AREA HISTORY:  History of Adams County, Chapter XIX, Adams County, PA

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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Pages 116-121

CHAPTER XIX.

POSTOFFICES-PETITION TO POSTMASTER GENERAL IN 1795-POSTMASTERS IN COUNTY, PAST 
AND PRESENT.

In 1795, when there were probably 10,000 people in what is now Adams County, 
there was sent a petition to the Postmaster General that is now an important 
chapter in the county’s history, as follows:

Whereas a post has been appointed to ride betwixt York Town and Haggerstown in 
the State of Maryland, and through said town of Gettysburg, we apprehend it 
would be a great advantage to the people of this town and county adjacent if a 
postoffice was established with us, and we beg leave to inform you that the town 
of Gettysburg is thirty miles from Haggerstown, which renders the conveyance of 
our letters by post very inconvenient, to the great detriment of our trade.  We 
flatter ourselves from the rapid growth of our village, and as we are situate in 
the center of a wealthy settlement, that a complyance with our petition will be 
no loss to the revenue arising from the postoffice, as a postmaster can be 
obtained at a moderate expense.
             (SIGNED)     ALEXANDER DOBBIN,     GEORGE KERR,
                          DANIEL McALISTER,     HENRY HOKE,
                          ARCH’D DICKEY,        JOHN SWENY,
                          WILLIAM GARVIN,       JAMES SMITH,
                          EMANUEL ZIGLER,       JNO. AGNEW,
                          THOS. LOW,            EBENEZER FINLEY,
                          JAMES GETTYS,         ALEXANDER IRVINE.

The writer of this examined the Blue Books in the Congressional Library.  The 
first issue of these probably was commenced in 1802; at all events, this was the 
oldest one found.  Then there was a break in the numbers to 1817.  The names of 
the postmasters in these books occur only in giving their reports, and not in 
the dates of the appointment.  Hence, here we give any date where we could find 
the different postmasters’ first reports, and then, without naming their years 
on continuance, pass along to the date of the first report of their successor.  
The reader will therefore understand, in each case, the date we give is within a 
few months of the time of the appointment, and that each one continued in office 
to within a few months of the date of the first report of his successor.

Gettysburg.-James Scott (first postmaster), appointed July 1, 1798; salary 
$34.38.

These names appear here as furnished by the Blue Books and the officials at 
Washington; but as the Blue Books extend back only to 1802, and the records are 
imperfect, we are satisfied that James Brice was postmaster in 1801, as we have 
seen a list of letters published in the Gettysburg postoffice of that date and 
signed by James Brice, postmaster.  Upon this authority alone we add the name of 
Mr. Brice to the list, and name him as postmaster during the year 1801.  Samuel 
Huey, July 1, 1802; William B. Underwood, January 1, 1805; James Douglas, April 
1, 1807; George Welsh, October 1, 1810; William Meredith, March 11, 1819; John 
Hersh, January 18, 1823 (office receipts, $213.18); William W. Bell, June 30, 
1829; Hezekiah Van Orsdel, May 18, 1841; Charles W. Berluchy, June 2, 1845; 
Alexander D. Buehler, May 9, 1849; William Gillespie, June 6, 1853; George 
Geyer, June 8, 1857; David A. Buehler, March 25, 1861; J. A. Kitzmiller, April 
8, 1869; J. M. Krauth, 1877; H. S. Benner (present postmaster), June, 1885.

Abbottstown.-The first officer we find here was Samuel Fahnestock, 1817; salary, 
$16.16 a year.  In 1833 Jacob Fahnestock was acting; 1837, George Ickes; 1841, 
H. Mayer, succeeded in 1831 by William Berlin, who held the office until April, 
1842; George Ickes again in office 1842; then William Bittinger to 1845; 
Nicholas Corns to March 3, 1849; Henry Kobler, 1851,-George Ickes again 
succeeded to June, 1853 (salary now increased to $66.33); then George Gordy, 
succeeded by Louisa Wolf, who kept the office to April, 1857.  Emma Wolf then 
took it till April, 1861; then E. H. Stahle succeeded.  In 1883 the salary had 
grown to $139.65.

