Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-07-01
PAST POSTMASTERS
Some History of the Rock ISL
and Office.
FROM COL. DAVENPORT DOWN.

The style of the Notification Received by |
the First Postmaster-The Different Lo- |
cations of the Postofice and Those Who |
Have Held the Position From the Time !
it Was Inaugurated on the IsIaDd.
This morning j. W. Potter entered |
formally upon his duties as post
master for Rock Island, the transfer |
from Postmaster Howard Wells hav- |
ing been completed yesterday by In
spector A. l.. Gardner.
Sixtv-eight years have passed since
Rock Islands first postmaster was
commi ssioned. Col. George Daven-
port was the first to enjoy that dis
tinction. receiving his commission.
the first, by the way. to be issued to
a postmaster in this section of the
country. Col. Davenport was named
rs postmaster on the island, before
the state of Illinois became known.
and the authority was conveyed in
the following documents:
Col. Davenport's Authority.
| WASHINGTON CITY, 23d April, 1925
Sir: From information | receive |
| conclude it will be agreeable to YOU
to accept of the Office of post
! master ut Rock Island. Missouri. |
herewith send YOU copy of the law
for regulating the postoflice, a key
for opening the mail and directions
confoimablc Herewith. You will
find these at GAINESVILLE postollice,
Missouri.
After executing the bond and tax
ing the oath, YOU may proceed in the
duties of the office without waiting
for commission.
am. sir, your most obedient ser
want, JOHN MCLEAN,
Postmaster General
Col. Davenport received his COM
mission in the fall of the year. but
several wears elapsed before he took
the oath of Office. owing to the fact that
there was no one within hundreds of
miles qualified to administer it.
The nearest postofiice in those DAYS
was It Clarksviilc. Mo, and the
mails were carried on horseback.
The First Po.tonice
The postoilice on the island was
discor TIM G Nov. >, 1884, and April
+, 1885, Joseph Conway was com
misSiuncd postmaster ut Farmhams-
| burg. This town was originally laid
out near the lower end OF what is
now Rock Island. but the name was
soon after changed to Stephenson.
and Joseph Conway was appointed
Postn astcr at the place Nov. 9, 1885.
The postOtiicc was in those
times located near the present
Gable mansion on Moline ave
nue.. This original postoilice was
a large log cabin which served for
court house rs well as postollice and
residence OF the postmaster. On
Nov. /. 1886. Miles W. Conway be-
came postmaster. succeeding his
brother. The next postmaster was
Hon. Joseph b. Wells. appointed
June 10, 1910, and during that year
the name of Stephenson was changed
to Rock Island and Charles A. earn
sey, appointed April 10, 1871, was
really Rock Islands first postmaster
Col. John Buford became postmas-
ter March u, 1S43. The postOffice
was then located on First avenue be-
tween Sixteenth and Seventeenth
streets.
H. G. Reynolds succeeded Col. Blu
ford, mis- commission dating August
81. 1917
+. +. Bean was commissioned post
master MAY II, 1S49, and the office
then became located on the south
side OF what is now Second avenue,
between Seventeenth and Eighteenth
streets.
James Kelly was made postmaster
May rs 1858, and the office was
moved by him to Bailey & Boyle's
block, where Mitchell & Lynde's
bank is now located.
vii lam Frizzell received his COM
mission as postmaster May 10, 1855,
but he never qualified.
Lewis n. Webber was appointed
April 2. 1856, and during his admin
istration the office was kept on the
south side of Second avenue, between
Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets.
H. Field succeeded Mr.. Weber
Sept. %, 1858.
The Office Located Where it is Now.
DR.. Calvin Truesdale was commits
stoned April 6, 1861, when the office
was moved back to the present loca-
ton in Mitchell & Lynde's bank
building.
Hon. j. b. Hawley was appointed
postmaster March 3, 1865.
Cap. James F. Copp succeeded
Mr.. Hlwley Sept. u, 1866.
Hon. NJ. b. Osborn became post
master April 3, 1867.
Cap. l.. Nj. Haverstick was COM
missioned March /. 1871, and took
hold April II.
William Jackson was commits
stoned March 20, 1873, and took
charge April 1.
Thomas Murdoch was appointed
March 6, 1876, and took possession