Old Taverns and Tavern Keepers continued—Fort Necessity, Washington’s First Battle Field, Monroe Springs, Reception to President Monroe, Gate Bob McDowell, Braddock’s Run and Grave, Fayette Springs, A Trio of Old Fiddlers, Chalk Hill, Snyders, Old Squire Price, The Summit of Laurel Hill, Molly Calhoun, Ephraim McLean, The Big Water Trough on Laurel Hill, The Goat Pen, The Turkey’s Nest, Monroe, known now mostly as Hopwood, Matthias Fry, German D. Hair, The Old Morris House, Widow Sands, Harry Gilbert.

Mt. Washington is a point replete with historic interest. Here Washington first measured swords with an enemy, and fought his first battle. It is the site of Fort Necessity, and known in colonial times as the Great Meadows. Gen. Washington subsequently became the owner of this property, and held it until his death. It was no doubt owing to the fact that his first engagement with an armed foe took place on this ground he resolved to buy it. In his last will he directed it to be sold by his executors, together with other real estate he held, and the proceeds divided among parties he named. The tract, when owned by Washington, contained two hundred and thirty-four acres, and he valued it at six dollars an acre. He thus refers to it in a note appended to his will:

“This land is valuable on account of its local situation. It affords an exceeding good stand on Braddock’s road, from Ft. Cumberland to Pittsburg, and besides a fertile soil, possesses a large quantity of natural meadow, fit for the scythe. It is distinguished by the appellation of the Great Meadows, where the first action with the French, in 1754, was fought.”

Previous to 1835, and by divers good conveyances and assurances, down from Washington, this estate passed into the hands of the late Hon. Nathaniel Ewing, who caused to be erected on the property the large brick house, still standing, and one of the most noted old taverns on the road. Judge Ewing subsequently sold and conveyed the property to James Sampey, who went into possession and kept the tavern for many years, and until his death. The first year after Mr. Sampey’s death the management of the tavern and farm was placed in charge of Robert Hogsett, who turned over to the representative of the estate the sum of four thousand dollars, as the profits of one year. The Good Intent line of stages stopped at Sampey’s, and as showing the extent of the business of the house, Mr. Hogsett mentions that on one morning seventy-two stage passengers took breakfast there. John Foster and James Moore subsequently kept this house. They were sons-in-law of James Sampey, and Moore was an old stage driver. At the close of business on the road. Ellis Y. Beggs purchased the property and the tavern was closed. William D. Beggs, the father of Ellis, died in this house. He had collected the tolls for many years at the gate near Searights, was likewise a school teacher, and a good one, and was, for a number of years, Steward of the County Home. His eldest daughter, Jane, was the second wife of Dr. Smith Fuller, the eminent Uniontown physician. Godfrey Fazenbaker succeeded Beggs in the ownership, and engaged extensively in farming and stock raising. Mr. Fazenbaker died in possession, and the property descended to his heirs, who are the present occupants. The big water-trough still remains on the opposite side of the road from this old tavern, but all else has changed since the days when the proud stage driver cracked his long silken-ended whip over the backs of his four spanking steeds.

The next old tavern was at Monroe Springs, on the hillside, a short distance west of one of the old round toll houses. This house was built by Charles McKinney, and opened up by him as a tavern. It was a log house, weather-boarded, of small dimensions, now entirely obliterated. Boss Rush commenced his career as a tavern keeper in the old house at this point, and it was kept at various times by such well known men as Wm. S. Gaither, German D. Hair, Wm. Dillon, Morris Mauler, John Rush, John Foster and David Ogg. It was essentially a wagon stand, and night after night, in the prosperous era of the road, the ground all around it was crowded with big wagons and teams, and the old bar room rang out with the songs and jokes of the jolly wagoner. Opposite the house a large water-trough was erected, kept full and overflowing from a spring near by, called “The Monroe Spring,” in honor of President Monroe. When McKinney kept this house President Monroe passed along the road, and a public dinner was given him here. John Hagan, then a contractor on the original construction of the road, was prominently connected with the bestowal of this compliment upon the old-time President. The few old folks who have personal recollections of this event, speak of it as a memorable and exciting occasion. The dinner was substantial and superb, and highly enjoyed by all participating, including the illustrious guest. John Hagan was the father of Robert Hagan, esq., ex-commissioner of Fayette county, Pennsylvania.

One of the old stone toll houses stood a short distance east of the Monroe Springs, and remained until 1893, when it was torn down. Hiram Seaton was one of the early collectors at this point. He was the father of [R]C. S. Seaton, the well known banker of Uniontown. He subsequently served two terms as County Treasurer. He had a wooden leg, and was esteemed as an honest man. He went west, settled in Missouri, and died there. He was succeeded as toll collector by Robert McDowell, always thereafter called “Gate Bob,” to distinguish him from a number of other well known citizens bearing the same name. Robert McDowell was also an honest man, a popular man and a fighting man. He was tall, thin and muscular. His fingers were distorted by rheumatism, but he could use them in a fight with terrible effect. He was the Democratic candidate for county commissioner of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1854, but beaten by the Know Nothings. He died a few years ago at Dunbar, very greatly lamented. The memory of “Gate Bob” will long remain fresh in the recollection of the pike boys, old and young.

