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.* |
This page was updated in April 2007
| 1849 Postoffice & Postmaster appointments | |
| May 30 --
Garnavillo, Clayton county, David G. Rogers, P.M. June/July -- Elkader, Clayton county, Horace D. Brownson Aug/Sept -- Elkport, Clayton county, John B. Blanchard Aug/Sept. -- Monona, Clayton county, Phineas P. Olmstead _____________ -from the Burlington Hawk-Eye: |
| 1851 | |
| December 1851 -- the following new Post
Offices have been established: Panther Creek, Clayton county, E.C. Forbes, P.M. |
| 1860 Post-offices & the Postmasters serving them |
|
| Cass | John D. Martin |
| Clayton | Alex Falconer |
| Communia | Jas. Venus |
| Cox Creek | G.S. Peck |
| Elkader | Buel Knapp |
| Farmersburgh | S. Huntington |
| Garnavillo | C.W. Hagensiek |
| Gem | Benj. D. Worthing |
| Giard | Leverett Seymour |
| Grand Meadow | L. Edson |
| Guttenburgh | John P. Kriebs |
| Highland | Daniel Lowe |
| High Grove | M. Callaghan |
| Honey Creek | A. Marshall |
| Little Port | D. Quigley |
| Locust Hill | G.A. Gooding |
| McGregor | A.P. Richardson |
| Milville | Henry Cassel |
| Monona | Horace Emery |
| National | N. Slaughter |
| New Stand | J. Lockridge |
| Panther Creek | M.M. Vanicle |
| Peck's Ferry | J.H. Bowman |
| Read | Jno. L. Hagensick |
| Spencer | C.C. Smettsger |
| Strawberry Point | E.P. Rawson |
| Volga City | Alva Bevins |
| Yankee Settlement | J.T. Belknap |
| 1861 | |
| -from the Weekly Times, Dubuque, April 4, 1861 - C.F. Glass, appointed postmaster at Guttenberg |
| 1878 - 1882 | |
| -Postoffice changes during the week
ending August 31, 1878: Postmasters Appointed- Luana, Clayton county, W.W. Pettit -Post office changes
for the week ending May 3, 1879: -Post Office Changes for the week ending March 13,
1880: -Postoffice changes for the week ending February 4,
1882: |
| 1904 Post-offices | 1916 Post-offices |
Beulah Clayton East Elkport Edgewood Elkader Elkport Farmersburg Froelich Garber Garnavillo Graham Gunder Guttenburg Little Port Luana McGregor Mederville Millville Monona National North Buena Vista North McGregor Osborne Osterdock Saint Olaf Saint Sebald Strawberry Point Turkey River Updegraff Volga Watson Wood |
Clayton Edgewood Elkader Elkport Froelich Garber Garnavillo Guttenburg Luana McGregor Mederville Monona North Buena Vista North McGregor Osborne Osterdock Saint Olaf Saint Sebald Strawberry Point Turkey River Volga |
| Post-offices discontinued by 1916 | |
Gunder - served by Postville, Allamakee county National - served by McGregor Watson - served by McGregor Wood - served by Edgewood |
sources:
- background information was taken from US Postal Service History
- Burlington Hawk Eye, misc. issues
- Weekly Times, Dubuque, April 4, 1861
- Iowa State Almanac & Statistical Register,
1860
- Iowa Official Register 1904, compiled by W.B. Martin,
Secretary of State and
- Iowa Official Register 1915-16, compiled under the
supervision of William S. Allen, Secretary of State, by Henry C.
Baumgartner
note to researchers: the information may be incomplete for any of
the years given
-data compiled by Sharyl Ferrall for Clayton co. IAGenWeb