The Ligonier, PA, "Echo" issue of 9 November 1892:

Old-time Recollections. No. LXI.

Mr. Editor: -- Taking up my regular course of writing I will give you briefly an account of our three days celebration of Columbus, who was perhaps the greatest example in the world's history of noble and persevering effort in the accomplishing of the greatest blessing to the human race. We anticipated a great display and we were not disappointed. The days were very fine and the turnout of people was excellent. I sent out invitations to my friends all around at some distance and expected nephews, cousins, both first and second, also the ECHO editor, but none came except the one from old homestead, J.C. McConaughy, near Fort Ligonier. He, I was glad to see driving a beautiful span of horses and he had his youngest daughter now started into her teens with him. How time runs apace! It seems only a little while since he was a baby boy himself. He was named after my father and a Methodist preacher and he is now grandfather of many children.

Well I will try to send around to my friends copies of the Mount Pleasant Journal that the people may see how wonderfully we excelled Greensburg's County Fair as stated by many who attended both exhibits. I will mention only a few things and doings of much interest generally. There were many trophies of the late war of great interest to the soldiers. The Granger display was notably fine and full. The handy needle work and manufactory of the soldiers was immense. Coverlets near it not quite one hundred years old from grandmother McConaughy, bright and nice as ever: also the finest work for quilts and table linens of fine finish. An old spinning wheel 150 years old with everything yet in complete running order, even to the rocks to hold flax and tow, but not as nice a one as brother John and I, in our younger days prepared for mother and sisters from young dogwood sprouts of four branches and sometimes a branch in the middle.

I also added some things long in use in my practice of instruments medical cases and disecting case once owned by Dr. A.P. Emerson, of Blairsville, and likely used when a medical student with the eminent Dr. and Prof. Abernethy of London over 100 years ago. Also a copper coal bucket in use over so many years and yet good and sound, made by Billy Smith of West Newton, a good leading Methodist of his day, now a good while dead and gone no doubt to his heavenly home. An excellent pair of quilted medical saddle bags in use many years and still in pretty good condition but not used any more, made by Daniel Highberger, near Madison, whom I cured of heart disease when all other doctors failed. Also he made me an excellent quilted leather saddle, that I had stolen from me in Ohio.

The most noted and surprising thing on exhibition was the banana plant from ten to twelve feet high with stock six to seven inches in diameter and leaves five to six feet long and two feet wide when fully grown and a bunch of fruit almost matured, that was raised in the conversatory of Mr. D.W. Fox, west end of town. He has the grandest selections of flowers and plants of all kinds to be seen anywhere, and he is a live man in business and very accommodating. He also belongs to a large connection of that name a long line of the most thrifty men of the county and owning much land of the very best quality in the McKeesport region. He is also of a family of a dozen all living and doing well. Not a drunken man among them though their grandfather kept hotel on pike in early times, but never sold liquor to a drunk man and only one dram to a man who would get drunk. They were and are all religious. Around in a field were amusements - greasy pig catching, pole climbing and many pony races, also races by boys and men, the best was the fat man's race in which the doctors' profession in the person of Dr. Myers, a native of Indiana county came out far ahead. He must have trained in the northern pines catching rabbits and foxes when a boy as he was quite a stylish racer - erect, head up and limbs playing like machinery, "Injun style." I have yet to say of the Foxes that they were not of the kind, to "spoil the little vines" but the very reverse. In one branch of the family is a Presbyterian of fine ability that had faith to go to the extreme borders of Washington State to carry the gospel to that growing country. A word of an well doing family of Neals that once owned and do yet fine land on three sides of town. They are not only good citizens and wealthy but leading church members. Of one family there was a Presbyterian minister who preached in your town in the fifties, near the time he was brought home to die of consumption. I would have been glad to see the editor of ECHO and his "Mountaineer" correspondent. I think he would have found many friends here with whom he could have had a pleasant time and have seen a finer exhibition that he ever did before, perhaps, also the same respecting you, Mr. Editor and then I would have been glad to see what a fine penpicture you would have given of the garden of the world. Since you can make the northern region of Pennsylvania shine out so fine where most people thought there was nothing but lumber and oil, until it about all run out and little farming except for rye, oats, potatoes and buckwheat. If it did not suit to come then, hope you both come soon and write reports.

A NEIGHBOR.

The Ligonier, PA, "Echo" issue of 16 November 1892:

Old-time Recollections. No. LXII.

