Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-11-06
/ STAGE COACH
/ 81 TALES
by E. C.. TAYLOR
The Vanderbilt of the Stage


Era
7 UCIUS WITHAM STOCKTON was
~ to the stage coach era Of trans
portation In the United States what
Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt was
to the railroad era--the outstanding
figure, almost the "czar," Of his time.
Stockton was born in Pennington,
N. J., the son Of Lucius Stockton and
grandson Of Rev. Philip Stockton, IA
nous as the Revolutionary Preacher"
who was brother Of Richard Stock
ton. signer Of the Declaration Of In
dependence.
Little is known Of his early life,
but It Ia known that he drove stage
coaches for a time, and appeared In
Uniont0wn, Pa. lured westward by
the call Of the National road, and
married Rebecca Moore, daughter Of
Daniel Moore, an old stage proprie-
tor Of Washington, Pa, before he was
twenty-four years Of age. They had
six children. His second wife was his
first cousin, Katharine Stockton. and
AVuk OnAA0ACu WCEC UOKA " buCAu.
Stockton became wealthy operating
stage coaches over the famous old
National road from the Atlantic sea-
board to the Middle West, and was
perhaps the most colorful figure of
his day.
Early In his career he once raced a
horse and buggy against locomotive
between Relay House and Baltimore
Nd, and won the race. He drove a
favorite gray horse in that contest.
Stockton was a great lover Of
horses, and developed his own special
strains for his stage coach lines. He
had a strain called the "Murat" and
another called the "WinfTower," which
many experts declare have never been
surpassed for nerve, beauty and
speed. This can never be deter
mined, however, as the two strains
have died out.
He was familiar figure along the
National road, and became known as
the speed maniac" Of his day. He
had q span Of beautiful Winfower
mares, which Hanson Wilson, one of
his drivers, has recorded were named
"Sal" and "Bet." He frequently drove
this span from Uniontown to Wheel
ing, w. Va, between breakfast and
tea time, stopping two or three hours
at midday In Washington, Pa.
Stockton always had the hostlers
add little whisky to the water given
This en- tv1y
feet steeds became 50 accustomed to
their "tlpple" that they refused to
drink unless their water had a little
whisky in 1t.
He also frequently drove from
Uniontown to Cumberland, Md, in a
day, stopping at the stage coach sta
ton along the way to transact bust
ness. Also drive from Cumberland
to Hagerstown, Md, a distance of SO
miles, was an ordinary days drive
for him.
He had private carriage, long,
open vehicle, which he called "The
Flying Dutchman," and which was
famous among horsemen and sports
men of the time.
The famous span once ran away
with him, when he was driving his
wife and sister over the National
road. His sister clutched frantically
at him, but he didn't pay any atten-
tion to her cries, and soon had the
spirited team under control
Stockton had a factory in Union
town where nearly all of the coaches
Of the National Road Stage company.
which he had organized and which
ran nearly all competitors out Of
business during the hcyday Of the
National road, were built by experts.
Maj. William A. Donaldson was one
OF the fOremen at the factory on Nor
gantown street. @
All stage coaches Of the National
road days were named, mostly for
famous personages of the time. Stock
ton had one named "John Tyler" in
honor of the Vice President of the
first Harrison administration When
Tyler, on the death of William Henry
Harrison, succeeded to the Presidency
and vetoed the United States bank
bill. Stockton was very much an
gered. Going into the Stage coach
yard, soon after the veto WAS an
nounced, he spied the John Tyler"
and shouted to Donaldson:
Donaldson, can't you erase that
name and substitute another one? l
won't have my coaches named for
traitor"
Certainly I can" Donaldson re-
piled. "What shall the new name he?"
call 1t General Harrison"
SO the change was made. Donald.
son was Democrat, and was mach
amused by the incident
Stockton died In Unlontown April
%. 1874, at "Ben Lomond," his e,ab-
crate estate. He Is buried In the
cemetery at Washington, Pa. where
rest many other builders Of the trr-
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