Chronicles of Oklahoma

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Chronicles of Oklahoma
Volume 6, No. 1
March, 1928
EARLY POST OFFICES OF OKLAHOMA

Grant Foreman

Page 4

The early post offices of the United States are to be found in more than a score of huge volumes in the Post Office Department at Washigton where they were entered according to states in the approximate order in which they were created. In most of the states of the Union it was a comparatively easy matter to group the post offices according to the counties within which they were located. But not so with Oklahoma before Statehood. A number of the early Oklahoma post offices appear on the Post Office Department records as being in Arkansas because Indian Territory was then part of Arkansas Territory. After the somewhat indifinite division of the country among the Indian tribes, for want of county limits the Department located the post offices with reference to the tribal boundaries.

As the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations divided their countries into counties, post offices were located with reference to these county lines in lieu of tribal boundaries. There were many other opportunities for confusion; the records of post offices located in Greer County, Texas, were arbitrarily changed to show them in Greer County, Oklahoma, before the sovereignty of that country was determined. For many years it is doubtful if any one understood the geography and divisions of Indian Territory and it is surprising that the clerks in the Post Office Department were able to locate the post offices as well as they did. At best the records are confusing and the task of making a correct transcript of them to show the name, location and beginning of each post office together with the first postmaster has been no slight undertaking. Errors will probably be discovered; the compiler has undertaken to correct some of the more obvious ones of which he found many, such as the location of Fort Sill in the Choctaw Nation; but while having some essential knowledge of early Oklahoma, he has thought it wise not to vary too much from the original, even though he does not correct the location of Pryor's Creek in the Choctaw Nation which he does not pretend to understand.

The headings employed are from the original records; rearrangement was used to place the lists in convenient form

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for reference without taking too much liberty with the records and their recitals.

The compiler wishes to acknowledge the courtesy of the officials of the Post Office Department in giving him access to the records and an opportunity for a copyist to transcribe them.

GRANT FOREMAN

January 5, 1928.

CHOCTAW NATION

Indian Territory

Post Office First Postmaster Date of Appointment
Miller Court House J. H. Fowler September 5, 1824
Fort Towson George C. Gooding September 7, 1832
(Changed to Doaksville Nov. 11, 1847)
Choctaw Agency F. W. Armstrong June 26, 1833
(Changed to Scullyville August 16, 1860)
Eagle Town Loring S. Williams July 1, 1834
Fort Coffee James O. Scott April 20, 1835
Spencer Academy William Wilson January 22, 1844
Mayhew Charles F. Stewart February 5, 1845
(Discontinued March 29, 1892)
Wheelock Henry K. Copeland March 21, 1845
Doaksville Joseph R. Berthelet November 11, 1847
(Late Fort Towson)
Boggy Depot William R. Guy November 5, 1849
(Changed to Council House Feb. 6, 1872)
Gaines Creek Henry Harder January 7, 1850
Armstrong Academy Philip P. Brown November 19, 1850
Luk-fah tah Emilius G. Corder February 14, 1853
Toboxky Gray E. Scales September 18, 1857
(Discontinued March 22, 1878)
Hochubbee Samuel M. Willard January 12, 1858
Harris’ Mill Henry C. Harris April 5, 1859
(Late Mineral Hill)
(Discontinued July 2, 1866)
Scullyville Francis E. Williams August 16, 1860
(Late Choctaw Agency)
Skelton Depot Miss Emma DeHart February 4, 1867
Spring Bluff Hettie O. Semple November 20, 1867
Atoka Carrol S. Davis January 23, 1868
Red Oak Thomas Edwards March 11, 1868
Scalesville William T. Davis December 8, 1868
(Changed to Buckluxy March 1, 1870)
Brushey F. Schmallfield July 23, 1869
Pryor’s Creek Rufus N. Denton August 19, 1869
Buckluxy William T. Davis March 1, 1870
(Late Scalesville)
Munna Samuel Garland October 7, 1870
(Discontinued March 6, 1872)
Pauls Valley J. C. D. Blackburn August 21, 1871
(Now in Chickasaw Nation)
Goodland Francis A. Black August 21, 1871
Oak Lodge Henry W. Fannin December 22, 1871

