USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 17
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Joseph A. Berry, October 28, 1854, to June 12, 1856.
Ignatius Hook, June 12, 1856, to Sep- tember 24, 1856.
Charles Ruch, September 24, 1856, to March 27, 1857.
Samuel Miner, March 27, 1857, to No- vember 16, 1859.
Simon H. Wunderlich, November 16, 1859, to August 5. 1861.
Warren Mason, August 5, 1861, to April 4, 1865.
John T. Drury, April 4, 1865. to Au- gust 28, 1866.
Albert F. Ruch, August 28, 1866, to March 17, 1869.
Orson H. Woodworth. March 17, 1869, to October 8. 1884.
John W. Bakef, October 8, 1884, to July 9, 1885.
Eli W. Brown, July 9, 1885, to June 29, 1889.
George S. Meely, June 29, 1889, to Sep- tember 28, 1893.
John Adams, September 28, 1893, to October 12. 1897.
Wallace W. Williamson. October 12, 1897. to January 18, 1906.
John W. Baker, January 18, 1906.
COESSE.
The third postoffice established in the county was Coesse, March 15, 1843. It was named after the Indian, Coesse. It was on the Ruckman farm on the yellow river road and remained in almost the same, loca- tion until the Pennsylvania Railroad was put in operation, when it was moved down to the town that took the same name. It was 011 the Fort Wayne and Columbia route, the only one from which it ever got mail until located on the railroad.
The postmasters have been :
Horace Cleveland, March 15, 1843. to April 3, 1856.
Joseph H. Root, Jr., April 3. 1856. to October 8, 1859.
Simon Aker, October 8. 1859, to July IO, 1861.
Joseph H. Root, July 10, 1861, to Sep- tember 22, 1863.
George B. Bonestel, September 22, 1863, to February 5, 1866.
Leonard Aker, February 5. 1866, to June 27, 1867.
Margaret M. Kaufman, June 27, 1867, to November 4, 1867.
Franklin Dustman, November 4, 1867. to January 14, 1869.
John A. Kaufman, January 14, 1869, to April 7, 1873.
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Israel H. Kinsey, April 7, 1873. to Oc- had moved down to the new town of tober 24, 1873.
Wesley W. Allen, October 24, 1873, to April 17. 1878.
Frederick Smith, April 17, 1878, to Au- gust 17, 1885.
Moses Winter, August 17, 1885, to March 29, 1887.
William A. Allen, March 29, 1887, to May 14, 1889.
Henry Bentz, May 14, 1889, to April 17, 1893.
Jackson Byram. April 17, 1893, to April 29. 1897.
Francis M. Swartz, April 29, 1897, to July 29, 1903.
William A. Allen, July 29, 1903.
SUMMIT. (LARWILL.)
The next office established in the county was Summit, December 21, 1846. It was at the old town of Summit, half a mile west of present Larwill, where the Columbia and Warsaw state road crossed the Goshen and Huntington state road. Alexander S. Mc- Nagny, still living at the same place, was first postmaster, from December 21, 1846, to August 6, 1850. Then Henry McLallen took it and held it till December 30, 1851. He kept it at his house on the Kerr farm, eastern edge of present Larwill. It was not a de- sirable office and went begging to any one who would take it along the post road, the Warsaw state road. Alonzo Rodebaugh kept it from December 30, 1851, to June II, 1853. George D. H. Harris held it from June II, 1853. till February 18, 1854, when Henry McLallen was again induced to ac- cept it and held it till August 17. 1861. During McLallen's last incumbency. the Pennsylvania Railway was built. McLallen
Huntsville and the office had become de- sirable, attracting trade to the place where kept. The Republican party having come into power. Edwin L. Barber secured the office. Barber held it till November 4. 1865. when Abram J. Whittenberger was ap- pointed, holding it till November 2, 1866, when Andrew Johnson's change of front gave it to Samuel S. Bonar, a Democrat.
Up to March 28, 1866, the name re- mained Summit, though many letters ad- dressed to Huntsville reached the proper des- tination. On that day, the name was changed to Larwill, and so remains. It was on the Columbia-Plymouth route from its establishment till the route was discontin- 11ed when the railroad was completed. Mail once a week each way. Bonar held the of- fice until March 26, 1869, when Edwin L. Barber was again appointed, and held it till October 9, 1871.
