HomeMy WebLinkAbout1841-1900 Brazos County Postal History BRAZOS COUNTY POSTAL HISTORY, 1841-1900
compiled by Bill PAGE, copyright 2002
Sources:
Official Register of the U.S. (abbreviated O.R.)
Post Office Department Reports of Site Locations.
WHEAT, Jim, Postmasters and Post Offices of Texas 1846-1930.
Unless the source is noted, data is taken from Jim WHEAT's book. Entries list
the date postmasters took office. Each of these sources is available on
microfilm at the Texas A&M University Library.
ALLENFARM
Site location report: About 50 people lived in village; post office would serve
about 300 people total; located 2 miles north of Brazos River & ½ mile south of
Big Creek; post office located about 20 feet from railroad track; signed
Augustus May HENSLEE; dated 20 Dec. 1884
HENSLEE, Aug. M.--19 Jan. 1885
WILLIAMS, Richd. E.--3 Aug. 1885
JARRELL, David C.--6 Jan. 1886
*name changed to Alligator, 10 Aug. 1888
Site location report: Signed D.C. JARRELL; dated 30 Sept. 1888
*name changed back to Allenfarm, 29 Oct. 1888
NORMAN, Jas. P.--11 Nov. 1889
*name changed to Ella, 3 Mar. 1890
CONE, Hilliard L.--3 Mar. 1890
Site location report: Post office name "Ella"; 2 miles north of Brazos River &
½ mile south of Big Creek; signed H.L. CONE; dated 1 Apr. 1890
JARRELL, David C.--8 Jan. 1892
STEELE, Aug. C.--17 Apr.1893
*name changed back to Allenfarm, 14 Oct. 1893
STEELE, ---. --8 Dec. 1900
BENCHLEY (Brazos Co.)
LEWIS, Dan J.--7 Dec. 1874
*Postoffice discontinued 16 Aug. 1877
*P.O. named Benchley in Robertson Co. opened in 1882
BOONVILLE
At first, Brazos Co. had no post office. In Nov. 1841, 67 citizens petitioned
the Congress of the Republic of Texas asking that a post office be established
at Boonville. The petition states:
"To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of
Texas in Congress assembled. The petition of the subscribers, citizens of the
County of Navasota and Republic of Texas aforesaid, respectfully sheweth that in
all the County of Navasota there is not 1 post office nor through any part of
the county is there a mail route, that by reason thereof your petitioners are
put to great inconvenience, some of them obliged to travel 20 or 25 miles to a
post office. In consequence of which they are frequently kept in ignorance for
a long time not only of the most important transactions at the seat of
Government and those things which most vitally concern us as a nation, but
oftentimes of that, which materially affects their own private interest.
Communications from government officers have been known to travel (in one
instance) to 3 different post offices in 3 adjoining counties to this before
they were received by those to whom they were directed. Enactments are
frequently in force before our magistrates can know of their passage. But your
petitioners conceive it to be superfluous to enumerate inconveniences which to
many of you must be well known, it is enough to say, here is a whole county
destitute of a single post office. Your petitioners would therefore pray that a
mail route be established from Franklin through this county to meet the Houston
and Washington mail somewhere in the east side of the Navasota River and that
three post offices be established, one in the upper and one in the lower beat of
said county and one at the county seat, and as in duty bound your petitioners
will ever pray. (Van Bavel, Margaret Lips, Birth and Death of Boonville.
Austin: Nortex Press, 1986. pp. 51- 52).
AN ACT, to establish a Mail-Route from FANTHORP's, in Montgomery Co., to DUNN's
Post Office in Robertson Co. Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and the House
of Representatives of the Republic of Texas in Congress Assembled, That the
Secretary of State be, and he is hereby authorized and required to contract for
the carrying a weekly mail from FANTHORP's post office, in Montgomery Co., by
Boonville in Navasota Co., to DUNN's post office in Robertson Co.; and that he
put the same in operation as early as practicable. Approved 22d Jan., 1842.
Laws Passed by the Sixth Congress of the Republic of Texas. Austin: S.
Whiting, Public Printer, 1842. p.57.
