History of the Fox Lake Post Office and Postmasters Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives August 30, 2002 by Bill Porter ==================================================================== Original Post Office was established 27 July 1839, under the name Frankfort. The first postmaster is listed by the United States Post Office, was Morris Farmin [possibly AKA Morris Furman, one of the first Dodge County Comissioners]. The first post office was said to be located in the Sheboygan House (at the corner of Center and Hamilton streets). Postmaster Farmin [or Furman] appeared to be closely connected with Hamilton Stevens, the proprietor of the Sheboygan House (hotel). The original post office, was connected to the old United States road, between Fort Howard and Fort Winnebago which had a weekly mail service by an obliging horseman who made the round trip between the forts, every seven days. In 1844, a regular, weekly mail service was established between Waushara (now, Fox Lake) and Watertown, Wisconsin. Naming sequence of Post Office: Frankfort 27 July 1839; established Waushara 24 April 1840; changed Fox Lake 5 May 1856; changed The name Waushara, is said to be a corruption of the Indian word 'Hosh-a-rac-ah-tah' meaning Fox Lake. The true meaning of the Winnebago word 'waushara' is 'fish-spear'. This was corrected by the 1856 renaming of the town to Fox Lake, the English equivalent of the original Indian place name. Postmasters of record: 1. Morris Farmin 2. George Clark 3. David Green 4. Minor Porter* 15 May 1856 5. Benjamin Ferguson 11 January 1858 6. A. Henry Pease 7 November 1859 7. L. S. Mallory 24 September 1861 8. John Medley 24 September 1868 9. D. D. Thomas 15 March 1869 10. W. W. Jones** 22 December 1869 11. John T. Smith 19 April 1875 12. Martin Stapleton 28 July 1885 13. Robert T. Lewis 12 April 1889 14. Joseph A. North 23 June 1893 15. Moses E. Williams 2 July 1898 16. Dean J. Hotchkiss 2 February 1904 17. Nicholas H. Berigan 1914 18. Dean J. Hotchkiss 1923 19. George Medley 1936 20. Arthur K. Litscher August 1952, Acting postmaster 21. Louis L. Dinkel July 1954 22. Lawrence Paul ? Minor Porter [AKA; Miner] signed a published Waushara Post Office notice in the Dodge County Gazette, on 13 October 1852. It is possible that the previous postmaster David Green, had died and Miner Porter was probably the acting postmaster until being formally appointed to the post on 15 May 1856. ** From 'The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin'; Western Historical Company, publisher, Chicago, 1880. "Mr. Jones also allowed his peculiar accounts with the Government to cause official inquiry during his self- imposed exile in Canada. His bondsmen made good the deficiency. Mr. Jones returned to the United States, and is now holding a position in the Land Office at Madison." Sources: From historical clip file materials found at the Fox Lake Public Library and the History of Dodge County, 1880. ===================================================== USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material must obtain written consent of the author/contributor and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The contributor has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.