Hiram B. Whittenberger, from Octo- ber 9. 1871, to December 20, 1881.
William N. Andrews, from December 20, 1881. to July 8. 1885.
David F. Lower, from July 8, 1885, to April 27, 1889.
Alonzo N. King, from April 27, 1889, to April 15, 1893.
David B. Bonar, from April 15, 1893. to January 20, 1896.
Elmore Everett Rindfusz, from January 20, 1896, to June 23. 1897.
John Trachsel. June 23. 1897.
HECLA.
Popano-Etna.
Popano postoffice was established April IT. 1848, with Thomas B. Cunningham as
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
postmaster, near the north line of Troy township, each early incumbent keeping the office at his home. April. 4, 1849, lames Blain took the office and kept it till June 30, 1851. Rufus D. Keeney took the office from Blain June 30. 1851, and kept it till June 23, 1855. On the 7th of October, 1851, Keeney removed it across the line into Noble county (now Etna township), and on same day the name was changed from Popano to Etna ; and on May 22, 1852. the name was changed from Etna to Hecla. Lafayette Lamson having laid out the town of Etna and living there, took the office June 23, 1855. and held it till Daniel H. Chandler took it December 6, 1859.
On the change of county. by which Etna township fell to Whitley county in 1859, the office again came into Whitley county. The following is a full list of postmasters from Chandler's time :
Samuel Garrison, October 7, 1861, to April 24, 1865.
William W. Graves, April 24, 1865. to June 7. 1865.
Samuel Garrison, June 7, 1865, to July 17, 1866.
James Felt, July 17, 1866, to January 25, 1869.
Curtis Caskey, January 25, 1869, to Sep- tember 28, 1869.
Virgil Barber, September 28, 1869, to November 7. 1878.
Clarence E. Doane, November 7, 1878, to November 17, 1882.
Peter Moore. November 17, 1882, to October 22. 1884.
William H. Sellers, October 22, 1884. to June 16, 1885.
Thomas W. Blain, June 16, 1885, to June 20. 1889.
Wesley J. Magley, June 20, 1889, to August 8, 1893.
Frederic Zinsmeister, August 8, 1893, to March 17, 1896.
Frederick W. Kline, March 17, 1896, to October 9. 1897.
Jesse Miller, October 9, 1897, to De- cember 28, 1900.
John A. Jontz, December 28, 1900, to November 5, 1903.
Madge A. Kline, November 5, 1903, to February 29, 1904.
On the 29th day of February, 1904, the office was discontinued. the patrons being supplied by rural delivery from Columbia City, route fourteen. From the establish- ment of the office April II, 1848, to July I. 1850, there was no delivery of mail to the place. Mail for Popano remained in the Co- lumbia City office until called for by the postmaster or some one for him. Also out- going mail had to be carried to Columbia.
July 1, 1850, Popano was put on the route from Fort Wayne to Elkhart, but in October, 1851, it was put on the Columbia City and Wolf Lake route. From that time until the discontinuance of the office, it was on some route from Columbia City, with various terminations.
CHURUBUSCO.
Though the Goshen road through Smith township was the earliest thoroughfare, and the settlements among the very earliest. there was no postoffice in the vicinity until the establishment of Churubusco September II. 1848.
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Thomas B. Cunningham was the post- master and kept the office at his house on the Goshen road, northwest of the present town of Churubusco. The name was taken from the place in Mexico, made famous by the Mexican war. Just how it got the name, remains in dispute. Some say an old fiddler in the neighborhood was constantly sawing off a tune, Churubusco, and that he was mak- ing his home with Cunningham at the time. When the town of Churubusco started, there were two plats and two towns, Frank- lin and Union. There was considerable con- troversy as to which of the three names should survive, but Churubusco won out, and both the town and postoffice settled down to it many years ago.
The following have been the postmas- ters :
Thomas B. Cunningham, September II, 1848, to December 20, 1849.
James F. Mason, December 20, 1849. to May 18, 1852.