An act to amend the laws regulating the Post Office Department...mail routes, on
which the public mail shall be transported...From Washington to Franklin, via
Booneville.... Telegraph and Texas Register, 8 Mar. 1843, p. 2, col. 1
No. 1. Statement of the Quarterly Returns of Each Post-Office, from Oct. 1st
1843 to Sept. 30th, 1844: Counties Offices Post Masters
Brazos Boonville W. BOYLES
1843: 4th qr -- 1.25 1844: 1st qr -- 4.38
1844: 2nd qr -- 4.72 1844: 3rd qr -- 2.77
No. 2. Appointments
Post masters Offices Counties Date of Commission
W. BOYLES Boonville Brazos July 6, 1844
Report of the Chief Clerk of the General Post Office. Washington: Printed
at the Vindicator Office, 1844.
An act to provide for the carrying of the public mails...San Felipe to Franklin,
via BOSTWICK's Crossing, Travis, Cedar Creek, Washington, Boonville and
WHEELOCK's.... Telegraph and Texas Register, 2 Apr. 1845, p. 2, col. 1
CALLICOATE, J.B.--22 May 1846
WOOTON, Greenville F.--2 Nov. 1846
The Postmasters in the following list, to whose name a star is affixed, have not
yet given their bonds ... Boonville, Brazos County -- G.T. WOOTON* ... Telegraph
and Texas Register, 1 Mar. 1847, p.1
HUDSON, Standtonye W.--14 Jan. 1847
MITCHELL, Harvey--9 May 1848
SEALE, C.C.--29 Jan. 1850
JOHNSON, Robt.--23 Dec. 1850
MITCHELL, Harvey--27 Jan. 1851
McINTOSH, Wm.--13 July 1854
U.S. Mail--from Washington, by Millican, Boonville, Wheelock, twice a week, in 4
horse coaches... (Austin) Texas State Gazette, 17 Mar. 1855, p.1
McINTOSH, Wm.--12 July 1861 (Confederate postoffice)
[Agents for the News] ... W. McINTOSH, post master, Boonville. Galveston Weekly
News, Oct. 26, 1864, p.2
BULKLEY, W.C.--17 Nov. 1864 (Confederate postoffice)
HUBERT, Benj.--30 Oct. 1865
We hereby authorize B. HUBERT, p.m. at Boonville, Brazos Co., to act as our
agent, and to receive and sign receipts for money turned over to him on our
account. Galveston Weekly News, 20 Sept. 1865, p.2
JONES, Harry W.--23 Jan. 1866
Post-Offices Opened & Post Masters Appointed Up to March 1st, 1866: Boonville,
Harry W. JONES ... Galveston Daily News, 3 Apr. 1866, p.4
THOMPSON, Cemantha J.--23 Mar. 1866
BEAN, Taylor--25 July 1866
*location moved to Bryan, 19 Dec. 1866
BRYAN
Site location report: Located 8 miles east of Brazos River & 3 miles east of
Thompson's Creek; about 800 inhabitants lived in this village; signed Mercer
PHELAN; dated 30 Nov. 1866
PHELAN, Mercer--19 Dec. 1866
SPEAKER, Jas. M.--8 Nov. 1867
GARDINER, Chas. W.--3 Dec. 1867
Site location report: Local name "Bryan City"; 8 miles east of Brazos River &
14 miles west of Navasota "Creek"; signed C.W. GARDINER; dated 25 May 1868
The postmaster at Bryan has been removed and one Robt. C. MILLS appointed.
MILLS is on his way out from New York, but has not yet arrived. Of course he is
simply a radical spy, ordered here by REYNOLDS, "HAMILTON's friend." Houston
Daily Times, 5 May 1869, p.1
MILLS, Robert N.--5 Apr. 1869
MOORE, Henry A.--17 Jan. 1871
The Washington (D.C.) Chronicle informs us that H.A. MOORE, one of the
proprietors of the Brazos Eagle, has been appointed postmaster for Bryan, Texas.
Those who are in a position to know, say that this is a good appointment, and
one that will give general satisfaction to the people of Brazos Co. (Austin)
Daily State Journal, 1 Feb. 1871, p.2
In the city directory of the paper, H.A. MOORE is named as postmaster. The
office was open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 2 to 5 p.m. Weekly Bryan
Appeal, 26 Apr. 1872, as described in Bryan Daily Eagle, 25 Apr. 1917, p. 3
Mr. H.A. MOORE, who has been postmaster at Bryan for 6 years past, has been
removed by Postmaster- General KEY, & Mr. A.D. McCONNICO has been appointed in
his stead. MOORE is a Radical, & McCONNICO is a Democrat. We learn that the
ground of complaint against the former was that he had left his office without
leave of absence, & Mr. MOORE himself says that after TILDEN's election he
concluded that his time was up, & he accordingly went to Galveston in quest of
other employment. Galveston Daily News, 15 May 1877, p. 4.