Page 6

Post Office First Postmaster Date of Appointment
Council House Miss Martha E. Davis February 6, 1872
(Late Boggy Depot)
(Discontinued January 31, 1879)
(Re-established May 16, 1879)
New Boggy Depot Joseph J. Phillips March 22, 1872
(Changed to Boggy Depot Dec. 26, 1883)
Caddo W. S. Burks December 19, 1872
McAlister Samuel A. Rosse March 31, 1873
(Changed to McAlester Nov. 12, 1885)
South Canadian R. D. Burton May 29, 1873
Bennington William J. B. Lloyd August 7, 1873
Mountain Martha J. Edwards October 10, 1873
(Discontinued May 6, 1886; mail to McAlester)
Big Tusk George W. Riddle October 27, 1873
Blue James B. Atkinson July 1, 1874
(Discontinued March 22, 1878)
(Re-established Oct. 15, 1891)
Pleasant Ridge William Bryant July 1, 1874
Rogers Station Burton Doyle July 1, 1874
(Discontinued Nov. 13, 1878)
Stringtown James D. Garner August 17, 1874
(Changed to Sulphur Springs July 9, 1877)
Bermington W. M. Gardner May 11, 1875
(Discontinued Oct. 10, 1878)
Limestone Gap Charles LeFlore January 26, 1877
Sulphur Springs William F. Haynes July 9, 1877
(Late Stringtown)
(Changed to Stringtown July 23, 1877)
Stringtown William F. Haynes July 23, 1877
(Late Sulphur Springs)
Wadeville Alfred Wade November 19, 1877
(Discontinued May 14, 1883; mail to Mountain Fort, Arkansas)
Lukafata Charles J. Gaffney December 20, 1877
Durant Station A. E. Folsom February 20, 1879
(Discontinued April 20, 1881)
Okshawali B. F. Locke March 14, 1879
(Discontinued April 20, 1881)
Brazil Station Mrs. Phoebe Welch April 11, 1879
Caney Switch H. H. Cockerill July 11, 1879
(Discontinued July 23, 1879)
Sans Bois Green W. McCurtain September 1, 1879
Tuskhela Mrs. Louisa Parrish September 1, 1879
(Discontinued August 2, 1880)
Shawnee Creek Isaac McClure September 23, 1879
(Discontinued Dec. 29, 1880)
Durant’s Station Dixon D. Durant September 23, 1879
(Discontinued May 3, 1881)
Short Mountain Eli E. Mitchell October 3, 1879
(Late Scullyville County—Discontinued Feb. 18, 1880)
Hoyt City James T. McTouland November 3, 1879
(Late San Bois County—Discontinued Sept. 2, 1880)
Brooken Daniel M. Hailey January 26, 1880
Savanna Daniel M. Hailey January 26, 1880
Pocola George W. Hickman February 15, 1881
(Late Scullyville County)
Green Hill James C. Kennedy February 15, 1881
(Late Scullyville County—Changed to Grover Feb. 12, 1886)
Kully Chaha A. F. Ross February 15, 1881
Monroe Simon M. Griffith February 25, 1881

