Peter Payne, an old driver east and west from Keyser’s Ridge, was noted as an expert hand at a game of poker. He was usually a winner, and being a man of economic habits, saved his small accumulations from time to time and ultimately became rich. He often sat down to a game with Joseph Dilly, an old blacksmith of the mountain division of the road, a skillfull player, who, like Payne, also grew rich.
Frank Lawson, who subsequently kept tavern in Triadelphia, was a stage driver. He first drove on Weaver’s Ohio line, next on a line in Kentucky, where he upset a coach causing the death of one or more of his passengers, and afterward came to the National Road and drove between Wheeling and Washington. He is mentioned by Mr. Reeside as an expert driver of the “Top and Bottom,” or Pennsylvania mode of driving.
John Stotler was among the drivers on the first line of stages. He was stoutly built, a good reinsman and a popular driver. He drove out east and west from Cumberland. John Whitney, an Englishman, was an early driver, and noted for his caution in handling his team and caring for the comfort and safety of passengers.
Joseph Whisson drove from Washington to Claysville, and is well remembered and highly spoken of by all old citizens living on that section of the road. He is still living at Triadelphia, West Virginia.
Jason Eddy was one of the many drivers sent out on the road in an early day from New Jersey by “Commodore” Reeside, as James, the old stage proprietor, was frequently called. Eddy was an expert driver, and it was said of him that “he could turn his team and coach on a silver dollar.” He was likewise a good musician, and played well on the bugle. He often entertained his passengers with stirring bugle blasts.
William Walker was a careful old driver, and so economical that he acquired property from the savings of his scanty wages.
William Craver, Edward Hays and the two Welches were old stage drivers, whose names were familiar along the road in its early history.
Isaac Page, first named by Mr. Reeside as a good driver in the Eastern style, was a Uniontown man, and died in that place before the glories of the old road had waned. He left a widow and a son, Charles, who went to New York, where the son engaged in business, prospered and became rich. His mother was highly esteemed by all who knew her, and to her example is attributed the success of the son.
Dr. Thayer, who subsequently became a circus proprietor, commenced driving stage on the National Road when eighteen years of age. He drove from Uniontown to Farmington on the “old line” previous to 1840. He was a skillful driver, and subsequently achieved success as a circus owner.
Gideon Bolton (nicknamed “Hoop-pole,” from the circumstance of his coming from a hoop-pole region in Preston county, West Virginia), drove many years on the mountain division of the road, and is well remembered.