H.A. MOORE, Radical postmaster at Bryan has been removed & A.D. McCONNICO,
Democrat, appointed to his place. Brenham Daily Banner, 23 May 1877, p.1
McCONNICO, Alex--1 May 1877
MYERS, J. Allen--23 Sept. 1882
In 1883, J.A. MYERS, postmaster at Bryan, received compensation of $2,000. 1883
O.R., vol.2, p.605
In 1883, J.D. WHITE, born in Missouri, served as a clerk at the Bryan Post
Office, with a salary of $25 per month. 1883 O.R., vol.2, p.730
Mr. John Allen MYERS, postmaster, will move the post office into the PARKER &
FLIPPEN building on the 1st. Galveston Daily News, 9 Mar. 1884, p.1
TABOR, John Q.--2 Nov. 1885
MYERS, J. Allen--4 Feb. 1890
BUCHANAN, Amos. W.--14 Feb. 1894
HASWELL, Tyler--5 May 1898
Site location report: Post office 75 feet from railroad tracks; town located 10
miles east of Brazos River & 1 ½ miles east of Still Creek; signed Tyler
HASWELL; dated 1 Aug. 1898
CALLA
EDGE, John H.--4 Dec. 1894
*postoffice discontinued 3 May 1895
COLLEGE STATION
Site location report: About 6 miles east of Brazos River & 3 miles west of
Carters Creek; post office would serve about 700 inhabitants; signed H.D.
PARSONS; dated 29 Jan. 1877
PARSONS, Henry D.--7 Feb. 1877
PUGH, Ed. B.--6 May 1878
The storehouse, with stock of merchandise, owned by Mr. E.B. PUGH, at College
Station, was entirely destroyed by fire last night. The fire is supposed to be
the work of an incendiary. Mr. PUGH was at the college attending the cadets'
ball when the fire was discovered, & before he was able to reach the store it
was almost entirely consumed. He was insured in the Liverpool Company for
$2700, which will cover about half his loss. Galveston Daily News, 24 Dec.
1882, p.1
SMITH, John E.--15 Mar. 1883
In 1883, J.E. SMITH received $394.36 in compensation. 1883 O.R., vol.2, p.606
HOFFMAN, Saml. C.--9 May 1884
BOYETT, Wm. C.--13 Apr. 1887
Site location report: Post office 50 feet from railroad tracks; located 6 miles
east of Brazos River & 2 miles east of White's Creek; signed W.C. BOYETT; dated
29 July 1898
CURDS PRAIRIE
Site location report: 7 miles southwest of Navasota River & 3 miles north of
Mathew's Branch; signed Henry D. LAWLESS; dated 18 Feb. 1874
LAWLESS, Henry D.--16 Mar. 1876
*discontinued 17 July 1876
EDGE
Site location report: 8 miles west of Navasota River & 1 mile south of Cedar
Creek; signed Wm. H. EDGE; dated 11 Aug. 1894
EDGE, Wm. H.--14 Sept. 1894
HOLMES, Chas. H.--28 Jan. 1895
Site location report: located 5 miles south of Navasota River & 1 mile south of
Cedar Creek; signed Charles H. HOLMES; dated 22 Feb. 1895
McMICHAEL, Warren H.--26 Feb. 1896
HARVEY
Site location report: Original name requested was "Barron"; "Harvey" was
instead approved; 8 miles west of Navasota River & 3 miles east of Carters
Creek; post office would serve 600 people; signed James W. BARRON; dated 20 Apr.