William B. Walker, May 18, 1852, to June 18, 1861.
Martin Thomson, June 18, 1861, to Oc- tober 10. 1863.
Joseph Richards, October 10, 1863, to September 10. 1864.
Alfred Jennings, September 10, 1864, to November 30, 1864.
Lemuel J. Harding. November 30, 1864, to September 1, 1865.
William B. Walker, September 1, 1865. to March 2, 1866.
John Deck, March 2, 1866, to August 25. 1868.
John A. Stratton, August 25, 1868. to July 23. 1869.
Gilbert L. Walker, July 23, 1869, to September 21, 1869.
David N. Hughes, September 21, 1869, to January 24, 1870.
Anes Yocum, January 24, 1870, to Sep- tember 3, 1883.
George W. Ott, September 23, 1883, to May 19, 1885.
Winfield S. Gandy, May 19, 1885. to December 17, 1888.
John W. Leiter, December 17, 1888, to July 2, 1889.
John W. Orndorf, July 2, 1889, to July 3, 1893.
William H. Carter, July 3, 1893, to June 8, 1897.
William A. Devault, June 8, 1897.
From the date of its establishment to July 1, 1854, it was on the mail route from Fort Wayne to Elkhart. July 1, 1854, the terminus of the route was Goshen instead of Elkhart and continued till July 1, 1858, when it was on the route from Fort Wayne to Albion and so continued until July I. 1870, when the old route was cut in two parts. Two round trips per week from Fort Wayne to Churubusco, and also two round trips per week from Albion to Churubusco, and so continued until the completion of the Eel River Railroad. .
COLLAMER.
This postoffice was established Septem- ber 18. 1849. The town was then of fully as much importance as to-day. It was called Millersburgh, in honor of Ellis Miller, the merchant and proprietor. The petition asked the postoffice be called Millersburgh. but as there was already an office by that
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name in Elkhart county, the department named it Collamer in honor of Jacob Colla- mer, postmaster general.
The following have been the postmas- ters :
Robert Reed, September 18, 1849, to December 21, 1854.
Jacob Butler. December 21, 1854, to May 24: 1856.
Abel Puffenbarger. May 24, 1856, to April 3. 1857.
Abraham Collett, April 3, 1857, to June 20. 1863.
Daniel Haines, June 20, 1863, to Octo- ber 10, 1863.
John M. Willits, October 10, 1863, to May 8, 1872.
Edwin Harter. May 8. 1872, to March 30. 1874.
Henry Bowser, March 30, 1874, to No- vember 16, 1874.
John D. Spurgeon, November 16, 1874, to October 19, 1875.
James C. Grafton, October 19. 1875, to April 17. 1876.
Joseph A. Schannep, April 17, 1876, to June 20. 1878.
Alfred Ross, June 20, 1878, to Novem- ber 8. 1882.
Joseph A. Schannep, November 8, 1882, to July 8. 1885.
Alfred Ross, July 8. 1885, to August 20. 1889.
Joseph A. Schannep. August 20, 1889. to October 2, 1893.
Alfred Ross, October 2, 1893, to Octo- January 2, 1877.
ber 20, 1897.
Joseph A. Schannep. October 20, 1897, to December II, 1902.
Alfred Ross. December II, 1902.
For thirty years there has been a run- ning fire between Ross and Schannep, but the latter has moved away, leaving the field to his rival.
Reed kept the office in a small log cabin, on the spot where Ross' store now stands. Puffenbarger kept it in a building torn down. Haines in a cabinet shop. Since that time it has been kept in some business house.
The office, when established, was on the La Gro-Warsaw route, and on that being discontinued was from and to Columbia City. until the completion of the Eel River Railroad.
LORAN.
(Later Lorane.)
A postoffice was established at the little village in north-east Richland (then Troy township). called Steam Corners, or Buz- zard's Glory, July 28, 1851. We cannot as- certain the reason for the name, but Wil- liam A. Clark was the postmaster and kept the office in his little store. He sold the store to James Grant, April 14, 1854, and the office went with it. The store burned March 24, 1855, and the office was discon- tinued.
