lived right down the pike from?

[Jenny Lau]

There is a sentence I cannot understand(in red words):
Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter, but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now."

what does it mean by " lived right down the pike from Jackson"?
And do u know who Jim brown is ? Is he a famous man?
To help u understand my question, I paste the short story as bellow:
It's been said that Andrew Jackson's boyhood friends just couldn't understand how he became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They knew of others who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson's friends commented, "Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter, but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now."
Another friend responded, "How did there happen to be a fourth time? Don't they usually say three times and out?"
"Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat - he would never stay 'throwed.' Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andy would throw him and be the winner."
Andrew Jackson just wouldn't stay "throwed"! And that determination served him well for many years.

[RonBee]

Question:

What is meant by " lived right down the pike from Jackson"?

Answer:

The person lived within a stone's throw from him, or within walking distance.

[curmudgeon]

Jim Brown is not famous. At the time the story is relating to people thought he was smarter and stronger than Jackson, but history proved otherwise.

[Anglika]

In case anyone was wondering, "pike" here is a short form for turnpike = toll road.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Anglika

In case anyone was wondering, "pike" here is a short form for turnpike = toll road.

It originally was, but it has become a generic reference for "road".

[Jenny Lau]

I completely understand now, thank u all!

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Jenny Lau

I completely understand now, thank u all!

You're welcome.