1206    HISTORY OF GRATIOT COUNTY.

SUMMERTON P. O.

Summerton post office was located at the northeast corner of Seville Township, at the Isabella county line. Bradley E. Johnson was appointed postmaster July 27, 1870. He was followed by James Fockler, December 8, 1873, and by Walter S. Fowler, October 27, 1875. Discontinued May 18, 1876, and re-established April 18, 1882, with Cyrus E. Larkin as postmaster. Then came Joseph W. O’Harra, September 20, 1882; Jennie O’Harra, July 24, 1885; Joseph W. O’Harra, November 11, 1887; Charles A. Vredenburg, September 28, 1898; Simon W. Cline, November 20, 1900. Discontinued April 7,1902.

LAFAYETTE P. O.

Lafayette (or Fayette) post office was established in the southwestern part of Lafayette Township, with Eber M. Monroe as postmaster, September 18, 1857. It was discontinued April 14, 1860, but was re-established September 22, 1860, with David T. Huston as postmaster. Officials following were Elijah Curtis, January 31, 1861; George W. Brooks, May 23, 1861; Elijah Curtis, July 20, 1861; James L. Foote, April 29, 1865; George Richardson, January 15, 1867; James L. Foote, February 19, 1872; Charles C. Foote, December 18, 1872; Wesley Knickerbocker, January 6, 1875; Rollin W. Maxam, October 20. 1881 ; James Darcus September 14, 1886; Rollin W. Maxam, May 4, 1888; Anselia J. Tenney, April 2,1889. Discontinued March 13, 1896; mail to go to Rathbone. Re-established April 23 1896 with Rosa Benson as postmaster. Discontinued April 30 1902. Mail now from Breckenridge.

STELLA P. O.

Stella post office was early on the map; located in southeastern North Star, with Addison Hayden as first postmaster, appointed March 2, 1858. Discontinued April 14, 1860, and re-established January 24, 1861, with John H. Stedman as postmaster. His successors: Addison Hayden, January 19, 1864; William L. Ball, November 10, 1871; Alanson Jeffery, April 19, 1880; N. Nichols, April 18, 1881; William H. Stedman, March 4, 1884; James E. Bush, April 3, 1888. Discontinued August 14, 1890; mails to Ashley.

SPRING BROOK P. O.

Spring Brook post office was one of the first in the county, being located in central Fulton Township, William L. Sutherland first postmaster, appointed November 16, 1855. He was succeeded as follows: Ashbel W. Herrick, December 8, 1863; Charles Kellogg, January 5, 1867; George C. Bassett, November 12, 1868; Israel W. Hawse, March 2, 1871; Samuel Sheller, April 22, 1879; John B. Resseguie, June 29, 1880. Discontinued March 9, 1888; mail to Bridgeville.

EXTINCT POSTOFFICES.    1207

SEVILLE P. O.

Seville post office was established at a little station of the same name on the C. S. & C. Railroad (now the Pere Marquette), on section 34, Seville Township. William G. Faulkner was the first and last postmaster, appointed October 20, 1875. Elwell, a mile or so away proved too strong a competitor, and the Seville post office was discontinued January 8, 1884; mail to Elwell.

RING P. O.

Ring post office was located in eastern Wheeler, and had Jabez Phelps as first postmaster, appointed May 3 1882. He was followed by Eben R. Gould, May 7, 1883; John Basor, September 24, 1883; Jabez Phelps, again, October 4, 1883. Discontinued October 30, 1883; mail to Wheeler.

PARKINSON P. O.

Parkinson post office was located a mile north of Forest Hill, at the residence of Jehu E. Parkinson, on the Ann Arbor Railroad, and Jehu E. was appointed the first postmaster, March 9, 1887. September 30th, following, he was succeeded by his son, Henry J. Parkinson. July 18, 1889, it was discontinued. Then, April 4, 1890, it was reestablished, with William N. Leonard as postmaster. He was succeeded August 19, 1891, by William L. Bowers. The office was finally discontinued for good, January 17, 1895; mail to Forest Hill. The office existed about eight years, mainly as a rival to Forest Hill; probably never really needed.

NORTH WHEELER P. O.

North Wheeler post office lasted about ten years, and accommodated a certain number of people of Midland County as well as Gratiot, being on the line between the two. Lawrence J. Hoyt was the first appointee, dating his incumbency of the office from March 6, 1894. Charles Woodcock was appointed November 21, 1902. The rural system closed the office May 14, 1904; served from Breckenridge.

EUGENE P. O.