Mr. Editor: I deem it proper to write briefly a few items more of our medical career and practise, before bidding it adieu and taking up another subject in my regular course. It is surely a profession weighted with responsibilities of the greatest magnitude, even that of the minister of the gospel cannot be greater. If the patient is not prepared to die, he feels anxious and bound if dangerously sick to do everything possible to cure and save him that he may have another chance to make sure his eternal salvation. The minister may instruct, pray and use all the means to bring the dying person into a happy state of mind and yet much depends on the patient, himself. The practitioner having the natural feeling of sympathy and having malignant cases under his care and of great doubt whether they will recover, may and does pass days and nights of great anxiety and chilling depression until he find a change of prospective recovering and when symptoms assure recovery, he feels like shouting praise to the Lord for his blessing upon the means used in producing a cure.

In reference to our medical and surgical practice as far back as I can reflect, it was quite clear of disaster and yet we encountered the most extensive variety of cases, unexpected and intricate. We all did much amputating with good results even our younger brother in his quiet manner and only learned of it by others, who also said, a man on the railroad would not suffer an amputation until he had his opinion. Our brother here in Mt. Pleasant had a night call many years ago to valley and not able to endure night travel, sent his son, then a very young man to look after the case until morning and then he would come. At midnight, however, the young doctor took off the mangled leg and was home by daylight. The case recovered well. In the case of the nice little girl at Wilkinsburg, whom I have mentioned, I never felt satisfied for not doing more than medical etiquette would justify, to save the child form being maimed for life. But I have known some things these cruel rules in medicine were guilty of doing. The city doctor, however, who meddled in this case, violated medical etiquette most egregiously and I would have been seemingly justified in retaliating against him whose name I never got to know fully. He was a man highly rated in city practice. I will say yet that some doctors are worried to "heart breaking" to be asked to have a consultation and think it will ruin their business. I think that none of us, brothers were so, but were glad and anxious to do so in every intricate case and often ourselves asked for it when well read doctors of good skill, sound judgment and honest purpose could be had. The more a good doctor knows the more he wants to know. I was once told by one of the best read doctors of Indiana county, that he never refused to consult with quacks, even, which was contrary to medical rules, of the regular doctors, for he always learned something of them.

I will now take up in regular course the teaming and staging business once so notedly prominent in the industries and commerce of the valley and the state of Pennsylvania and perhaps to same extent in other states, but surely greatest in Pennsylvania as being central and most direct from eastern cities to head of water navigation for all the western country, up to late in the thirties. And as few perhaps now living, I may be indulged in writing a pretty full description, as a matter of history for the present day, as well as of much interest in time to come, especially if the same goes into the form of a book of good style. I will first describe the stage. The cost I never learned nor where made, but they were a construction of splendid style and finish and elegantly painted and flowered on box outside, with leather cushioned seats and sides inside, with three inside seats, each to hold three persons, and one outside on top for driver and two passengers if necessary. And attached behind was large boot to hold trunks and baggage, as well as a light iron railing on top for the same, as well as to store the mail bags, also under the driver's seat on top was the safe place to store valuable mail. Over all this storing of baggage and mail were very strong leather cover buckled tight over against to keep off wet and prevent thieves. The running gears were not heavy nor clumsy but made of best timber, with wheels and front axletrees and a sort of spring uprights on fore and hind part, on which very heavy leather straps were fastened on the tops of these on which the stage box was secured, to bear a tremendous load of articles, and yet never knew of their breaking. These stages swung very nicely and would jolt no one on the pike in common, and only by the wheels plunging into gullies or chuck holes would be much jostling. The four horses were reined with light hames and short buttchains and housings on top of reins and collar to prevent wet from galling the shoulders and neck of animals. One man from top seat drove with check lines on each horse, and whip with stock and lash long enough to reach the four quarters of the front horses, would dive six to ten miles per hour, and make the trip from Pittsburg to Philadelphia in three days and would carry nine to eleven passengers and their baggage for from ten to sixteen dollars for each passenger, so that one load in three days would make about one hundred dollars. It was thought much money was made. Col. Noah Mendell and merchant, Robert Graham of Ligonier were all I ever knew of owning the stages in the valley. There were often opposition lines on the road and then profits would not be so great. Passenger cars on Railroad at first were very much of this form only much larger, and drawn by one fast horse on Railroad track, and kept ahead of locomotive drawing freight cars with produce and merchandise. This was the style of business on the Philadelphia and Cumberland Railroad as well as on the Portage over the Allegheny mountain.

A NEIGHBOR.

The Ligonier, PA, "Echo" issue of 30 November 1892:

Old-time Recollections. No. LXIII.

