Joseph Lawson, an old wagoner, kept tavern for many years in West
Alexander, Washington county, Pa., and died the possessor of a
valuable estate. The author of this book took dinner, in 1848, at
Lawson’s tavern, in company with James G. Blaine, the late
distinguished Secretary of State.
Matthias Fry, an old wagoner, kept the Searight House in 1840, and
subsequently presided as landlord over several houses at different
times in Hopwood. He was one of the best men on the road. His
large and well proportioned form will be readily recalled by the old
pike boys. He was a native of Old Virginia, and died in Hopwood.
David Hill was one of the most noted wagoners of the road. He was
an active, bustling man, and given to witty sayings. He belonged to
Washington county, Pa., and was the father of Dr. Hill, of Vanderbilt,
and the father-in-law of the Rev. J. K. Melhorn, who preached for
many years in the vicinity of McClellandtown, Fayette county, Pa.
Andrew Prentice, who died recently in Uniontown, the possessor of
considerable money, drove a team on the old road in his early days.
Henry Clay Rush, a prominent citizen of Uniontown, and ex-jury
commissioner, was once the proud driver of a big six-horse team. He
drove 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 keener relish a recital of the stories of the old pike
than Rush.
William Worthington, who died not long since in Dunbar township,
Fayette county, Pa., aged upwards of ninety years, was one of the
earliest wagoners on the road. When he made his first trip he was
only thirteen years old, and the road was then recently opened for
travel. He continued as a wagoner on the road for many years, and
located in Dunbar township, where he purchased property, which
subsequently became very valuable by reason of the coal
development.
William Chenriewith, who recently, and probably at the present time,
keeps a hotel near Bedford Springs, was an old wagoner of the