Allamakee co. IAGenWeb - Misc. History

*Background information: From 1836 to 1864 Postmasters were appointed by the President of the United States. The position of Postmaster was very much a political appointment, and often there was fierce competition for the job. Selections for Postmasters were made by Congressmen under a complicated "advisor" system, requiring a would-be Postmaster to solicit the support of his Congressional Representative or Senator, then Presidential nomination to the Senate, and finally Senate confirmation.

1849 Postoffice & Postmaster Appointments

May 14th, 1849 -- Tom Corwin, Allemakee county, established and Stephen Holcomb appointed P.M.

July/Aug 1849 -- Postville, Elijah W. Stevenson appointed P.M.

Sept. 1849 -- Lansing, Alamakee county, established and W.S. Garrison appointed P.M.

1856 Postoffices
Hamlin Grove Lycurgus Markee Ossian * Painted Rock Postville Rossville Union Prairie Volney Waterville Wawkon *Ossian is in Winneshiek Co.	Wexford Bellows Bryson Bunker Hill Capoli Columbus French Creek Grantville Hardin Ion Lansing Lybrand

1860 Postoffice & Postmasters
Alamakee Capoli Clear Creek Cleveland Dorchester Elon French Creek Hardin Ion Lansing Lybrand Lycurgus Makee New Galena Nezeka Ossian * Postville Rossville Union Prairie Village Creek Volney Waterville Wawkon Wexford Wilson's Ford *Ossian is in Winneshiek Co.	Geo. L. Miller O.S. Conkey M.S. Merritt J.M. Arnold T.S. Smith John Reed Wm. Brooks Crawford Breedlone S. Goodridge A.W. Purdy Noah Maltbie Wm. J. Shep S.C. Marsh J.L. Paxon Wm. C. Booth John O. Porter Emera Higbey Wm. F. Ross Ed Eells Jas. Erickson Isaiah Wood Jedu Spooner R.C. Armstrong David Harper J.T. Wagoner

1904 Postoffices
Church Connor Dorchester Egan Elder Grove Elon Harpers Ferry Ion Lansing Lycurgus Lyndale	Maud New Albin Postville Quandahl Rossville Village Creek Volney Waterville Waukon Waukon Junction

1916 Postoffices
Church Dorchester Harpers Ferry Lansing Maud	New Albin Postville Waterville Waukon Waukon Junction
Notes: Rossville - served by Waukon Village Creek - served by Lansing

1927 Postoffices

Church Dorchester Harpers Ferry Lansing New Albin	Postville Waterville Waukon Waukon Junction

New Albin Postmaster 1958-1981

New Albin postmaster Cleon Sires will retire on June 13 after 34 years of government service. Cleon began work as a clerk in the New Albin post office in 1946 after serving in the Army Air Force in World War II. He was appointed postmaster in 1958. He has been a volunteer and secretary for the New Albin Fire Department for 30 years and has been on the New Albin rescue squad for 15 years. Mrs. Lavern (Mary Lou) Welper will be the officer in charge until a new postmaster is appointed.

Allamakee Journal, Lansing, June 13, 1981 - contributed by Errin Wilker

- *source of background information: abstracted from US Postal Service History
- Burlington Hawk Eye, June, August & Sept. 1849 issues; May 1878 issue
- Iowa State Almanac & Statistical Register (1860 Postoffices & Postmasters)
- Iowa as it is in 1856; Parker, Nathan Howe; Chicago, Keen and Lee,1856.
- Iowa Official Register, 1904, compiled by W.B. Martin, Secretary of State
- Iowa Official Register, 1915-16, compiled under the supervision of William S. Allen, Secretary of State, by Henry C. Baumgartner
- State of Iowa 1927-1928 Official Register, compiled under the direction of Robert Henderson, superintendant of printing, by H.N. Whitney

1878 Postmaster Appointment
Rossville, Allamakee county, Jackson Mitchell appointed May 18th, 1878