This was followed almost immediately by the Herdic Phaeton Company. Peter Herdic as really the father of Williamsport. Trinity Episcopal Church was funded entirely by Peter Herdic. The company took its name from the chariot's designer Peter H. Herdic of Wilmington, Delaware. Peter Herdic, his partners and many other businessmen in Williamsport, became fabulously wealthy. The Williamsport Passenger Railway Company was founded by Peter Herdic. Photo of a Herdic Omnibus and gingerbread waiting station at Lafayette Square in 1891. Peter Herdic is the inventor of the Herdic cab, a precursor to the taxi. Herdic's father died in 1826 and Elizabeth Herdic remarried shortly thereafter. The first herdic cabs carried up to eight passengers. Herdic had this block constructed in 1870. Peter Herdic was knocked down, but he was not knocked out. Many transportation historians regard the herdic as a predecessor of the taxicab. D.C. The herdic cab was in service in Washington as late as 1918.