Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-02-29
Mail Facilities.
NoRrHEkH TAMA.

~hA
come here since 1865, know little of
the want of mail facilities endured
by those living here previous to 49,
GO. Previous to October 1857, there
were no government facilities at all
north of Toledo, and at that point
but a weekly service. In the sum
mer of 1856, the Store of d. Cornell,
at Buckingham, was the receptacle OF
letters to be forwarded by first
chance to any point where there was
an Office. In the winter of 1867,
DR.. Daniel, and d. Cornell started
the first mail route on their own re-
sponsibillty and paid the expenses.
West Wilson, esq, OF Crystal, carried
thy msil for them for three months
from Buckingham to Toledo weekly
at three dollars a trip and went afoot
generally, the snow was SO deep.
October LIST, 1857, a route was es.
tablished from V:nton to La Fayette,
Marshall County, VIM. D. Hitchner,
contractor. The first Office was Wolf
Creek, Stephen Klingamap, Post
master, the Office was at his dwelling
near the mill. There was also an
office established at Collins Grove,
L. b. Collins, p. NJ, and n at I'm
ion Grove, w. B. King, p. M.
After retaining the Office a year,
Mr.. Klingaman resigned and Mr..
Higgins was appointed who removed
the office to West Union, at which
poin: it has since remained. The
mail for the north side of the Greek
was brought to Buckingham and left
at Connell's store who acted Is dis
trlbuting agent, sending all letters
left with HIM for mailing to the post
office. In 1859, the Buckingham Of.
fee was established, 0. Gravatt, p.
NJ. No service being granted there
was virtually no Office. In May. Is.
60, ID. Cornell was appointed r. NJ.
and service granted on the above
named routes. 1t required persist.
ency to secure it. The national ad-
minlstration was Democratic. Buck.
iugham was known far aal wide as
a Republican hole, and a strong
political influence with head quarters
at Vinton was brought to bear against
the establishment OF the Office, and
when service vas granted the con-
tractor, q Vlnton man, refused at
first to supply. In 1868, a new route
was established, Belle PLANE to
Buckingham, semi-weekly. In 1864,
a triweekly service was allowed, but
the contractor whose contract had
nearly expired refused to supply.
The route was abandoned and a new
one-Toledo to Buckingham estab.
lished, SENT. weekly. The next year,
with the assistance Of Hon. J. B..
Grinnell, a hi.weekly service was al
lowed, which next year reverted to a
ssmi.weekly. With Hon. VIM.
Loushridge, the tr,-weckIy arrange
ment was re established, which has
continued until now.
On the first of March 1872, q Daily
Mail (six times q week. will be es-
tablished and Buckingham will then
be in daily communication with the
world.
August 1st 1870, this Office was
constituted a Money Order Office and
any postal business that can be trans
acted IN any Office in the country can
be transacted at the Buckingham Of
fee, except that of Foreign Money
Orders.
A weekly route was established
in 1870, Buckingham to IaPorte City,
accommodating tho offices of Wolf
Creek, Evergreen and Mooreville, all
in lama County. The same year q
route was established from this Office
to Bovina. A semi.weeklY route runs
from Belle Plaine to Waterloo, ria Ir.
wing Waltham, Elite and Evergreen.
There is also a route north from Or
ford to Ackley. So the north part
Of Tama is we'll accommodated by
the Postofice Department.
Of course these benefits could not
be obtained without influence and
the Buckingham Office owes its crea-
ton to the active efforts of Hon.
James Harlan, and its increased ser.
vice to him, Mr.. Grinnell and Mr..
Loughridge, but those gentlemen
had to have their attention called to
it, and they but acted on the sugges-
ton of our Postmaster who has re-
tanned the Office from the first and
has even been active in suggesting end
carrying out improvements. Never
for anything unreasonable, he
has always succeeded in obtaining
what was asked. In the establishing
Of the daily mail he was assisted by
Hon. Mr.. Harlan and Hon. Mr..
Walden, each and including III
Representatives Messrs Grin
nell and Loughridge. merit and re-
the thanks Of orr community.
BUCKINGHAM Feb'y Goth, 1872.
ID. G..