by Virginia Fischer
There have been seven Post Offices established in the Town of De Kalb. Two of these are still in existence today. The first post office established was De Kalb (village) on April 1, 1807. It was discontinued November 15, 1902. The first Postmaster was William Cleghorn. The last one was Jared S. Gilson.
The second Post Office established was at Richville, March 5, 1828. They have been in existence 170 years (in 1998.) John Rich was the first Postmaster. The present Post Office was built in 1988. The current Postmaster is Charles A. Cole.
The Blink Bonnie Post Office, located at Kendrew was established December 2, 1850 and discontinued February 7, 1854.
The only Postmaster was William Cleghorn Jr. The Post Office Department of the National Archives states that the post office was at the stage stop.
The East De Kalb Post Office was established July 14, 1851. There were six postmasters. The first was John Bartlett and the last was Adam Richards. This office was discontinued February 4, 1876.
The De Kalb Junction Post Office was established December 1, 1863, shortly after the establishment of the depot at De Kalb Junction. Still in existence, it will be 135 years old (in 1998.) The first Postmaster was Israel D. Smith. The present Postmaster is Elizabeth (Sophie) Chilton. The present Post Office was built in 1960.
Photo: Allerton Farr Post Master at De Kalb Junction Post Office, circa 1910.
The Bigelow Post Office was established May 3, 1880 and was discontinued November 30, 1953 with mail then being sent to and from Richville. There were eight postmasters, the first was Levi R. Lotman and the last one was Alza L. Wood.
The Osbornville Post office was established March 5, 1891. The The only Postmaster was Martin V. McIntyre. It was discontinued December 31, 1903 and mail was then sent to Gouverneur.
Photo: Martin Van Buren Mc Intyre Post Master
in front of the Osbornville Post Office
POSTMASTER NAME
DATE OF APPOINTMENT .................. Dec. 1, 1863 .................. March 16, 1865 .................. Oct. 20, 1866 .................. Sept. 8, 1885 .................. July 15, 1889 .................. Oct. 26, 1893 .................. Dec. 31, 1897 .................. Dec. 21, 1904 .................. Jan. 5, 1916 .................. July 27, 1920 .................. Mar. 23, 1922 .................. Oct. 29, 1925 .................. Aug. 1, 1927 .................. Feb. 1, 1936 .................. Nov. 1, 1947 .................. Dec. 1, 1966 .................. May 1, 1971 .................. January 3, 1989 .................. May 6, 1989 POSTMASTER NAME
DATE OF APPOINTMENT .................. April 1, 1807 .................. Oct 1, 1809 .................. March 6, 1813 .................. May 6, 1819 .................. Dec. 26, 1825 .................. Dec. 28, 1832 .................. Oct. 21, 1841 .................. Mar. 10, 1842 .................. Oct. 4, 1844 .................. Aug. 12, 1845 .................. June 1, 1849 .................. Mar. 3, 1857 .................. Jan. 14, 1861 .................. Aug. 15, 1861 .................. Feb. 8, 1865 .................. June 27, 1870 .................. June 19, 1872 .................. Sept. 30, 1874 .................. Mar. 21, 1881 .................. April 3, 1896 .................. Nov. 7, 1900 POSTMASTER NAME
DATE OF APPOINTMENT .................. July 14, 1851 .................. May 31, 1852 .................. May 8, 1856 .................. Sept. 13, 1858 .................. May 18, 1860 .................. Feb. 4, 1876 POSTMASTER NAME
DATE OF APPOINTMENT .................. May 3, 1880 .................. May 7, 1805 .................. April 24, 1889 .................. 1893? .................. June 1, 1895 .................. Jan. 3, 1905 .................. Aug. 29, 1914 .................. June 23, 1920 .................. Oct. 27, 1927 POSTMASTER NAME
DATE OF APPOINTMENT .................. Mar. 5, 1828 .................. Dec. 18, 1846 .................. Oct. 4, 1852 .................. Oct. 6, 1854 .................. Dec. 13, 1855 .................. Dec. 1, 1860 .................. April 6, 1861 .................. Aug. 8, 1862 .................. Nov. 26, 1864 .................. Dec. 11, 1865 .................. June 9, 1870 .................. July 9, 1885 .................. April 3, 1889 .................. July 19, 1893 .................. Sept. 10, 1897 .................. June 20, 1901 .................. June 24, 1915 .................. Feb. 7, 1923 .................. June 22, 1923 .................. Feb. 9, 1925 .................. July 28, 1927 .................. May 2, 1928 .................. Dec. 31, 1928 .................. Oct. 1, 1933 .................. Nov. 5, 1943 .................. July 1, 1965 .................. Sept. 24, 1965 .................. Oct. 28, 1967 .................. May 7, 1993 POSTMASTER NAME
DATE OF APPOINTMENT .................. Sources: National Archives and Records Administration Post Office Department Washington, D.C.
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