It was re-established under the name of Lorane, May 21, 1872, and the following have been the postinasters :
Amos J. Landis, May 21, 1872, to Janu- ary 5. 1875.
Nathan E. Tinkham, January 5, 1875, to
Charles W. Gruesbeck. January 2, 1877, to December 19, 1881.
Theodore S. Gruesbeck, December 19, 1881. to July 8, 1885.
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
James Grant, July 8, 1885, to May 14, 1889.
Rena Gruesbeck, May 14, 1889, to Feb- ruary 29, 1904.
The office was discontinued February, 1904, on establishment of county rural serv- ice. It was first on the Columbia City-Wolf Lake route, and until its discontinuance was on some route out of Columbia City.
THORNCREEK.
A postoffice was established at Bloom- field August 18, 1853. As Bloomfield is now off the county map, it is necessary to state that it was located on the line between section 1, Thorncreek township, and sec- tion 6, Smith township, and on the center line of these sections, a half mile north of the east end of Round Lake. The petition- ers asked that it be called Bloomfield, but there was already an office by that name in the state. They then sent in two names, Thorncreek and Round Lake, and the form- er was accepted. It was generally called Round Lake postoffice by the people of the neighborhood. Samuel Kinsey had a little store at the place and secured the postoffice. He tired of frontier life, sold out and went back to Ohio. Samuel Deck, from over about Ligonier, bought him out January 16, 1854. and took the store and office that day. In July of the same year, Deck fell dead in his store, and was buried on the banks of Round Lake. Warren Mason, postmaster at Columbia City, went up next day and moved the office to Abraham H. Krider's cabin a half mile south of Bloomfield, on the east bank of Round Lake, and on July 27. 1854. Krider was commissioned post- master. Krider soon sold out and moved
near Churubusco. No one wanting the of- fice in the neighborhood, Krider bundled up the effects and took them to the Churubusco office, that being the nearest, and Thorn- creek postoffice passed into history after an existence of a year and eight days.
It was on the route from Columbia City to Albion.
LAUD.
Postoffices were established at Laud and Washington Center on the same day, June 27, 1855. Laud postoffice was kept at the homes of three different postmasters until the business grew to such importance that it was worth keeping at a place of business, in the little town of Forest, on the line be- tween Washington and Jefferson townships, stretching a mile along the east side of sec- tion 24, Washington, and section 19, Jef- ferson.
The postmasters have been :
Thomas Neal, June 27, 1855, to June 18, 1861.
Charles Bechtel, Jr., June 18, 1861, to April 27, 1880.
Marion G. Wright, April 27, 1880, to June 21, 1881.
Edward E. Phelps, June 21, 1881, to May 15, 1882.
James W. Burwell, May 15, 1882, to July 8. 1885.
Perry Long. July 8, 1885, to January 9, 1888.
Jacob C. Raber, January 9, 1888, to June 6, 1889.
Leroy L. Kimmel, June 6. 1889, to July 3. 1893.
Jacob C. Raber, July 3, 1893, to June 8, 1897.
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Leroy L. Kimmel, June 8, 1897, to April 22, 190I.
George W. Kelsey, April 22, 1901.
The office was discontinued on account of rural mail service, February 28, 1903.
When established, it was on the Fort Wayne and Liberty Mills route, thirty-two miles, making one round trip each week . also making quite a number of other offices. This route was discontinued July 1. 1870. It was then put on the route from Aboite to Bracken (Claysville), a distance of twen- miles, making one round trip each week; and this continued until July 1, 1876, at which date a route was established from Columbia City to Laud, ten and a half miles, making a round trip two days in each week, and this continued until the Nickel Plate Railway was put in operation, after which a daily route was established between Laud and Peabody, a distance of four and a half miles. July 1, 1887, the route was changed to run daily between Laud and Raber, a dis- tance of three and three-quarters miles, which was soon after shortened to three and a half miles, and so remained until Laud postoffice was discontinued.
WASHINGTON CENTER.
This office was established June 27. 1855. It was not at the center of Washing- ton township, as its name would suggest, but at different farm houses, usually about a mile south of the center of the township.