Arendtsville.-In 1845 Jacob Keckler was postmaster; succeeded in 1855 by Peter 
Eyster to 1861; then G. G. Plank, April 25, 1861; C. B. Hawes appointed, 1865; 
G. G. Plank again; same year, Jesse P. Brenneman appointed; in 1881, Michael 
Snyder.  In 1851 the salary was $21.48; in 1883, $191.05.

Aspers.-(On the G. & H. Railroad, in Menallen Township).

Bendersville.-Abel T. Wright in 1851; William B. Wilson appointed May, 1853; W. 
Overdeer, October, 1855; in 1863, Jacob Pitzer; 1883, A. H. Stover.  First 
salary, $58.38; in 1883, salary $265.05.  In 1886, John Berkholder.

Bermudian.-1827, Jacob Smith; 1829, Gideon Griest; 1835, Joseph E. Temple; 1839, 
Isaac Walker; December 31, 1840, Mahlon Griest; 1845, David Newcomer; 1853, M. 
Smith, and in December of that year H. B. Smith; 1860, Solomon Larew, one year; 
then Daniel Larew two years; 1863, T. M. Brenneman; 1871, Jesse Larew; 1873, 
Mary A. Kroll; 1875, Abner Griest; 1877, E. H. Troupe.  In 1827 the salray was 
$4.12; in 1883, $64.09

Berlin.-1819, Christian Picking; 1883, John Fletcher.

Bigler.-1859, John A. H. Rither; 1861, George W. Rex; 1867, John A. H. Rither; 
1885, S. R. Bream.

Bonneauville.-Recently established.

Cashtown.-1835, Adam S. E. Duncan; 1841, A. Scott; 1845, Mary Duncan.  Abraham 
Scott succeeded and held the office until 1855; Jacob Mark appointed; 1860, H. 
M. Mickley; 1861, Israel Shank; 1861, John McCleary; 1865, John McCleary; same 
year, Susan Norris; then James A. Rebert to 1873; David A. Mickley, 1883.  First 
salary, $15.96; 1883, salary, $112.14; H. L. Bream.

Centennial.-1875, Miss J. M. O’Neal.

East Berlin.-1835, William Hildebrand; 1839, D. Grumbine; 1841, Emanuel Kuhn; 
December 9, 1845, William Wolf; 1847, Robert M. Hutchinson; 1853; William Wolf, 
succeeded by J. Woods; 1861, Francis Hildebrand.

Fairfield.-(Originally called Miller’s) 1817, Ezra Blythe, on a salary of 
$18.16; 1829, Asa Olmestead; 1833, William Johnston; 1839, Michael Larner; 1841, 
John McCleary; 1845, J. Brinkerhoff; 1847, Hugh D. Heagy; 1851, John B. Paxton; 
1855, Jacob Brinkerhoff; 1859, C. M. Robinson; 1861, John B. Paxton; 1867, J. W. 
Sutherland; 1869, John W. Sullivan; 1871, John M. Musselman, Upton J. Neely.

Flora Dale.-1865, Elijah Wright; 1879, M. A. Wright.

Fountain Dale.-1837, Joseph Braugher; May 14, 1845, Reuben Steen.  The office 
was discontinued in 1849 for a time and then reopened.

Goldensville.-Recently established.

Graeffenburg.-1851, David Goodyear, on a salary of $19.48; 1863, Benjamin 
Shriver; 1865, Maria Shriver; 1865, Abraham Hostetter; 1867, Daniel Miller; 
1868, Samuel Secrist; 1869, Martin Shoemaker; 1873, William A. Remer; 1883, Miss 
J. Riggeal.

Granite Hill.-1857, Philip Hand; 1863, Daniel Gulden; 1871, Abraham Hoke.

Green Mount.-1847, John Weikert; 1859, J. A. Harper; 1865, H. P. Bigham.

Guernsey.-Recently established.

Hampton.-April 18, 1835, Charles Blish; 1845, Christian Cashman; 1851, Jacob 
Aulbaugh; 1853, Jacob C. Shriver; 1861, Solomon Chronister; 1863, Daniel Albert; 
1865, Ephraim Howard; 1867, David W. Howard; 1873, Henry Meyers.

Heidlersburg.-1841, Leonard Delap (held the office twenty years); 1861, Peter 
Yeatts; 1873, John F. Houck.

