The Coolidge examiner., 1931-08-28
STAGE COACH
TALES
The Vanderbilt of the Stage
Era
By E. C.. T AYL o r
7 UCIUS WITHAM STOCKTON

I UCIUS WITHAM STOCKTON
Il was To the stage coach era or
transportation in the United States
what Commodore Cornelius Wander
hilt was To the railroad era-the
outstanding figure, almost the
ear of his time.
Stockton was born in Fleming
ton, y. j.. the son of Lucius Stock
ton and grandson of Rev. Philip
Stockton, famous as the "RevOlu
tionary Preacher" who was a broth
er of Richard Stockton, signer of
the Declaration of independence.
Little is known of his early life,
but ii is known that he drove
stage coaches for a time, and ap-
peared in Uniontown, Pa, lured
westward by the call of the Nation
al road, and married Rebecca
Moore. daughter of Daniel Moore,
an old stage proprietor of Washing
ton, Pa, before he was twenty-four
years of age. They had six chill
dren. His second wife was his first
cousin, Kartharine Stockton, and
four children were born to them.
Stockton became wealthy Operat-
ing stage coaches over the famous
old National road from the Atlantic
seaboard to the Middle West, and
was perhaps the most colorful fig
ure of his day.
Early in his career he once raced
a horse and buggy against a loco
motive 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 spe-
cial strains for his stage coach
lines. He had a strain called the
"Murat" and another called the
"WinhOwer," which many experts
declare have never been surpassed
for nerve, beauty and speed. This
can never be determined. however.
as the two strains have died out.
He was a familiar figure along
the National road, and became
known as the speed maniac" of his
day. He had a span of beautiful
Winflower mares, which Hanson
Willison, one of his drivers. has re-
corded were named sal" and Bet"
He frequently drove this span from
UniOntOwn to Wheeling, w. Va. be-
tween breakfast and tea time. stop
ping two or three hours at midday
in Washington, Pa.
Stockton always had the hostlers
add a little whisky to the water
given this span to drink, and the
spirited fleet steeds became so ac-
customed to their "tipple" that they
refused to drink unless their water
had a little whisky in it.
He also frequently drove from
Uniontown To Cumberland. Nd, in
a day, stopping at the stage coach
station along the way to transact
business. Also a drive from Cum
berland to HagerstOwn, Md, a dis
tance of &C miles, was an ordinary
days drive for him.
He had a private carriage, along
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 frantical-
ly at him, but he didn't pay any at
tentiOn to her cries, and soon had
the spirited team under control.
Stockton had 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 competi-
tors out of business during the hey
day of the National road. were built
by experts. Mai William A. Don
aldSon was one of the fOremen at
the factory on MOrgantOwn street.
All stage coaches of the National
road days were named, mostly for
famous personages ofx the time.
Stockton had one named "John Ty-
Ter" in honor of the Vice President
of the first Harrison administration.
When Tyler, on the death of Will
liam Henry Harrison, succeeded to
the Presidency and vetoed the Unit
ed States bank bill, Stockton was
very much angered. Going into the
SldSe COdCu anu, SOOH dIICl IIC
veto was announced, he spied the
John Tyler" and shouted to Don
aldsOn:
Donaldson, can't you erase that
name and substitute another one?
l won't have my coaches named
for a traitor"
Certainly l can" Donaldson re-
piled. "What shall the new name
be-"
Call it General Harrison
So the change was made. Don
aldson was dS Democrat, and was
much amused by the incident.
Stockton died in UniOntOwn April
%, 1914, at ben Lomond." his elab-
crate estate. He is buried in the
cemetery at Washington, Pa, where
rest many other builders of the AL
legheny Mountain region.
&c. 1881. Western Newspaper Union.l