The next old tavern stand is the “Braddock’s Run House.” Gen. Braddock was buried near this house, a day or two after his disastrous defeat by the French and Indians, at Braddock’s Field, near Pittsburg. The exact spot where he was buried is still pointed out, and can be seen from the road. This circumstance gave name to the brook here, and the tavern. The house was built by Charles McKinney, the same person who built the “Monroe Springs House.” He kept tavern here for many years. The house is a large two-story stone structure. It was subsequently and successively kept by Robert Shaw, Noble McCormick and William Shaw. This property is now owned by the heirs of James Dixon, and is not a public house.

Next we come to the “Fayette Springs Hotel,” a large stone house built at an early day by the Hon. Andrew Stewart, who owned the property, and remained its owner until the day of his death. It was recently sold by his heirs to Capt. John Messmore, of Uniontown. This house was a favorite resort for visitors to the Fayette Springs, situate about three-quarters of a mile distant. In its halcyon days it had its ten-pin alley, billiard tables, swing, and other appliances of pleasure and comfort, but they have all passed away, and probably by reason of hard times, and the abatement of interest in the Springs may never again be brought into requisition. Here merry parties of young folks from Uniontown and elsewhere were accustomed to assemble and enjoy a hearty supper, engage in the dizzy mazes of the dance, and when it was all over “go home with the girls in the morning.” Mahlon Fell and Tom Collins were the old-time fiddlers, and furnished the music, which in its line was of superior excellence. They were occasionally reinforced by Jacob B. Miller, esq., who tendered his services without pecuniary reward, and in the language of the day, “could make a fiddle talk.” Collins is dead. [S]Fell and Miller are both living. The former has joined the church and abandoned the fiddle, while the latter still retains his taste and talent for music, and often entertains his friends in a private manner, with many of the popular tunes of the olden time. The “Fayette Springs House” has been kept in turn by Cuthbert Wiggins, John Risler, B. W. Earl, Samuel Lewis, William Snyder, William Darlington, John Rush, Major Swearingen, Redding Bunting, Cuthbert Downer, and perhaps others.

We next reach “Chalk Hill,” so called from the circumstance of white clay adhering to the shovels of the workmen engaged in digging the foundation of the road. The tavern house was built here in 1823 by Jonathan Downer, who was its first host. He was succeeded by Boss Rush, and he in turn by Springer Downer, Samuel Shipley, William Shipley and Milford Shipley. [T]John Olwine now owns the property, and keeps tavern here. It is a two-story frame, with commodious stabling attached. Boss Rush went from this house to Farmington. Samuel Shipley bought this property at an Orphans’ Court sale, in 1846, for $1,405, and paid for it in gold. Westley Frost was the sheriff and trustee to sell. Shipley subsequently became an associate judge. He was more fortunate than his neighbor and fellow inn keeper, Boss Rush, in belonging to the strong side. Rush was one of his competitors on the Republican side.

Next comes the old tavern stand of James Snyder. Snyder seems to have been here always, and is here yet. He did vacate a short time for William Shaw, but not long enough to change the tradition that this is, and always was, Snyder’s. The house looks old and dingy, and no wonder, for it has withstood the wild dashes of numberless mountain storms. It is situate at the foot of the eastern slope of Laurel Hill, and on the head waters of Sandy Creek. The old stable is decaying, and will soon be gone. The old host, too, is showing the marks of time and age. He has already passed beyond the age defined by the Psalmist. His three score and ten are supplemented by well nigh half a score.[U] He is the only old landmark left along the road, that has not shifted from original ground, except Natty Brownfield. A few years ago he was elected county commissioner on the Democratic ticket, but practically without opposition. He is universally esteemed for his honesty. As a tavern keeper he enjoyed an excellent reputation, and many a weary traveler has found consolation and comfort under his hospitable roof. The best wishes of all his neighbors attend the old gentleman in his declining years, and heaven’s choicest blessings are invoked upon his venerable head.

Near the top of Laurel Hill on the eastern slope, once lived a noted character named Benjamin Price. His house, a log structure, was built near the roadside, but below its surface, so that the upper story was about on a level with the road. He kept a cake shop, was an acting justice of the peace, and a strict Methodist, and was in the habit of annoying wagoners and hog drovers by fining them for swearing, and they in turn annoyed him by throwing billets of wood and disabled hogs down his chimney. Price is long since dead, and the last vestige of his old house has disappeared. The stable nearby it remained longer, but it has gone, too. A few apple trees planted by the hands of the ’Squire, now encroached upon by the mountain undergrowth, are all that remain to indicate the spot where the old house stood.

STONE HOUSE, DARLINGTON’S.