Page 7

Post Office First Postmaster Date of Appointment
Cache Henry M. Russell March 10, 1881
(Lute Scullyville County)
Nelson Joseph N. Smith March 10, 1881
(Late Kiamitia County)
Uno Isabella O. Matthews (Mrs.) March 23, 1851
(Late San Bois County—discontinued Oct. 3, 1881)
Kiowa Lafayette Hamilton May 6, 1881
(Late Atoka County)
Opposum Mrs. Sarah A. Kelly June 23, 1881
(Late Scullyville County—discontinued Feb. 20, 1882)
Oklahoma Thompson C. McKinney December 21, 1881
(Changed to Whitefield Nov. 27, 1888)
Kuli-chuk-chu Lewis Teel January 18, 1882
(Changed to Kuli Inla)
Durant Orville C. Butler March 8, 1882
Lehigh Brady S. Thompson April 4, 1882
(Late Atoka County)
Annette Walter D. Parks April 26, 1882
Armstrong William W. Richards April 26, 1882
(Discontinued Oct. 30, 1883; Mail to Caddo)
Kuli Inla Lewis Teel August 7, 1882
(Late Kuli-chuk-chu)
(Kuli Inla Discontinued April 24, 1883, mail to Walnut Grove, Texas)
(Re-established June 2, 1883)
(Changed to Kulli Inla March 4, 1886)
(Changed to Shawneetown August 16, 1892)
Wapanucka Frank P. Wells March 5, 1883
(Late in Chickasaw Nation)
Boggy Depot George B. Hester December 26, 1883
(Late New Boggy Depot)
Tuskha Homma Henry T. Jackman February 27, 1884
(Name changed to Tushkahomma Oct. 28, 1891)
Tamaha John E. McBrayer April 17, 1884
(Discontinued Nov. 16, 1886; Mail to Blaine)
(Re-established March 6, 1888)
Longview Aurilla G. Oakes May 26, 1884
Maxey Wm. A. Welch June 2, 1884
(Changed to Caston Nov. 5, 1887)
Etna William H. Isherwood August 7, 1884
(Discontinued June 3, 1885; mail to Stringtown)
Cowlington Sterling P. Jobe August 27, 1884
Blaine Charles W. Banks October 1, 1884
(Late Pocola; Discontinued Jan. 5, 1885)
Cedar John S. Rushing October 22, 1884
(Discontinued Oct. 29, 1885; papers to Doaksville)
Kavanaugh James F. Kennady November 11, 1885
(Changed to Kennedy May 16, 1889)
McAlester James J. McAlister November 12, 1885
(Late McAlister)
Gertrude Gertrude L. Westbrook January 11, 1886
(Discontinued Feb. 1, 1887; Mail to Stringtown)
Yarnaby Ambrose Powell January 22, 1886
(Late in Chickasaw Nation)
Krebs James D. Moody February 10, 1886
Grover Theodore D. Smith February 12, 1886
(Late Green Hill)
(Discontinued Feb. 25, 1888; mail to Cameron)

Page 8

Post Office First Postmaster Date of Appointment
Kulli Inla James L. Bryarly March 4, 1886
(Late Kuli-chuk-chu and Kuli Inla)
(Changed to Shawneetown Aug. 16, 1892)
Ola William G. Baird May 1, 1886
(Discontinued Jan. 28, 1891; mail to Krebs)
Hatobi Franklin L. Moore September 13, 1886
(Changed to Smithville May 1, 1890)
Nashoba Robert S. Rowling September 13, 1886
(Discontinued May 16, 1887)
Winston Charles Winston September 13, 1886
(Discontinued May 16, 1887)
Bokoshe William A. Sanner September 29, 1886
Lary Thomas L. Ward November 11, 1886
(Discontinued Sept. 7, 1887)
Antlers Ella Colbert August 26, 1887
LeFlore Richard A. Walker August 26, 1887
Kiamichi John W. Robinson September 27, 1887
(Discontinued July 17, 1890; mail to Tushka Homma)
(Re-established Jan. 8, 1891)
Cavanah Samuel P. Glenn October 10, 1887
(Discontinued May 23, 1888)
Re-established Oct. 29, 1888)
Poteau Robert T. Forbes October 27, 1887
Caston William A. Welch November 5, 1887
(Late Maxey)
Talihina Andrew A. Muse November 30, 1887
Albion Charles F. Igo December 6, 1887
Standley William G. Martin December 6, 1887
Cameron William E. Green January 21, 1888
Tamaha John E. McBrayer March 6, 1888
(Re-established)
Thurman Carl G. Rodman March 20, 1888
Kully Chaha Albert J. Slator March 24, 1888
(Late Sugar Loaf County)
(Discontinued Feb. 25, 1888; mail to Cameron)
(Re-established March 24, 1888)
Caney William F. Kelly June 20, 1888
(Discontinued Dec. 24, 1889; mail to Caddo)
(Re-established March 27, 1891)
Alikechi John Wooley July 13, 1888
Minko William M. Keith August 23, 1888
(Discontinued Dec. 13, 1888)
Nail L. Maynard October 13, 1888
Summerfield Lily Sexton October 13, 1888
Cavanah Samuel P. Glenn October 29, 1888
Whitefield William S. Hall November 27, 1888
(Late Oklahoma)
Kosoma Ernest E. Ragland November 28, 1888
Grant Basil L. Gooding January 31, 1889
Kennady James T. Kennady May 16, 1889
(Late Kavanaugh)
Leader George W. Scales September 18, 1889
Liddle Francis M. Madden September 18, 1889
(Changed to Coalgate Jan. 23, 1890)
Butler Charles L. Nevins November 8, 1889
(Discontinued March 19, 1891; mail to Standley)
(Re-established April 15, 1891)
Cale John C. Womack November 30, 1889

