George W. Bobbitt

Paoli to New Albany, Indiana

Stage Coach Driver

Photo Courtesy Marvin P. Beatty

"I do have a rather good picture of George Bobbitt sitting on the stage in order to make its last run from Paoli to New Albany. I would like for it to be posted on the public page."  

Marvin

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The stage ran from Paoli to New Albany. The trip took most of the day. When one stage left Paoli another left New Albany at the same time. They would meet at the stage stop in Palmyra. The picture was taken in 1912, the driver is George W. Bobbitt (1868 - 1946), grandfather of Marvin's wife, Billie Blackford Beatty.

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"It was not possible to carry on a two way conversion with George. He talked and you listened except I didn't listen very much. I would sure like to talk to the old man again, I would be a little  more attentive now. George bought the house in 1912.  Not long before this he was stricken with Atrophy of the Muscles and he was unable to walk for a long time. The men at the livery stable would have to pick him up and set him on the stage and then he was as good as any one with the horses.  In fact, the team that he is using in the picture was called a 'spike team' and George was the only one in the stable who could handle one.   When the stage quit operating George did what ever odd jobs he could find. About 1930 he bought a car and established Paoli's one and only taxi cab company.  The state decided that he was not able to drive a car and refused to renew his license. The entire town was up in arms and raised such a to do over the case that the state  finally approved his application." -- Marvin Beatty

Thank you for sharing Marvin.

September, 2003

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Photo of Marvin P. Beatty

World War II Veteran

Genealogists Extraordinaire

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