1886
BARRON, Jas. W.--31 July 1886
BUCHANAN, Amos. W.--18 Apr. 1890
WOOD, Waller T.--22 Jan. 1891
ROSS, Henry T.--13 Feb. 1896
IRISHTOWN
MITCHELL, H.--25 Sept. 1856
*discontinued 21 Oct. 1857
KURTEN
Site location report: Original requested was "Raymond"; "Kurten" was approved
instead; post office would serve population of 1200 to 1500; signed Horace
Harvey RAYMOND; dated 30 Nov. 1889
RAYMOND, Horace H.--29 Jan. 1890
PRINZEL, Henry F.--5 Sept. 1890
PRINZEL, Aug.--30 Mar. 1894
MACY
Site location report: population of village 100; post office would service
1,000 people; located 2 ½ miles west of Navasota River & 7 miles east of Cedar
Creek; signed S.J. LIPSCOMB; dated 2 July 1874
LIPSCOMB, Saml. J.--13 July 1874
BURR, T.--8 Oct. 1875
NEWMAN, Wm.--15 Mar. 1880
McKINNEY, Nathan B.--5 Jan.(-) 1880
NEWMAN, Felix--21 Mar. 1883(-)
In 1883, F. NEWMAN received $60.77 in compensation. 1883 O.R., vol.2, p.608
HUNT, Geo. A.--8 Apr. 1884
McDONALD, Matt., Jr.--4 Oct. 1888
REED, Wm. A.--17 Jan. 1889
NEWMAN, Wm. C.--3 Oct. 1892
Site location report: Located 2 miles west of Navasota River & 1 mile north of
Cedar Creek; signed W.C. NEWMAN; dated 2 Aug. 1898
McCOY, Robt. A.--5 Nov. 1900
MILLICAN
EDWARDS, Arthur--12 May 1849
U.S. Mail -- from Washington, by Millican, Boonville, Wheelock, twice a week, in
4 horse coaches ... (Austin) Texas State Gazette, 17 Mar. 1855, p.1
WALDORFF, Martin--23 Oct. 1857
PEVERLY, Benj. H.--1 Nov. 1859
BRASHER, S.C.--12 July 1861 (Confederate)
FLETCHER, L.F.--17 Mar. 1865 (Confederate)
LOFTIN, Louisa, Mrs.--18 Oct. 1865
We learn that Mrs. L. LOFTIN has been appointed Post Master at Millican. We are
glad to hear it, & hope every office in the State will be filled by ladies.
They are fully competent. Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph, 27 Nov. 1865, p. 2.
Post-Offices Opened & Post Masters Appointed Up to March 1st, 1866...Millican,
Mrs. LOFTIN... Galveston Daily News, 3 Apr. 1866, p.4
SAMUEL, Rich. P.--16 Apr. 1866
WALDRON, Thos. H.--19 Mar. 1867
The postmaster at Millican, after closing the post-office, addresses the
following letter to the Telegraph: P.O. Millican, Texas, Sept. 9th, 1867. P.M.
Houston, Texas: Sir: Yellow fever is in our midst--4 deaths have already
occurred and several more cases exist. The citizens are badly frightened, all
who can, have left; `twill be useless to send mail matter to this place from
this date, as no one will be here to receive it. I have my goods packed & am
ready to leave, will send you notice upon my return. I am, very respectfully,
Chas. W. GARDINER, Acting P.M.; P.S.--Please inform citizens. Texas Countryman,
14 Sept. 1867, p.2
From Bryan City...Please mail our paper to this place. The P.O. at Millican is
now discontinued. The postmaster has fled to the woods, & the telegraph
operator is dead. Galveston Daily News, 2 Oct. 1867, p.2
SHELTON, Robt. I.--27 Apr. 1868
BOLDRIDGE, Benj. F.--26 June 1871
PREWITT, Albert G.--18 Sept. 1872
GOIN, Nicholas R.--25 July 1873
McMICHAEL, Wm. H.--25 May 1874
Site location report: located 6 miles east of Brazos River & 7 miles west of
Navasota "creek"; signed W.H. McMICHAEL; dated 26 Feb. 1878
McLEOD, John D.--14 June 1881
JOWERS, Franklin M.--6 Dec. 1882
STEELE, Aug. G.--15 Mar. 1883
In 1882, A.G. STEELE received $322.82 in compensation. 1883 O.R., vol.2, p.609.