Mr. Editor: I will now discuss the stage business. I still hope you can get my friend John Hargnett, Esq. to write an article of what he knows of the early history of stage running, where made and the cost. He left the homestead after working long enough to secure good robust health all his life in the mercantile business in town and would be conversant with these early movements of enterprising men after the pike was made. It is likely they were not introduced until some time after, as I can remember when merchants on horseback, one or two together with money in their saddlebags and pistols also there or in their pockets risked their lives to cross the mountains for goods and mostly got around safely. There were many, however, who put their money into cattle droves and thus benefitted the farmers and then sold for cash and then bought the goods, which was safer than carrying the money on the highway over the mountain. Before taking up the farming industries of the valley and to some extent of other parts of the State also, as, no doubt, Pennsylvania was the leading State in the business as it was central in commerce and of course commanded the trade if there was any and would continue to be prepared to do the business, but even now New York is far ahead with its canal and two or three railroads. I will say more of this hereafter when I come fairly round to the subject. Before writing of the business in more modern times, I wish kindly to state I had an extensive detail of the manner and amount of business for a long time after Gen. Forbes first opened the State road to Pittsburg but I have lost it and will have to write from memory. There were country farming teams pressed into the service to transport supplies to the forts Pittsburg and Ligonier and at Bedford to some extent. They were four horse teams of Cumberland, Lancaster and York counties - then embracing all that lower region. At that day there were very few settlements and shops with skilled workmen to do repairs. When wagons and outfits stood the scrutiny of inspection, the teamsters still had to supply themselves with great amount of horse-shoes, nails, linch-pins, singletrees, hames and wheels to supply in case of breakage also of feed distributed along the route to use on the return, also outfit for camping out when necessary. Their teams consisted of four horses as the roads were too primitive and crooked to handle large teams. The wagons in use in the early business were the narrow wheels with lockchains with gradual enlargement to carry safely about two tons, up to the time of completing the turnpike in 1817 when larger wagons with broad wheels were introduced conveying larger loads of from three to four tons and with much saving to the pike and having to pay only half price tolls for these wide wheels, at the toll-gates. Also near this time was introduced the locking machine or rubber and now everywhere called breaks used on railroads and all wheel structures which invention was a grand improvement and convenience in the teaming business and very much so in the staging as down long mountains soon destroyed the wheels and horses holding back heavy loads as they could not lock stages. I never knew whom nor where the invention was made. His name should be consigned to a place in history. Besides having to stop to lock wheels the road was frequently torn up requiring heavy pulling down hill, but with the machine you could tighten or loosen as necessary and save much destruction of wheels. This was the universal practice in my time. These fine large wagons, well equipped were mostly made in Franklin county at London near foot of Path valley and eastern base of Cove mountain. The father of Tom Scott, the great railroad man, carried on an extensive business of this kind, also of harness business and the London wagon whip was said to be invented there. It showed no seam outside. He also owned long "Wagon Tavern." He was a fine, substantial looking old gentlemen and seemed to be wealthy. There was also much of this business in other towns along the route to and in Chambersburg, but few this way or beyond.

Of teamsters of the valley before the pike was made were Robert Armor, Wm. Curry and Benjamin Johnston of Laughlinstown and near there was a Mr. Johnston who it is said had two stockings full of gold and silver standing at the head of his bed all his days but I don't know that it is true. Henry Reed of Ligonier and down the valley the McCurdys, Knoxes, Simpsons, Pollocks, perhaps the Hills, Hammils, Grahams. Most of these had farm teams which were used on the road when not needed on the farm and the same was true also in later days on the pike with broad wheels. Daniel McCoy, Joseph Elder and a brother of Dr. McCullough followed the road regularly. This latter man with Col. John Clifford and one other man were all I ever saw driving team with line fur hats on and wearing gloves when it was not cold weather. I came nearly forgetting the Keffers - Jacob and Michael, the former especially had a fine rigged team. After I became doctor the old gent. Jacob says, wishing to tease, I suppose that Francis remembers when we used to drive wagons on the road? Yes, I think I do and wasn't I a good driver? Yes, you were by gingo. Do you remember, naming half a dozen valley teamsters when loaded in Baltimore that you would not drive on Sunday and that you beat us all to Pittsburg. I could have told him as Jacob Painter told the great Dr. McGowan of Pittsburg, that my wagoning days were pleasant days although attended with much risk and danger, out of which the Lord delivered me, perhaps because I tried to keep the Sabbath day. It is said that the "Union Line" or canal of which the Graffs of Blairsville owned a considerable interest would never move a boat on the Sabbath and never met with any disaster whatever in their business. Railroads might be more blessed also if they conducted their business in like manner.

A NEIGHBOR