Early Mail Facilities - First Post-Offices in the County - Names of Offices - When Established - Names of Postmasters - First Mail Route - Oldest Postmasters - A Quarter of a Century in Charge of a Post-Office.
We are enabled, through the courtesy of the post-office department, to give a complete history of the post-offices established in this county, from the first office at Port Barnett until the present time.
Port Barnett - established January 4, 1826, and Joseph Barnett appointed postmaster. Changed to Brookville, September 10, 1830.
Brookville - Postmasters, Jared B. Evans, appointed September 10, 1830; Cephas I. Dunham, March 30, 1833; William Rodgers, January 19, 1835; John Dougherty, August 18, 1840; Samuel H. Lucas, June 25, 1841; Daniel Smith, November 21, 1844; Barton T. Hastings, May 9, 1845; John Hastings, June 18, 1846; David S. Deering, December 14, 1848; James Corbet, September 23, 1850; David S. Deering, February 24, 1853; Kennedy L. Blood, April 20, 1853; Parker P. Blood, April 1, 1857; Alexander P. Heichhold, March 9, 1861; John Scott, April 20, 1864; Barton T. Hastings, September 8, 1866; John Scott, April 5, 1869; F.A. Weaver, April 23, 1884; Laselle R. Erdice, December 5, 1885.
Allens’ Mills, established July 1, 1874. Postmasters, E.W. Clark, appointed July 1, 1874; J.G. Allen, April 19, 1877. Office discontinued, August 21, 1877. Re-established, August 2, 1880. Jerry G. Allen, appointed August 2, 1880.
Alvan - Postmasters, Alvan H. Head, appointed July 13, 1848; John Arner, May 11, 1850; Alexander McConnell, March 1, 1852; Thomas Tedlie, April 9, 1862; office discontinued October 1, 1862.
Baxter - Postmaster, Richard Baxter, appointed February 24, 1875.
Beechtree - Richard Woodward, appointed April 4, 1882; John H. Bell, November 25, 1885.
Brown’s Mills (Bell’s Mills) - Postmasters, Henry Brown, appointed February 4, 1859; discontinued February 15, 1860; re-established March 9, 1860, and Henry Brown, reappointed; name changed to Bell’s Mills October 24, 1863, and James H. Bell appointed postmaster; William E. Bell, December 20, 1878, William W. Graffius, November 27, 1885.
Brockwayville - Postmasters, Alonzo Brockway, appointed April 13, 1829; discontinued January 3, 1838; re-established March 14, 1838, and Asaph M Clark appointed postmaster; Robert W. Moorhead, December 6, 1856; William H. Schram, September 2, 1862; Jonas G. Wellman, January 9, 1866; W.W. Wellman, March 20, 1872; Robert O. Moorhead, February 18, 1880; Barrett T. Chapin, October 30, 1885.
Big Run - Postmasters, James U. Gillespie, appointed August 1, 1854; Joseph McPherson, May 4, 1858; David C. Gillespie, October 17, 1865; Andrew McClure, February 5, 1869; George K. Tyson, July 14, 1870; Andrew P. Cox, 23d October, 1874; Philip Enterline, April 6, 1875; Andrew P. Cox, March 21, 1881; Charles V. Wilson, August 12, 1885.
Clarion - Postmaster, John McNulty, appointed February 8, 1833; discontinued September 3, 1834.
Corsica - Postmasters, John J.Y. Thompson, appointed November 29, 1843; John C. Ferguson, April 21, 1852; John H. Dill, January 19, 1853; Mark Rodgers, April 22, 1853; William H. Barr, December 3, 1857; William Love, January 20, 1859; William W. Reed, July 9, 1861; Sarah A. Reed, June 12, 1862.
Clouser - Postmasters, George Kramer, appointed February 15, 1884; W.W. Clouser, July 1, 1884.
Coal Glen - Postmaster, Austin Blakeslie, appointed May 27, 1886.
Cool Spring - Postmasters, James Gray, appointed April 17, 1838; John Scott, October 4, 1844; Thompson A. McKinstry, January 10, 1856; discontinued April 25, 1857; re-established September 20, 1869, and Thomas Hepler appointed; Miles R. Kunselman, March 13, 1882; John R. McKinstry, August 6, 1885.
Creashaw - Postmaster, William V. Parmley, appointed January 19, 1887.