William Chamberlin was the first post- master, and held it till May 24, 1856. Mar- tin Bechtel then held it until January 19, 1866, almost ten years, at his home now owned by Charles W. Alexander, at the
north-west corner of the cross roads, a mile south of Washington Center. Then Sylves- ter Alexander took his turn and held it till. April 9, 1868, at his home on the quarter section just east of Bechtel's. His folks said the proceeds of the office did not pay for scrubbing the mud off the porch, and Andrew Clark took and held it at his house just south of Alexander's and across the road, until December 22, 1874, when he, too, refused to serve longer and the office was on that day discontinued. It was on the Liberty Mills and Fort Wayne route from its estab- lishment until July 1, 1870, and from that time to its discontinuance on the Aboite and Bracken route.
FULLER'S CORNERS.
This place is no longer on the map of Whitley county. It is on the line between sections 29 and. 30, Smith township, where the north and south road is crossed by the east and west, about eighty rods south of the north line of the sections. A postoffice was established in this neighborhood July 24. 1856, with Cornelius Fuller as post- master, and he held until November 29. 1859, when Harrison F. Crabill, who still lives near the Corners, was appointed. He held until July 21, 1864, when he resigned and the office was then discontinued. It was on the route from Columbia City to Al- bion, an entire distance of thirty-seven miles, with two round trips a week.
SATURN.
This office, near the south-east corner of the county, and in Jefferson township, was established January 21, 1857, with William
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
T. Jeffries as postmaster. He kept the of- fice in his log cabin near the south-east cor- ner of section 22, until he delivered it to his successor, James T. Bayless, April 5, 1860, and he moved the office a half mile east and kept it at his residence until he turned it over to Eli Hatfield June 22, 1865. Hatfield kept it at his residence near the north-west corner of section 26, on the Lib- erty Mills road, until he turned it over to James Broxon, December 5, 1867. It was kept by him and his family until April 20, 1895, at the northwest corner of section 25, diagonally across the road from the ceme- tery. Marcus N. Aker held the office from April 20, 1895, until it was discontinued November 15, 1900, the patrons being sup- plied by rural delivery from Columbia City. Aker kept it at the northeast corner of sec- tion 27.
It was always on or near the Fort Wayne and Liberty Mills road, and from its establishment until July 1, 1870, was on the Fort Wayne and Liberty Mills route. It was then put on the Aboite and Bracken route. July 1, 1876, the route was curtailed to run from Aboite to Saturn and return, five miles and back, three times a week, and this continued until the Nickel Plate Rail- road was in operation when the route ran from Dunfee to Saturn, five miles, and back, three times a week.
SOUTH CLEVELAND.
A postoffice named South Cleveland was established near where the Fort Wayne and Liberty Mills road crosses the Goshen and Huntington road in the south-west quarter of section 25, Cleveland township. It was to July 10, 1889.
on the Fort Wayne and Liberty Mills route. The following were the postmasters :
James H. Lee, July 20, 1857, to June 14, 1860.
Lewis W. Smith, June 14, 1860, to Jan- uary 3, 1861.
John Sickafoose, January 3, 1861, to September 23, 1865.
Jesse Hissem, September 23, 1865, to December 24, 1870.
John Sickafoose, December 24, 1870, until the office was discontinued.
ALMA.
This postoffice was established Novem- ber 22, 1869, with George Gaff as postmas- ter, and was kept by him on the Goshen road north-west of Churubusco, until it was discontinued December 20, 1886, and mail addressed to that office was ordered sent to Churubusco. It was in section 4. Smith township.
COLLINS.
This postoffice, on the Vandalia Railroad, was established February 13, 1871. The postmasters have been :
David Ruch, February 13, 1871, to No- vember 25, 1872.
Cyrus J. Ward. November 25, 1872, to December 15. 1873.
Martin Strouse, December 15, 1873. to February 25, 1874.
Harrison F. Crabill, February 25, 1874, to October 6, 1885.
Robert C. Hemmick, October 6, 1885. to October 25, 1888.
William J. Mckown, October 25. 1888,
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Alice A. Hemmick, July 10, 1889, to March 4, 1892.
