasions, u
'fp' or ''levy," or when fortune was
more than ordinarily kind, ''quar-
ter" As rule these men had a
houseful of shOck-headed children,
who, with the mother managed to
subsist in some sort of fashion, expect
ing nothing better, and seemingly as
content as the worthless husband and
father. These characters frequently
had some trait peculiar to themselves,
which they were fond of exhibiting as
often rs occasion offered, such as feats
of strength, ability to drink more
whisky than some of their fellows, inn
itating the growing of roosters, OF bark /
ing or growing of animals, running,
jumping, etc. Over the hill a little /
ways beyond Searight's we come to
the old Abel Colley tavern; this tavern
was among the best, and did large /
and profitable business during the /
good times on the pike, mostly the /
entertainment of wagoners. OF course I
while all the old taverns were patron /
lied more or less by wagoners, except /
ing a few which were exclusively stage I
houses, such as Fairall's, ON Keyser's 4
Ridge, Hunters, in Petersburg, Ends
ley's, i'm SOmerfield, and others, the 4
old wagoners had their favorite stop .
ping places, taverns that were almost 1
as exclusively wagon taverns, n some .
of those mentioned were stage taverns. .
Abel Colley's tavern was one of these;
the accommodations here were excel .
lent, and the old landlord and his wife 4
made themselves 80 agreeable TO their 4
patrons that they would make extra .
long drives to reach the tavern; and .
they came in great numbers, too. a 4
WAGNER, stopping at this place once, 4
was sure TO come again, and bring all .
his friends and associates with him. /
The bills were very moderate, but the 4
patronage was 50 great and continued 1
so long that Mr. COlley accumulated
considerable fortune for that day. .
When the bulk of traffic had left the .
pike, Mr.. Colley built fine brick house .
opposite the tavern, where he lived in 4
ease and comfort for some years, until .
he died. Mrs. Colley is remembered \
by the old wagoners rs a large amiable 4
woman, kind, charitable and neigh 4
borly, who always wore voluminous i
cap of the Queen Anne style. She 4
long since passed from this stage of .
action, and her sOn-Wm. Sesright .
Colley-occupies the brick house, with .
a fine faru lying adjacent to it. Peter I
Colley, mentioned as proprietor of the I
Hunter tavern, was son of Abel Col /
ley, as was Levi, a farmer who died .
some years ago. The Abel Colley tav- /
ern is still standing, a monument to I
the glories departed now, alas of .
the old pike, rs well rs to its various 1
proprietors, all OF whom long ago join /
ed the great majority. This old house 4
was kept about 1925 by Darius Grimes, I
and later by Thomas Moxley. Il was 4
called the "Green Tree in Monkeys .
time, and for years the picture of IA .
green tree swung to and fro in front of i
the house. Abel Colley was Monkeys .
immediate successor. Col. Searight 1
thinks Samuel Wolverton and Hugh 4
Thompson kept this tavern some time /
previous to the occupancy of Darius 1
Grimes. If that is the case this house I
must be one of the oldest on the line of 4
the pike.
One mile west of the Colley house 4
there stands an old stone tavern on the I
north side of the road, known in carly \
days as Johnson's, and later rs Hat /
fields. Randolph Dearth built this /
house in 1877, for Robert Johnson, who 4
kept it continuously until 1871, when |
he returned TO farm, where he died, /
leaving behind him n considerable es-
tate, and what was better still, good /
name, of which his descendants may
we'll be proud. He was the father-in- /.
law of Thomas Browntield, an old wag- /
oner and tavern keeper and Sheriff of
Fayette county, who was mentioned
in a previous paper. Under the guild
anee and control of Mr.. Johnson, this
old tavern did an immense business,
and, rs stated, he made a good deal of
money there. His successor was Ar
thur Wallace, who only remained one
year. John Wallace, who kept the
wills. Clement house in Hopwood, was
brother of Arthur Wallace. Peter
Frasher. an old WAGNER and tavern
keeper, was a son-in-law of Wallace.
Charles Cutlery, an old WAGNER, sue
ceeded Wallace. He remained until
1911 and sonetina after vhan Iohn