Burglars entered the post office & drug store of STEELE Bros. last night & blew
open the safe and took $160 belonging to the firm, $30 deposited by other
parties, & about $50 in stamps & stamped envelopes. A fuse about a foot long
was found on the floor. They procured tools at a blacksmith shop near by to get
into the house. Fort Worth Daily Gazette, 23 Nov. 1887, p.3
Captain DAWSON, deputy U.S. marshal, brought down CARSON, the alleged safe
cracker, supposed to be the man who blew open the postoffice safe on the 22nd
inst., for examining trial. CARSON's witnesses failing to appear, he was
committed to jail until the 16th of Dec., when he will be tried. Inspector
RANDAL is confident that we have the right man. Fort Worth Daily Gazette, 30
Nov. 1887, p.3
DUNLAP, Fannie L., Mrs.--25 Apr. 1893 (not commissioned)
SCRIMSHIRE, Wash. B.--22 June 1893
RELIANCE
Site location report: located 7 miles west of Navasota River & 2 miles east of
Wixon Creek; 500 people lived in village; post office would serve 700; signed
John Horatio EDGE; dated 16 Sept. 1899
EDGE, John H.--13 Oct. 1899
SMETANA
Site location report: original name requested was "Sramek"; "Smetana" was
approved instead; located 4 miles east of Brazos River & 1/4 mile west of
Thompsons Creek; post office would serve population of 100 or 200; signed Jacob
SRAMEK; dated 21 Mar. 1896
SRAMEK, Jacob--25 Apr. 1896
STEELE'S STORE
Site location report: Located 2 miles east of Brazos River & 2 miles west
Little Brazos River; village population 200, about 75% African American; signed
H.B. STEELE; dated 17 Jan. 1878
STEELE, Henry B.--30 Jan. 1878
In 1883, H.B. STEELE received $25.60 in compensation. 1883 O.R., vol.2, p.611
ADAMS, Robt.--21 Dec. 1893
Site location report: located 2 ½ miles east of Brazos River & 3 miles west of
Little Brazos River; signed H.B. STEELE; dated 14 Feb. 1894
STEELE, Henry B.--12 Sept. 1900
STONE CITY
Site location report: Located 1/8 mile east of Brazos River & 1 ½ miles from
Little Brazos River; post office would serve population of 300 or 400; signed
Clifford A. HARRIS; dated 29 July 1892
HARRIS, Cliff--29 Aug. 1892
SANDERS, Thos. D.--25 Apr. 1893
GLENN, Claudius A.--13 Oct. 1893
TABOR
Site location report: Original name requested was "Jackson"; "Tabor" was
approved instead; 12 miles east of Brazos River & 2 miles north of Wixon Creek;
signed Millard Filmore JACKSON; dated 27 Mar. 1888
JACKSON, Millard F.--24 May 1888
GUESS, Zach. R.--12 Dec. 1889
HOLMES, Chas. H.--30 Sept. 1892
THOMAS, Peter--9 Aug. 1894
SHAW, Jas. C.--20 Oct. 1894
BROACH, Jas. L.--25 Mar. 1895
WEDDINGTON
Site location report: located 11 or 12 miles west of Navasota River & 4 miles
east of Carters Creek; post office would serve population of 100 to 300; signed
Robert L. WEDDINGTON; dated 26 Feb. 1878
WEDDINGTON, Robt. L.--5 Mar. 1878
discontinued 21 May 1878
WELLBORN
Site location reports: 3 miles east of Brazos River & ½ mile east of Peach
Creek; signed Jesse M. NEELEY; two reports, 1 dated 7 Mar. 1871 and the other
dated 24 Mar. 1871
NEELLEY, Jesse M.--9 Feb. 1871
FLETCHER, Wm. E.--21 June 1875
FARQUHAR, John N.--29 Jan. 1883
J.N. FARQUHAR received $31.50 for 6 months in 1883. 1883 O.R., vol.2, p.612
ROYDER, John H.--24 July 1886
GENTRY, Henry L.--28 Sept. 1897
Site location report: Post office located 45 yards from the railroad tracks; 3
3/4 miles east of Brazos River & ½ mile east of Peach Creek; signed Henry L.
GENTRY; dated 2 Aug. 1898
WELLBORN'S STATION
Site location report: located 2 miles east of Brazos River; 30 families lived
with 2 miles of post office; proposed Mrs. M.A.E. BOYD as p.m.; signed by L.F.
FLETCHER; dated 3 Oct. 1868.
BOYD, Martha E.A., Mrs.--14 Oct. 1868
discontinued 2 May 1870