Dolingville - Postmasters, Joseph Broadhead, appointed July 15, 1869; Gilbert B. Burrows, May 26, 1870; Thomas Doling, January 3, 1871; discontinued September 7, 1871.
Dora - John H. Geist, appointed postmaster July 9, 1883; discontinued July 14, 1884.
Dunkle - Postmaster, George W. Dunkle, appointed August 21, 1882.
Ella - William P. Painter, appointed postmaster July 15, 1886.
Emerickville - Postmasters, Emanuel Weiser, appointed May 6, 1872; George Zettler, April 13, 1881; Emanuel Weiser, December 17, 1885.
Emerickville - John R. Hetrick, appointed postmaster June 21, 1851; discontinued February 21, 1855.
Erdice - Postmaster, William McMillen, appointed April 4, 1887.
Frostburg - Postmasters, Charles R.B. Morris, appointed March 30, 1858; Robert Hamilton, April 8, 1859; Charles R.B. Morris, February 24, 1881; Tobias S. Newbold, January 18, 1886.
Fuller - Abel Fuller appointed postmaster September 20, 1875; changed to Rocky Bend, December 10, 1877, and Abel Fuller appointed; changed again to Fuller February 25, 1878, and Abel Fuller reappointed; Henry Miller, appointed June 3, 1881; H.C. Fuller, March 6, 1883; Henry E. Fuller, April 3, 1883.
Grange - Postmasters, Albert D. Sprankle, appointed May 31, 1880; Nathaniel S. Sprankle, May 9, 1882; Ezra C. Gourley, April 13, 1883; Lafayette Sutter, August 6, 1885.
Handy - Joshua Jones, appointed postmaster May 26, 1884; discontinued August 4, 1886.
Hazen - Postmasters, William R. Anderson, appointed April 7, 1882; discontinued March 15, 1883; re-established January 24, 1885, and Isaac Lyle appointed postmaster.
Hamilton now Hay - Postmasters, Robert Hamilton, appointed February 16, 1852; Joseph W. Sharp, July 23, 1866; John N. Heckendorn, February 14, 1868; James G. Mitchell, January 8, 1885; David Neal, August 12, 1885; changed to Hay, February 24, 1886, and David Neal reappointed; Sharp Neal, May 18, 1886.
Packer now Heathville - Postmasters, Leopold Einstein, appointed June 29, 1857; John Osborn, February 5, 1858; George W. Gumbert, December 12, 1863; Thomas Edmunds, July 2, 1866; Philip Shaffer, December 30, 1870; changed to Heathville April 9, 1879; Henry Hepler, April 9, 1879;Curtis S. Guthrie, March 27, 1886.
Heathville - Postmaster, Elijah Heath appointed September 24, 1841; discontinued February 17, 1842.
Howe - Postmasters, Thomas J. Lyle, appointed February 9, 1882; Barton M. Whitehill, November 10, 1885.
Hudson - Postmasters, Augustus G. Winslow appointed June 30, 1869; Tobias J. Long, August 12, 1885.
Knoxdale - Postmasters, Henry N. Milliron, appointed February 25, 1863; Samuel Stewart, March 8, 1865; Michael E. Steiner, November 9, 1869; Evelyn D. Sharp, May 4, 1870; John G. Steiner, December 1, 1870; John G. Steiner, jr., June 16, 1873; Daniel I. Steiner, December 20, 1880; Hugh E. McCracken, September 11, 1883.
Lane’s Mills - Robert Humphrey appointed postmaster January 13, 1885.
Langville - Walter J. Bracken appointed postmaster June 11, 1886.
Lindsey - John W. Parsons appointed postmaster January 24, 1882.
Merata - John Philliber appointed postmaster February 19, 1851; dis~continued August 8, 1853.
Montmorency - Postmasters, Reuben A. Aylesworth, appointed February 14, 1826; Jesse Morgan, March 13, 1828; James L. Gillis, April 7, 1828; discontinued March 1, 1832.
Mendorf now Mundorf - Newton Webster, appointed postmaster February 5, 1885; changed to Mundorf March 5, 1886.
New Petersburg - Postmasters, John H. Hinderleter, appointed December 3, 1869; James N. Chambers, April 16, 1872; Henry Snyder, April 4, 1873; Henry Hinderleter, August 9, 1876; Daniel F. Harrison, November 11, 1878; discontinued, March 15, 1883.