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Post Office First Postmaster Date of Appointment
Bryan Luke W. Bryan December 12, 1889
(Discontinued Oct. 7, 1893; papers to Braidwood)
Coalgate Francis M. Madden January 23, 1890
(Late Liddle)
Bengal Asa B. Griffin January 24, 1890
Scipio Joseph T. Bevill January 24, 1890
(Discontinued Sept. 11, 1890)
Burgevin John T. Burgevin January 31, 1890
South McAlester William Noble February 5, 1890
Alderson John R. Frazer March 5, 1890
Hartshorne Henry Martyn March 5, 1890
Smithville Joshua M. Smith May 1, 1890
(Late Hatobi)
Panther Joseph W. Kober June 11, 1890
Russellville Joseph Nees June 19, 1890
Milton James C. Smith June 20, 1890
Okolona George G. Miller June 25, 1890
Rodney Thomas H. Ash June 30, 1890
Enterprise William C. V. McCarty June 30, 1890
Gilmore John R. Williams June 30, 1890
Wister Isaac M. Willis June 30, 1890
Hoyt Campbell Russell August 19, 1890
Braden John W. Stallcup September 1, 1890
Wade Felin LeFlore October 24, 1890
(Discontinued April 23, 1891)
(Re-established Aug. 7, 1894)
Wilburton William R. Guin January 2, 1891
Kiamichi (Re-established) (No record) January 8, 1891
Indianola James H. Bynum January 16, 1891
Cartersville Towns C. Daniels January 28, 1891
Fanshawe Charles A. Welch March 13, 1891
Bell James N. D. Campbell April 13, 1891
Butler (Re-established) Oren O. Keithley April 15, 1891
Golconda John M. Leutz April 25, 1891
Huddleston James L. Fisher April 30, 1891
Chickiechockie Alpheus Wright June 17, 1891
(Discontinued March 29, 1892)
Iron Bridge Martin W. Newman June 25, 1891
(Changed to Ironbridge)
Braidwood James T. Sutton July 11, 1891
(Changed to Pocohontas May 11, 1895)
Harrison James B. Jones September 17, 1891
(Changed to Shady Point Dec. 11, 1894)
Blue Phillip L. Cain October 15, 1891
(Re-established)
Tuskhomma John W. Sohmer October 28, 1891
(Late Tushkahomma)
Baird Wilson D. Baird January 28, 1892
Kolb Philip Kolb February 5, 1892
(Changed to Reichert May 7, 1892)
Byrd Nathaniel A. Lee March 3, 1892
(Changed to Owl June 6, 1894)
Star James B. Beckett March 14, 1892
Bourland Daughrity D. Mullins March 29, 1892
(Discontinued Sept. 7, 1895; papers to Allen)
Phillips Henry L. Phillips April 2, 1892
(Discontinued Dec. 28, 1892; papers to Lehigh)
Allen John T. Gilmore April 9, 1892

