This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

Post
y u
ICO
j
Uiitl
origina
I
y
r ii
ancock
Sy 0
rs
fro
THE POSTAL HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
By Broox Sledge Macon, Miss.
Special to
The Sea Coast Echo
A total of 51 different post offices have existed at onetime or another in the territory now or formerly composing Hancock . county. (NOTE: the statement referring to any territory FORMERLY occupied by Hancock county only DURING the time the area was ACTUALLY A PART OF Hancock. For the territory PRESENTLY occupied by Hancock this record is complete from 1832 through 1929.' Much is also included prior to 1832, but I do not contend that the record is complete prior to 1832. I believe this to be true, but cannot say with certainty.	i
The following list of post offices is taken from the federal archives' and contains the name of the post office, together with any change of name which may have occurred, the names of all postmasters and their terms of office, and the date of discontinuance of t h e post office where applicable.
Remember, the record only runs up to the year 1929. It does not include any changes which occurred beyond *1929 except In perhaps one or two rare instances.	/
I trust the reader will enjoy reading the list of names. Perhaps he will find names of old friends and ancestors.
Here is the list:
BAY ST. LOUIS
Established Oct. 1, 1819 as “Shleldsborough,** the name' being changed to Bay St. Louis "in 1875. The postmasters:
John B. Tonline, Oct. 11, 1819 to Nov. 4,1846. (Hisbondsmen were identified as James Johnston, Julies Monet, and Francis Sadmer.)
Willis H. Arnold, Nov. 4,
1846 to Dec. 12, 1850. ........
N.B. Arnold, Dec. 12, 1850 to Apr. 19, 1853.
Nancy B. Arnold, Apr. 19, 1853 to Feb. 5, 1856. Benjamin Sones (?), Feb. 5, 1856 to Nov. 30, 1857. John V. Toulme, Nov. 30, 1857 to Nov. 23, 1865. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Pierce, Nov. 7.3, 1865 to Sept. 2, 1867. Evariste V. Seucler, Sept. 2, 1867 to Dec. 24, 1869. Mrs. Kcbecca E. Wilkinson, Dec. 24, 1869 to May 2 1871;, Eldrldgo McArthur, May 2, 1871 ;o Mar. 9, 1874 Edith F. Rcss, Mer. 9, 1874 to Oct. 15, 1875. Mrs. Anme li, Avery, Oct. 15, 1875-to Aug. 20, 1885. Ella E. Joor, Oct. 15, 1885 to Apr. 18. 1889.
PO clerk ^ history buff
Broox Sledge was born in Memphis, Tenn., 48 years ago and worked in country printing offices at New Albany, Pontotoc, Eupora and Macon for 15 years—until 1958. Since then he has been a window clerk at the U. S, Postoffice in Macon and his avocation Is local, regional and Mississippi history.
He has written several county postal articles such as this series on Hancock and is writing a history of Noxubee County, Locating old abandoned cemeteries and recording them is another interest.
He is married to the former Hazel May of Pontotoc, has one daughter, Mrs. Perry Gaither of Macon, and one grandson. He is Sunday school Superintendent's df'Ma con's .First Baptist Church,
Louis J. Piernas, Apr. 18,1889 to May 5, 1894. Joseph E. Saucier, May 5, 1894 to May 27, 1898. Leuls J. Piernas, May 27, 1898 to Mar. 3, 1911. Richard Mendes, Mar. 3, 1911 to Feb. 4, 19T5. Joseph E. Saucier, Feb. 4, 1915 to Dec. 19, 1923. Archibald R. Hart, Dec. 19, 1923 to Jan. 10, 1927. Harry C. Glover, Jan. 10 1927 (last entry.)
* * *
PEARLINGTON
Establlnhed July 2, 1822. The postmasters:
George H. Nixon, July 2, 1822 to Nov. 9, 1824.
P. Rutilius R. Prave (?), Nov. 9, 1824 to Oct. 5,'1835 Richard Coleman, Oct, 5, 1835 to May 10, 1837.
Charles II. Greenleaf, May 10, 1837 to Apr. 5, 1838.
Ijcmuel Learned, Apr. 5, 1838 to Nov. 9, 1838.
Eiifiha Benjamin, Nov. 9, 1838 to Jan. 18, 1845. Geo. W. Robinson. Jan. 18, 1845 to Apr. 18. 1846. Olley Gyrating, Apr. 18, 1846 to June 16, 1849. William T. Stocker, June 16, 1849 to May 25. 1852. Asa H. Hurscy (7), May 25, 1852 ;o Oct. 27, I860. James Graves, Oct. 27, 18v)0 to Jan. 8, 1861. GeoPj’e W. Pray, Jan. S, 1861 to Apr. ift, 1861. (Office discontinued from Aj'r. 18,' 1861 to Nov. 23, 1865.) Gtorye W, flrowi. Nov. 23, 1865 to Mar. (7, 1883, Joseph Graves , Mar.
7, 1883, to Aug. 20, 18'i5. Margaret C. Favre, Aug. 20, 1885' to Apr. 16, 1889.
County days
Joseph Graves, Apr. 16,	5,	1845,	(The next entry read:
1889 to May 9, 1894. William "Now in Harrison county."
A. McGuire, May 9, 1894 tos:ji/	•	•	*
Dec. 6, 1898. Etienne Wilcox-//'^//'*
•cm-, Dec. 6, 1898 to Mar. 23,
1916. Thomas A. Dean, Mar, 23, 1916 to Oct. 15, 1924. (Office discontinued from Oct. 15, 1924 to Feb. 10, 1925.)
Mrs. Sara Strahan went in as postmistress Feb. 10, 1925. This was the final entry.
• * * HOBOLOCHITTO
Established May 28, 1832. The postmasters:
Henry Dillard, May 28,1832 to May 30, 1835. (His bondsmen were named as John Joor and Calvin Merriel.)
Motes Cook, May 30, 1835 to Oct. 12, 1838. (Hia bondsmen were James Murphey and A. Favre.)
Jacob Peal (could have been "Seal” or "Deal." It was difficult to read), Oct. 12, 1838 to Feb. 2, 1839.
George A. Mlskell, Feb. 2, 1839 to Feb. 3, 1841. Henry Dillard, Feb, 3, 1841 to Sept. 8, 1842. Leonard Kimball, Sept. 8, 1842 to Feb. 5, 1856. Office discontinued from Feb. 5,
1856	to Apr. 14, 1856.) Sherrod Bird, Apr. 14, 1856 to Apr. 3, 1857. Alfred Farr, Apr. 3,
1857	to July 17, 1858. S. Seal, July 17, 1858 to Oct. 1, 1858. Leonard Kimball,'Oct. 1, 1858 to Mar. 7, 1870. Office discontinued Mar. 7, 1870.
• • •
SPRING COTTAGE Established Sept. 29, 1826. Only one postmaster, George Sheriff, who served until the office was discontinued May 8, 1838.
MISSISSIPPI QTY
Established Dec. 23, 1839. The postmasters:	*
Collin McRae,.Dec. 23. 1839 to Dec. 31, 1840. William A. Champlin, Dec. 31, 1840 to July 24, 1845. Henry Garnet, July 24, 1845 to Nov. 5, 1845. George W, Tegarden, Nov.
PASS CHRISTIAN
Only one entry tinder Hancock County, as follo’jftg:
Findley B. Hlem^tfes^jJO, 1839. Then: "Now in Harrison County."
(To be continued next week,)