Oliveburg - Postmasters, Eli Miller, January 7, 1862; Rachel Bell, June 13, 1866; William H. Redding, September 25, 1871; Henry M. Means, May 29, 1873; John B. Fink, September 28, 1875.
Oyster - Reuben J. Thompson appointed postmaster November 20, 1883.
Ohl - Postmaster, Edward M. Ohl, December 1, 1886.
Pancoast - Postmasters, M.J. Farrell appointed May 17, 1876; Hannibal Hutchinson December 17, 1882.
Panic - Postmasters, James B. North appointed July 11, 1881; George A. Morrison, March 10, 1882; Albert T. Sprankle, July 7, 1882; Norman Brown, October 29, 1883.
Pansy - Samuel Thomas appointed postmaster June 27, 1884.
Patton’s Station - Walker Smith appointed postmaster September 13, 1879.
Porter - Postmasters, Henry Snyder, appointed June 21, 1850; discontinued August 13, 1850; re-established April 15, 1854, and Robert A. Travis appointed; Martha Travis, February 2, 1875; James H. Elkins, January 30, 1880; John A. Timblin, March 27, 1886.
Punxsutawney - Postmasters, Charles R. Barclay, appointed February 28, 1826; John W. Jenks, December 15, 1828; David Barclay, November 2, 1830; Charles R. Barclay, December 21, 1831; John Hunt, October 17, 1837; James McConaughey, February 11, 1839; John R. Rees, December 29, 1843; John M. MCoy, August 6, 1845; Thomas L. Mitchell, November 13, 1849; Thomas McKee, June 6, 1853; Andrew J. Johnston, March 19, 1861; William Campbell; August 20, 1863; William Davis, August 13, 1864; Homer C. Bair, April 20, 1885.
Rathmel - Luther A. Hays appointed postmaster November 27, 1883.
Richardsville - Postmasters, David W. Moorhead, appointed Jan. 18, 1849; William R. Richards, July 6, 1852; David W. Moorhead, August 14, 1858; Joshua Long, February 2, 1859; Jackson Moorhead, Feb. 20, 1860; William Evans, July 31, 1883; Lewis Rhoads, July 17, 1885.
Prospect Hill (changed to Reynoldsville) - Postmasters, Tilton Reynolds, appointed May 18, 1842; Thomas Reynolds, Dec. 29, 1845.
Reynoldsville - Postmasters, Thomas Reynolds, appointed Feb. 23, 1850; John S. Smith, January 6, 1851; Orlando Gray, Oct. 27, 1854; John S. Smith, Sept. 26, 1856; Frederick C. Farmer, Feb. 16, 1858; discontinued August 31, 1859; re-established September 13, 1859; and Thomas Reynolds appointed postmaster; Thos. Montgomery, Dec. 12, 1862; Thos. Reynolds, April 5, 1865; Tilton C. Reynolds, June 9, 1881; William C. Schultze, Oct. 19, 1885.
Ringgold - Postmasters, Robert McFarland, appointed Nov. 11, 1847; George Mercer, May 30, 1850; Philip H. Shannon, July 8, 1852; Robert T. Perry, June 6, 1854; Samuel Miller, Sept. 1, 1856; John A. Freas, Oct. 10, 1856; Martin H. Shannon, Dec. 3, 1857; Philip H. Shannon, Oct. 1, 1859; James Dean, Oct. 12, 1860; A.J. Monks, Sept. 3, 1861; Robert Perry, Nov. 6, 1861; Susanna Reitz, Aug. 6, 1885.
Sandy Valley - Postmasters, John W. Riggs, appointed August 20, 1872; William Boner, July 31, 1876.
Rockdale Mills - Postmasters, William H. Gordon, appointed Jan. 13, 1863; Elisha L. Evans, April 26, 1864; Thomas Montgomery, May 1, 1867; Scott McClelland, March 29, 1872; C.D. Evans, May 22, 1876; Sophia Evans, April 8, 1878; Anne Mathews, October 2, 1878; Sophia Evans, Nov. 4, 1879.
Mary Annsville (changed to Schoffner’s Corners) - Postmaster, Thomas Craven, appointed June 10, 1858.
Schoffner’s corners - Postmasters, George Smith, appointed Jan. 20, 1859; Philip Hettrick, Aug. 3, 1863; John Snyder, March 17, 1864; Henry Heber, June 16, 1864. John Andrews, June 22, 1865; Sylvester Davis, May 9, 1866.