Columbus N. Smith, March 4, 1892, to February 7, 1896.
William J. Mckown, February 7, 1896, to February 10, 1899.
Columbus N. Smith, February 10, 1899.
Mr. Smith has turned the office over to Mrs. Knight, who keeps it at her house.
TAYLOR.
An office was established at what was called Taylor's Station, now Wynkoop, on the Vandalia Railroad, March 14, 1876, and Simon J. Peabody was made postmaster. Mr. Peabody at that time ran a very ex- tensive saw mill and a little store at the place and quite a little village had sprung up. Mr. Peabody left the place in 1880, and by 1881 had taken his interests away, and the office was discontinued April 28. 1881. The village has disappeared almost entirely. It is in section 19, Columbia township.
ORMAS.
This office, at the once thriving village of Cold Springs, was established July 16, 1880. It is on the line between Etna and Washington townships, Noble county, but in Whitley county. It is a mile north of the north end of Loon lake, in the north- west corner of the north-east quarter of section 25. Etna township. The following persons have held the office :
William H. Beal, July 16, 1880, to Jan- mary 30, 1884.
Mary A. Beal, January 30, 1884, to April 12. 1893.
John D. Banta, April 12, 1893, to April 19, 1897.
Levi H. Todd, April 19, 1897, to April 14, 1902.
Calvin C. Hyre, April 14, 1902, till the office was discontinued February 29, 1904, and the patrons supplied by rural route four- teen, from Columbia City. When estab- lished, it was put on the route from Colum- bia City, by Lorane, Hecla, Ormas, Wilmot, Indian Village and Cromwell, to Ligonier. three times a week. In 1884, the route was shortened to take in Lorane, Hecla and Or- mas, then return, three times a week. This route was later extended to take in Cresco, and so remained until the office was discontinued.
PEABODY.
This office was established January 16, 1883, the first of the new offices on the lately finished Nickel Plate Railroad. It has been held as follows :
Amos E. Redman, January 16, 1883, to July 7. 1885.
Mary A. Gross, July 7, 1885, to January 24, 1888.
Henry J. Ummel, January 24, 1888, to July 29, 1889.
Amos E. Redman, July 29, 1889, to March 26, 1892.
Henry J. Ummel, March 26, 1892.
DUNFEE.
This was the second of the new offices established at new towns on the Nickel Plate Railroad. It was established April 6, 1883. and was held by George M. Singer, who was murdered in his store. It was turned
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
over to William McWhirter November 21, the proper name for Dunkard, and this 1895, and he still holds it.
RABER.
The third new town on the Nickel Plate Railroad to get a postoffice was Raber. Office established April 1, 1884.
Samuel Clark held it from its establish- ment to October 1, 1890.
Thomas J. Berry, October 1, 1890, to August 31, 1901.
William Bogner, August 31, 1901, until the office was discontinued March 31, 1902. the patrons being supplied with rural deliv- ery from Columbia City. This is the first case of the discontinuation of a railroad post- office in the county.
TUNKER.
This office at the north center line of sec- tion 19 and south center line of section 18, in Washington township, was established September 3, 1886. Henry K. Kitch being the postmaster during the entire life of the office. It was discontinued on account of rural delivery from Columbia City, Feb- ruary 29, 1904. It was supplied by a route from South Whitley and back, five miles, three times a week. Later the new office of Luther was added to the route. The ap- plication for this office was prepared by Eli WV. Brown, then postmaster at Columbia City. He was told to name it, and sent in the name Vilas, the name of the postmaster- general under the then first term of President Cleveland. The department reported a Vilas already established in Indiana. Mr. Brown then named it Tunker, which he said was
was a Dunkard settlement with a large brick church situated across the street from the postoffice.
CRESCO.
This office was established May 10, 1888. at the south-east corner of section 8, Thorn- creek township. Edmund E. Hoffer kept the office at his little store until he sold the same to John J. Cotterly, and Cotterly be- came postmaster May 28, 1903. He moved the store and office a half-mile east and held it until discontinued on account of rural de- livery from Columbia City, February 29. 1904. It had been supplied by the Colum- bia City. Hecla and Ormas route.
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