Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-11-26
pahIoneea Made claims.

The first postofice in Ottumwa was
opened in 1S43. with Judge Paul @.
Jefries as postmaster. This point was
argued quite extensively for many
years. as Dahlonega, which was then
q thriving village. contested OF
tumwa's claim for the honor, but It
was later conceded that to Ottumwa
belonged the honor.
Long Term of Service.
Alfred H. Hoddy first entered the
postofhce October 81, 1853, when
& Stephen Osburn was postmaster He
served until early in 1856, when he
left and was succeeded by A. C. Leigh
ton, now prominent resident OF this
city. Thomas Potter, later general
manager of the Burlington, was a
clerk in the postoffice a few years
later. Mr.. Hoddy again entered the
postohlce as clerk after the appoint
ment of John c. Fisher as postmaster.
He served over year at this time
and during Thomas j. Holmes term
OF office served at different times as
substitute. He left the service then
TO take position as postal clerk on
the Burlington, which had then been
extended from Burlington to this city,
returning again in 1863, when ]. w.
Norris was postmaster Mr.. Hoddy
remained as clerk in the Office until
General ]. M Hedrick's appointm ent
as postmaster; he served throughout
General Hedrick's term and helped
turn over the Office to Major A. H.
Hamilton, and he worked two years
with Major Hamilton, completing the
long term of ninteen years in the
service.
Many Changes in Location.
There have been many changes in
the location of the postofflce from the
time Of Mr.. Hoddy entered the ser.
vice until with the completion Of the
present we'll appointed structure a
permanent home was secured. When
Mr.. Hoddy first went into the post.
Office 1t was located in the rear Of a
tumble-down building on the site now
occupied by the Ottumwa National
bank. The Office was moved short
time later to building but little
better equipped for the purpose on the
west side of South Court street, south
Of the alley between Main and Second
streets. Postmaster Hawkins again
moved the Office to a little frame build
ing on the northwest corner Of Court
and Main streets, where 1t remained
until Postmaster Norris moved it to q
little building on South Mar let street
south of the old Courier Office. Then
the Office was moved to the present
site of the Potter building on the cor
ner Of Court and Second streets, when
after short period another change
In location was made to the corner
where now stands the State banh
Changes Since the War.
General Hedrick, upon taking the
postmastership moved the Office to the
old building owned by Pat Doran on
East Second street, just east of Court
which has since Deen torn down. The
next move was to an old building
where the Hoffman, Office building
now stands, then the Office went tc
the corner of Main and Court streets
In, the building now occupied by the
Ottumwa Savings bank, from which II
was moved while Major Hamilton was
postmaster to the room now occupied
by the Western Union Telegraph Co.
in the Leighton block. The next move
building.
Contrasts In Facilities.
But more marked than is the change
from the old rickety, tumble-dowu
building where Uncle Sans business
was first handled to the present post.
Office building is. are the changes In
the manner and equipment OF handling
the mails. When Mr.. Hoddy first be
came an employee of the government
the Ottumwa mails were received