Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-30

| Benjamin Alien and Matthew Blossom,
| from Portland to Wiscasset. The route
was through Grey, New Gloucester.
Greene, Monmouth, Winthrop, Halo
Well Fort and Hook, Pittston, cross
| ing at Smiths Ferry. and Pownal-
borough TO Wiscasset and back. Bios
som brought the mail to Winthrop,
| whence Alien. who was postmaster at
that place carried it forward.
James Burton. the first postmaster.
lived and traded at this time, in a
| large two-story house which stood
where the Meonian block is now stu
kept a small stock of goods. and call
ers for mail passed through this shop
| into the adjoining room which looked
out upon the river, and served for the
| postoffice. The entire postal furniture
o. this office consisted of a table which
| had a desk top. The cover lifted on
! hinges and disclosed beneath a we'll
about foot square and six inches
deep. and four or five pigeon holes for
the reception of letters. Beneath this
tray there was shallow drawer with
out a lock. The dimensions of the top
of the desk were two feet by two and
one-half feet. and across this small
piece Of antique furniture the entire
mail business Of what was destined to
| become the city of Augusta. was
transacted for II years.
Mr.. Burton came to Augusta in 1875.
| and entered the employment Of Jona
than Davis < Co., as clerk in their
| trading store. Later he entered part
nership with William Eustis Of Boston,
who leased the land and built the
\ house which has been described and
which MI Burton occupied as a home,
store and postoffice. He is remembered
as a short. fine-looking man of pleas
ing address, but rather quiet in his
ways. and of what was then considered
as Il fair education. He held his office
until he was removed, on account of
his federal politics, by President JEFF
ferson.
Mr.. Burton in his quiet way en-
joyed joke. and it was related of him
that once while at work painting the
court house he had for an assistant a
prolix story teller by the name OF
William Duran, who for two days con-
tinued upon the events of one story,
when he at length reached its conc!u-
sion. After waiting a minute Burton
turned to him and said, seriously,
THAT is a good story, Duran, tell 1t
again
After relinquishng the postoffice Mr.
Burton remained in Augusta until his
death. which occurred, November D
1SsS. universally respected by his fell
low townsmen. TWO of his daughters
Miss Abby and Miss Eliza Burton, are
still living in this city.
The Portland Gazette. No. 80, Vol. 8
Of January Il, 1906, has this item:
Removed. James Burton, Esq, post
master at Augusta. Maine. Mr.. Bur
, ton is a federal Republican. The
office has been given to Samuel lit
comb, ESD
Samuel Titcomb, the second post
master. early settled in the Hook set
Element in Hallowell. He came from
York. probably in 1888, as we find ne
had taken charge of Henry SeWali
store. at he eddy on the east side IT
March. 1884 He was appointed in 1870
ono Of the surveyors to the joint con-
vention to establish the eastern line o.
the State pursuant in the 9TH artlcit
Of the treaty, signed November II, l'94
| Doubts having arisen as to the river
intended by the name st. CroiX in TN
original act defining the boundaries o.
the Province of Quebec, these commis
sioners caused the survey to be maze
They ultimately reported OCTOBER %
1873. that the intended river st. Cron
had its source in the head of a stredn
called Cheputnetecook (Schoodic). I'M
Interesting field notes kept by MI lit
comb on this trip We're destroyed D!
I. the great fire of 1865.
q Mr. Titcomb was appointed post
e master, January l, 1906, and lmraeci
e ately after took possession of the ONCE
l. He probably kept the postofilce IN
e store on the south side of Marke
r square He appointed Captain lsaa
is Carter, a fellow Democrat, his deputy
,e and Carter performed the duties OF IN
Is office. AT this time three Wester
to mails arrived at and departed from IN
OF Augusta postoffice weekly; one