Sigel - Postmasters, James McNeal, appointed May 26, 1862; Henry Truman, March 3, 1868; George A. Carroll, Aug. 24, 1885.
Sprankle’s Mills - Postmasters, Peter Seiler, appointed Aug. 24, 1857; Mary Seiler, Jan. 24, 1863; William Eisenhart, March 7, 1863.
Stanton - Postmasters, James Hill, appointed April 15, 1862; James R. Hill, Jan. 11, 1864; Alexander Hill, Sept. 7, 1864; Abner J. Smathers, Nov. 9, 1865; Edward Reitz, July 20, 1869; Jacob R. Miller, Dec. 20, 1875; Edward Reitz, Jan. 23, 1879.
Sugar Hill - Postmasters, Alexander McConnell, appointed Feb. 27, 1877; William A. Shaw, April 28, 1886; John H. Simmons, May, 27, 1886.
Summerville - Postmasters, David Losh, appointed Feb. 14, 1839; Geo. Richards, Oct. 4, 1839; Samuel B. Taylor, Oct. 20, 1840; James Gardner, Oct. 4, 1841; Ira Baldwin, Jan. 12, 1843; Jonathan Milliron, Dec. 15, 1846; Benjamin S. Wesson, Jan. 28, 1848; Hiram Carrier, Feb. 22, 1849; Leopold Heilbruner, March 21, 1856; Benjamin S. Wesson, Dec. 6, 1856; Harlow R. Bryant, Feb. 4, 1862; Hiram Carrier, Aug. 28, 1866; Harlow R. Bryant, May 17, 1867; John H. Strong, Oct. 16, 1871; Frederick J. Strong, March 3, 1873; Joseph Guthrie, July 28, 1885.
Sykesville - Postmaster, Jacob B. Sykes, appointed Oct. 8, 1883.
Valier - Postmasters, John N. Means, appointed Aug. 4, 1885; Mary M. Postlethwait, April 9, 1886.
Wallston - Postmaster, Daniel N. McIntyre, appointed Nov. 25, 1885.
Warsaw - Postmasters, Thomas McCormick, appointed Aug. 15, 1836; David McCormick, Jan. 17, 1838; Moses B. St. John, May 12, 1839; John H. McKee, June 23, 1853; Jacob Raught, Jan. 25, 1854; John Reed, Sept. 9, 1854; John Sheasley, June, 8, 1860; Isaac W. Temple, July 12, 1861; Wm. P. Mathers, Nov. 12, 1871; S.W. Temple, Jan. 9, 1882.
Whitesville - Postmasters, John Keim, appointed Dec. 14, 1835; James C. Maize, Oct. 6, 1836; discontinued Oct. 17, 1837; re-established Sept. 24, 1841, and Gilmore Montgomery appointed postmaster; discontinued February 17, 1842.
Worthville - Postmaster, Henry Fox, appointed Feb. 6, 1854; discontinued March 28, 1855.
Worthville - Postmasters, John C. McNutt, appointed June 2, 1864; Morris R. Putney, Feb. 2, 1875; Samuel V. Shick, March 13, 1883.
The first mail route was established in 1826 from Kittanning to Olean, N.Y., a distance of one hundred and ten miles, over which the mail was carried once in two weeks. The contractor was Roswell B. Alford, of Wellsville, Ohio, and he received for his services four hundred dollars per annum. This route supplied all the offices there were then in Jefferson county.
In the first thirty years of the county’s existence there were only five post-offices; now there are fifty-nine, nearly all of which are supplied with a daily mail, and the majority of the smaller offices with a tri-weekly mail. The office at Brookville receives and dispatches seven daily mails, and all the larger offices in the county are similarly supplied.
The oldest living ex-postmaster in Jefferson county is Hon. Jared B. Evans, of Washington township. Mr. John Scott was connected with the post-offices of the county for about thirty-five years, seventeen years of that time being postmaster at Brookville. Mrs. Sarah Reed, postmistress at Corsica, will, June 12, 1887, celebrate her quarter of a century as the incumbent of that office.
Source: Page(s) 90-96, History of Jefferson County by Kate M. Scott. Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co., 1888.
Contributed by Nathan Zipfel for use by the Jefferson County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/jefferson/)
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