Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-03-11


March, 1929, Postmaster General Bar
ry. appointed Major j. H. Rountree.
postmaster at Platteville In the fol-
lowing October. Major Rountree opened
an office in house on the grounds now
occupied by him for residence purpos-
es. In those days there were no rail-
roads or mail carriers and it was only
when the postmaster or some of his
helpers visited Galena that letters
were obtained and brought to Platte
vile. In 1881 the mail was carried
from Galena to Prairie du CHEN in
wagon, via Platteville, twice a week
and in 1882 it was carried from Platte
vile to Mineral Point at stated periods.
This was continued until 1870. when
the building of railroad placed Platte
vile in more direct communication
with the outside world. In 1885 the
office was moved from Major Rountree's
residence to his store on the corner of
Main and Third streets. The Mayor
was elected delegate to the Territor-
ial council in 1888 and gave up the Of
iice and was succeeded by N. w. Ken
dali, who located the Office on Grocery
Street. In 1S41 Sylvester Gyidley was
appointed postmaster and had the Of
flee in his store, where the Platteville
bank building now stands. Thomas
Eastman was the next lucky man and
held the office until 1849. James Rus
sell was next appointed and held forth
in building near where Blocks store
now stands. DR.. Geo. W. Eastman
was the next incumbent and located
the office not far from the site of his
bank. III. Hulburt succeeded DR.. East
man and removed the office to Roun-
trees block on the corner of Main and
Benson streets. In 1857 Mayor Roun-
tree was again appointed. but soon
after yielded to James Kelly, who in
turn gave way in 1865 to Mr.. b. +.
Wyne. Mr.. Wyne moved the office to
the corner of Main and Third streets,
where it remained TO the end of his adj
ministration. Mr.. w. I'll. Egar took
possession of the mails last Saturday
evening and mas the Office in his store
on Main Street, next door to L. j. Hoop
er's drug store. Mr.. Wyne was post
master in Platteville almost 81 wears
"a long time to serve the public in any
capacity. The position of postmaster
is not an enviable one, especially in a
city which has school that is continu-
| ally drawing strangers to the place.
For number of years Mr.. Wyne has
been assisted in performing the duties
of the office by his daughter, Miss
Mary, and our people have invariably
found them at their post, during Office
| hours, careful, courteous and obliging
We have heard nothing but words of
commentator expressed of the man
| ner in which the affairs of the office
| have been conducted under the Wyne
administration. The ceremony of for
mally transferring the Office from Re-
| publican to Democratic rule was very
impressive. 1t occurred last Saturday
evening about eight O'Clock and was
witnessed by large crowd of sympa-
thetic brethren. Bro. Cleary led the
services, admonishing all to cease sim
ming against Grover, Bro Gardner, as
High Executioner. led the singing.
| Bro. Robertson read the lament for the
slain. Bro Jenkins was called upon to
send up petition, invoking Grover
| blessing, but that brothers heart was
too full. Bro. Elgar was less affected,
and sent up a fervent and eloquent APP
peal for continuation of these bles-
sings. Bro. Tom Moore sang the clos
| ing ode and Bro. Boldt, the direct rep
resentative of Elder Villas, read the
closing ceremonies and led the process
sion. The procession observed the fol-
lowing order: Bro. Boldt followed by
Bro. Cleary and aids. Bro. Gardner
came next, carrying the executioner' S
blade. Bro. Elgar followed the execu-
toner, bearing in his arms the long
looked-for, mail bags. Bro. Wyne and
sister Mary Wyne were the principal
mourners. Bro. Wyne was so deeply
affected that he was unable to leave his
office. Sister Wyne, however, bore up
bravely and took her proper place in
the procession. Many tears were shed
by sympathizing friends. as the page
ant swept past. Before the end of the
services, we became so overcome with
| emotion that we fled from the scene.