Page 10

Post Office First Postmaster Date of Appointment
Elzey J. Buford Adkinson April 30, 1892
Newman Joseph S. Stigler April 30, 1892
(Changed to Stigler May 3, 1893)
Reichert William Reichert May 7, 1892
(Late Kolb)
Garland Joseph Garland May 10, 1892
(Discontinued April 1, 1893; papers to Newman)
Tuklo John McHenry May 14, 1892
(Discontinued April 25, 1893; papers to Tuliys, Texas)
Ward James A. Riggs June 20, 1892
Feathertown Lucius C. Featherston June 23, 1892
Hoyaby Joseph H. Elliott June 23, 1892
(Discontinued Jan. 16, 1894; papers to McAlester)
Vaught James O. Ormsby June 23, 1892
(Discontinued Sept. 28, 1892)
Shawneetown Robert M. Love August 16, 1892
(Late Kulli-Inla)
Tatapa Jesse H. Hardaway September 16, 1892
(Discontinued)
Longtown Stephen R. Talkington January 27, 1893
Stigler Joseph L. Stigler May 3, 1893
(Late Newman)
Gowen Nathaniel P. Conway January 13, 1894
Utica Wilber F. Whaley February 14, 1894
Garvin James W. Kirk February 19, 1894
Gordon Marcus K. McElhannon March 5, 1894
Jackson George F. McGahey March 17, 1894
Roberts James Roberts March 23, 1894
Lodi William W. Francis March 23, 1894
Tucker Jefferson D. Shaw March 30, 1894
Dexter Ambrose E. Elliott March 31, 1894
Hamden William W. Gardner March 31, 1894
Citra Thomas J. Brown April 10, 1894
Coosa Robert P. Harris April 14, 1894
(Discontinued June 4, 1896; papers to LeFlore)
Walls Benjamin F. Walls, Sr. April 17, 1894
Harris Clarence B. Aydelette May 22, 1894
Guertie James S. Rayden June 15, 1894
Fowlerville Nathaniel W. Fowler July 7, 1894
Couser Jane Couser July 7, 1894
Owl Erie Self July 10, 1894
(Late Byrd)
Albany Joseph N. Thompson July 10, 1894
Folsom Christopher C. Featherstone July 13, 1894
Farmers Jarett F. Carter August 3, 1894
Damon Benjamin F. Johnson August 6, 1894
Wade Cyrus Bates August 7, 1894
(Re-established)
Bokchito William R. Senter August 11, 1894
Fagan John C. Wishart August 17, 1894
Simpson Joseph Childers August 22, 1894
Witteville Gerhard H. Witte August 22, 1894
Hochatown Ebenezer N. Lee September 5, 1894
(Discontinued March 21, 1895; papers to Eagletown)
Tandy John H. Brunson September 17, 1894
Hickman Bradford Maupin October 3, 1894
Choate Mary E. Choate November 6, 1894

Page 11

Post Office First Postmaster Date of Appointment
Shady Point Sarah E. Lippard December 11, 1894
(Late Harrison)
Goodwater William J. Whiteman December 19, 1894
Janis David H. Dickerson December 29, 1894
Hoyuby Thomas L. Wood January 26, 1895
(Changed to Stuart April 14, 1896)
Phillips Archibald B. Cameron February 11, 1895
(Re-established)
Reynolds Minnie Cooper February 19, 1895
(Discontinued Sept. 23, 1896; papers to Kiowa)
Oconee William M. Norman March 7, 1895
Riverview John M. Walburn March 21, 1895
(Changed to Calvin June 24, 1895)
Pocahontas John M. Taylor May 11, 1895
(Late Braidwood)
Quita Joseph L. Pendergraft May 18, 1895
Ego William A. Glenn June 7, 1895
(Discontinued Nov. 18, 1895)
Juletta Robert D. Phillips June 8, 1895
Calvin John M. Malburn June 24, 1895
(Late Riverview)
King Mary Y. King July 10, 1895
(Discontinued Dec. 30, 1895)
Hugh Wade Keith September 5, 1895
(Discontinued Jan. 15, 1896)
Lona George W. Flud September 6, 1895
Bower Daniel C. Beaittie September 6, 1895
Dwight John S. Adams October 4, 1895
Kullituklo Sidney J. Herndon October 22, 1895
Thomasville Marcus L. Thomas January 25, 1896
Armstrong William B. Maupin February 15, 1896
(Re-established)
Ti William D. Tomlin March 6, 1896
Lyceum Nell M. Wakefield March 23, 1896
Coulter George W. Henderson March 23, 1896
(Discontinued Oct. 16, 1896; papers to Stringtown)
Page Charles A. Stewart April 6, 1896
Stuart William L. Wooley April 14, 1896
(Late Hoyuby)
Vireton Henry E. Miller May 1, 1896
Nixon John W. Jones May 2, 1896