Evening star., 1898-12-28
CITY POST M ASTE r S
There Have Been Twenty One Of Them
Since Establishment of Office.
From johnson to Wiiiett-Those Who
Held the Office and for
How Long.

There have been up to the present twen-
ty-one postmasters of the Washington city
post Office. Although the majority of them
were born in the states, they had nearly all
become residents here long prior to the
dates of their appointment as every oldest
nhabitant' of the District knows. Their
names were in their day landmarks, after a
fashion, and they have been since, as a
glance at the list will show, identified with
all the important progressive movements
among the citizens of this city.
First was Thos. Johnson, jr who was ap-
pointed September l. 1195 and held the
place four months. The Office was in his
house on Pennsylvania avenue near 18th
street. Christopher Richmond succeeded
him January /, 1896, holding the office nine
months. Then came Lund Washington,
.ong resident, October l. 1f9G. He remained
two years and six months and removed the
Office to New Jersey avenue. His SUCCESSOR
Thos. Munroe, another prominent citizen
,Cok Office April /. lTy9, and his headQuar-
,ers We're in the Executive building near
the White House. There it remained until
IS1p- Mr. Munroes term covered thirty
years and one month. In 1872 the post office
was removed To u street between 9TH and
ith streets northwest and remained there
ull 1S:5- DR.. William Jones, a native of the
ulstrlct succeeded TO the office April %
una eleven months Jas. S. Gunneil, anoth-
er WashingtGnian, became postmaster
March %, 1S:i9. In the meantime the office
burned. in lS;i,, and afterward was reopen
ed at Carusi's saloon, on 1lth street. the
present site OF Kernan's Theater. Mr.. Gun
nells term was Two years and three and one
half months. Then Dr. Jones entered upon
his second term, July 10, 1871, remaining
,hrCc years and nine months Charles X.
Gardner, who had long lived here, was ap-
pointed March ~. 1915, serving four years
and three months. The post Office was
transferred about This time to AZ street and
Louisiana avenue, opposite the city hail.
VIM. y. Bradley succeeded to the post June
y 1ei9, and held it three years and eleven
months. Jas. G.. Berret, born in Maryland,
was appointed May -. 1853. and remained
four years and ten months. About this per-
Iod the office was changed to Ith street be-
tween r and f streets northwest.
DIR. Jones again too the Office March 30,
1888 for three years and one month. In
all he served sixteen years and nine
months, next longest to Munroe. Lewis
Clephane, hailing from New Hampshire,
but a thorough District man, owing to
Identitica ton with local interests and fam
10, 1861, continuing one year and ten
months. His headquarters was then in the
general post office building on the b street
side. Sayles j. Bowen of New York par
entage was next in order. ta,lng the posi-
tion March 16 1863, and holding it five
years and four months. He was succeeded
by &. NJ. Alexander, originally from hen-
lucky. but prominent locally, July q, 1868.
He served ten months only. The fifteenth
holder was Jas. NJ. Edmunds. who came in
May II. 1863. He had early come here from
New York. He served ten years and eight
months. Daniel B. Anger, a Michigander,
the next in succession, was appointed Jam
uary s, 1880. His office was then in the
Seaton building, on Louisiana avenue be-
tween 9th and Tth streets, where it moved
in 1879. Thos. l.. Tullock, born in New
Hampshire, next captured the coveted
place November 25, 1882, but held it only
seven months. Frank B. Conger, who came
from Michigan also, was installed June 30,
1883, and remained four years and seven
months. In his term the office went to its
recent quarters on G street near 9Th street
northwest. John ". Ross, too well known
here to need description as a citizen of the
District, an IllinOisian by birth. admins
tered the office from January 80, 1883, for
two years and seven months. He was sue
ceeded by his popular assistant. Henry
Sherwood n ma We of New York, Septem-
her y, 1890, continuing till Jas. p. Willett,
the present incumbent, took hold after he
was confirmed December IL, 1894. Mr.. Will
lett was born here and never engaged in
business elsewhere. Under him the post
Office moved its tenth time to the building
opposite The Star office,