Hunterstown.-1825, George Armor; 1835, Susan S. Cassat; 1845, Hugh King; 1847, 
W. F. Walter; 1852, J. King; 1853, Simon Melhorn; 1859, Elizabeth M. Feltz; 
1863, Eliza Heinard; 1865, Jane King.  The latter, judging from the long term, 
either has or has not been an “offensive partisan” – just as happens to be the 
reader’s politics.

Irishtown.-Established in 1886.

Idaville.-1863, Jesse Sawyers, on a salary of $13.25; 1863, D. H. Markley; 1867, 
Jacob J. Diehl; 1869, Joseph H. Klein; 1869, Andrew Crist; 1883, J. H. Cline; in 
the latter year the salary was $105.30.

Kingsdale.-1873, A. F. Kleinfelter; 1877, G. F. King; 1879, G. P. Krug.

Latimore.-1875, A. Larew.

Littlestown.-(Called originally Peter’s Town, Peter Little’s Town, Kleinetown, 
etc.) 1837, Francis Leas (salary $117.44); 1839, John McIlvain; June 21, 1841, 
John A. Davis; 1845, Thomas Barnett; 1847, Joseph Dysert; 1851, Ephraim Myers; 
1853, Matilda Jones; 1865, A. F. Barker; 1877, D. Bolinger; 1881, William Fount.

McKnightstown.-1869, Martin A. Miller; 1871, J. M. Michley; 1875, C. T. Lower; 
1885, W. F. Rittase.

McSherrystown.-1845, Henry Hening; 1849, Elizabeth Will (Hill).  This name is 
printed alternately “Will” and “Hill.”  The proper name is Will, however, and 
esto perpetua her position.

Menallen.-1835, Daniel Waugh; 1845, Jesse Houck; 1855; J. Eppleman; 1861, Edward 
Staley; 1867, Jacob Eppleman; 1869, Edward Staley; 1875, Hannah Staley; 1881, J. 
H. Bushey.

Mummasburgh.-1849, H. J. Brinkerhoff; 1855, Samuel Hart; 1861, C. H. Fulwiler; 
1865, Henry W. Witmore.

New Chester.-1835, Nicholas Faugenbaugh; 1851, Faugenbaugh; 1859, Eliza Heinard; 
same year, P. A. Meyers; 1863, John A. Snowden; 1867, P. A. Meyers; 1871, Daniel 
Wolf; 1875, R. McIlhenny; 1877, A. Winand.

New Oxford.-1835, Francis Hildt; 1837, Mary Melsheimer; 1851, John Blair; 1865, 
Israel Blair; 1871, Fabius W. Wagner; 1873, John F. Blair; 1885, W. J. Metzler.

Plainview.-1877, R. W. McIlhenny.

Red Land.-September 1, 1867, William A. McSherry; 1881, J. A. Grimes; 1883, J. 
J. Parr.

Round Hill.-1855, Adam S. Meyers; 1859, Ira R. Shipley; 1865, Sarah E. Taylor; 
1867, Adam S. Meyers.

Seven Stars.-1860, Alexander Miller; 1861, A. Heintzelman; 1867, Israel Little; 
1883, E. J. Little.

Table Rock.-1855, Samuel Faber, Jr.; he got a salary of $7.94; total income of 
the office was $5.41.  Catherine Thomas succeeded; 1861, C. A. Lower; 1875, H. 
L. Harris; 1883, Y. Z. Lower.

Two Taverns.-1857, Jacob Little; 1867, Baltzer Snyder; 1879, A. J. Collins; 
1883, J. Sherman.

Trust.-George Cole appointed to first postoffice in Buchanan Valley, established 
June 19, 1886.

Unity.-1883, M. Rebert.

Wenks.-1873, Miss Sue Cart; 1877, R. S. Little; 1879, W. S. Cart.

York Sulphur Springs.-1825, Herman Weirman; 1845, Anna Godfrey; 1849, Isaac D. 
Worley; 1851, Isaac W. Pearson; 1853, William Reed; 1855, Jonas Johns; 1863, B. 
Borius, succeeded by W. Zeigler; 1885, A. C. Gardear.