A four-corners store located five miles west of Ithaca, on the Arcada side of the line, was headquarters for a post office for about eight years, commencing April 25, 1894, when Eugene M. Terpening, proprietor of the store, was made postmaster. The post office was named Eugene. John A. Brown succeeded Mr. Terpening, December 15, 1898. March 14, 1902, the office was discontinued, and the locality is now served by carrier from Alma.

GALLOWAY P. O.

Galloway post office was originally a Gratiot County institution, having been instituted January 25, 1896, on section 24, Lafayette, on the county line between Gratiot and Saginaw Counties. Andrew Schurr was the first

1208    HISTORY OF GRATIOT COUNTY.

postmaster. Frank L. Blackburn succeeded him October 31, 1898. Still later, in the same year, the postmaster moved over the line into Saginaw County, and took the office with him. He was succeeded January 5, 1901, by Theodore P. Adams, and he gave way March 26, 1902, to Oliver D. Miller. Discontinued October 31, 1902, and the vicinity now served by carrier from Merrill.

LANGPORT P. O.

Langport post office was a country post office established in the northeast corner of Lafayette Township March 1, 1899, with Frederick G. Biddlecom as postmaster. It was short lived, going out of business October 31, 1902, to make more room for the rural route men. Gets its mail now from Merrill, Saginaw County.

HASTY P. O.

Hasty post office was established in southeastern Hamilton June 7, 1878, to accommodate the lumbering people, at that time doing a large business there. Ezra A. Cole was the first postmaster, followed by Charles M. House, November 29, 1880; Henry Winslow, June 26, 1882; Evan M. Potter, December 18, 1882; Lewis C. Chamberlain, February 19, 1891. The office was discontinued November 3, 1891 mail to go to Elsie. (Elsie is in Clinton Co.)

NORTH SHADE P. O.

A post office named North Shade was established in northwestern North Shade, August 3, 1854, with Joseph Comstock as postmaster. He was followed by Joseph Roop, March 8, 1856; Joseph Comstock again, January 18, 1858; Robert M. Abbott, January 23, 1863; John T. Irish, February 21, 1866; Hiram Sherman, June 5, 1866. The office was changed to Carson City, Montcalm County, August 3, 1868.

BEAVER CREEK P. O.

Beaver Creek was a rural post office established in the northwest part of Seville Township on a creek bearing that name running from Half-Moon Lake on section 5 into Pine River in the southern part of section 18. David C .Lanphere was the first postmaster, appointed December 3, 1860. Following him came William E. Swain, February 3, 1863; John W. Dunn, Feb­ruary 27, 1866; Frederick Dunn, February 21, 1868; Joseph Shanks, April 14, 1873; Jesse L. Pelton, May 13, 1875. Discontinued June 23, 1875.

LEON P. O.

Leon post office was located in eastern Elba, and was established there more particularly to accommodate the lumbering interests there at the time. Horatio G. Tyler was appointed postmaster April 14, 1879, and was

EXTINCT POSTOFFICES.    1209

followed by Levi Marriott December 18, 1882. Discontinued February 8, 1883; mail to Elsie. Reestablished August 3,1883, with Mrs. Ira Marriott as postmaster. Discontinued February 18, 1887; mail to Ashley.

MONTICELLO P. O.

Monticello post office was located somewhere in New Haven Township. Henry P. Clark, who was the second supervisor, was appointed postmaster November 2, 1857 Joseph Finkle, December 31, 1858: Moses H. White, February 14, 1863. Discontinued March 23 1863.

OCINA P. O.

Ocina post office was located in southern New Haven, and had Abraham Fredenburgh as its first postmaster, appointed March 8, 1881. Isaac Jason succeeded him August 19, 1881, and the office was discontinued September 7, 1881. All done within six months’ time. It might he called a forerunner of the office at Sethton, which was established the next summer, and not far away.

GARDENVILLE P. O.

Gardenville was a short-lived post office of western New Haven, lasting from March 25, 1895, when Robert McFarland was appointed postmaster, till December 31, 1902, when it was discontinued. Arad F. Lindsay succeeded Mr. McFarland April 18, 1898.

LUNA P. O.

Probably the shortest lived post office on record was a little office with the little name “Luna”, down in Washington Township. The office lasted from March 2, 1858, when William V. Carothers was appointed postmaster, until June 22, 1858, when it was discontinued.

ALDRICH P. O.

Andrew Schurr was appointed postmaster at a post office called Aldrich, in Lafayette Township. The date of his appointment was June 29. 1899. Discontinued April 21, 1900; mail to Rathbone.