Dakota Collector April 2009 - Dakota Postal History Society

A Research Journal of North and South Dakota Postal History
Published by the Dakota Postal History Society - Vol. XXVI No. 2 - April, 2009
Table of Contents
President’s Message, etc……….3
A Study of Brown County South
Dakota - Part 2
By Gary Anderson and Ken
Stach………………………...……..4
Contents of the Cover
By Ken Stach...............................20
NORTH DAKOTA ¤ SOUTH DAKOTA ¤ DAKOTA TERRITORIAL ¤ POSTAL HISTORY ¤ POST OFFICES
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Dakota Postal History Society Officers & Directors
Officers & Directors
Office
Email
Address
Phone Number
Ken Stach
President
[email protected]
24175 405th Avenue
Letcher, SD 57359
605-248-2620
Mike Ellingson
Vice President
[email protected]
P.O. Box 21402
Eagan, MN 55121-0402
Gary Anderson
Secretary,
Treasurer and
General Editor
[email protected]
P.O. Box 600039
St. Paul, MN 55106
Walter Anderson
Director
[email protected]
1002 S. Liberty Place
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Glen Jorde
Director
[email protected]
P.O. Box 48
Devils Lake, ND 58301
Doug Wick
Director
[email protected]
Box 7399, Northbrook Sta.
Bismarck, ND 58507
651-771-9142
Dues:
Regular Membership
Sustaining Membership
Foreign Membership
Foreign Sustaining
Lifetime Membership
$15.00
$20.00
$25.00
$30.00
$250.00
Advertising Rates:
(members only)
Quarter Page
Half Page
Full Page
Two Full Pages
$5.00/issue
$10.00/issue
$20.00/issue
$35.00/issue
NOTE: Cancels and covers pictured may
not be actual size! Contributors articles
are the opinion of the contributor and may
or may not be the opinion of the editor
and officers of this organization.
A special THANKS to all contributors
Published Quarterly
Cover page is now page 1
Contents © Copyright 2009
Dakota Postal History Society
P.O. Box 600039
St. Paul, MN. 55106
Sustaining and Life Members:
• Joseph J. Adamski (LIFE)
• Gary Anderson (LIFE)
• Walter Anderson
• John Bentzen
• Richard Birklid
• Dale Brick
• Duane L. Edwards Sr.
• Mike Ellingson
• Kenton Forrest
• Charles W. Fulker
• Charles E. Gates
• Jimmy Gilbertson
• Max A. Gors
• Clair Haakenson
• Ronald J. Harbeck
• Jim Havlena
• R. C. Heen
• Warren Jackson
• Lowell Joerg
• Douglas Johnson
• Vernon A. Johnson
• Glen Jorde (LIFE)
2
• Robert Kolbe
• Dr. Kelly J. Krizan (LIFE)
• Dr. Dennis J. Lutz (LIFE)
• Roger Meyer
• Steven E. Miedziak
• Sidney R. Moore (LIFE)
• Dr. Ron Olin
• James C. Pierce, M.D.
• Virgie B. Rowan
• Donald E. Schiele
• James Schiele
• Neil C. Schroeder
• Ken Stach (LIFE)
• Oscar Thomas
• Blair Tremere (LIFE)
• Dave Twedt
• David Vikan
• Al Wahl
• Bill Wallace (LIFE)
• Doug Wick
• Dale Wilen
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Editorial Comments
from the President
from the Secretary/Treasurer/Editor
Submitted by Ken Stach
Submitted by Gary Anderson
The second half of our article on Brown County, South
Dakota is contained herein, as part of our continuing series
on the counties of South Dakota. In addition, another installment of “Contents of the Cover” is provided, this one
being a reprint of an article I wrote for Western Express
late last year. As it pertains heavily to Dakota Territory
and the Custer Massacre; I trust you will enjoy the reprint
of it on these pages.
In this issue we have my annual treasurer’s report. As you
can see, we are holding our own financially, even with the
added cost of the new-look Dakota Collector. The donations from our members have helped tremendously. Keep
them coming!
Don’t forget our Annual Meeting at the South Dakota
State Coin and Stamp Show on May 2nd & 3rd. Details
are on Page 23.
Financial Statement for 2008 - Dakota Postal History Society
Prepared by Gary Anderson - DPHS Secretary/Treasurer - Mar 1, 2009
Balance Sheet Item
Balance
Beginning Checking Account Balance - Jan 1, 2008 $ 3,454.60
Income Related Transactions:
Income from Regular & Sustaining Members Dues
Income from Lifetime Memberships @ $250
Long-Term Expense Associated w/New Lifetime Memberships
Income from Member Donations and CD Sales
Total Net Income
Asset or
Income
Liability or
Expense
$ 1,100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$485.00
$ 1,585.00
Expenses Related Transactions:
Printing, Postage, Envelopes for 4 Issues of Dakota Collector
Gordon Twedt Memorial Award Payment
Check Printing Charge
Transfer to Long-Term Savings (CD)
Total Payments
$ 1,703.94
$ 100.00
$
18.95
$ 1,000.00
$ 2,822.89
Ending Checking Account Cash Balance - Dec 31, 2008 $ 2,216.71
Cash Reconciliation:
Cert. of Dep. (as of May 14, 2008) was $2177.42 prior year
$ 3,293.20
Checking Account Balance as of Dec 31, 2008
$ 2,216.71
Total Cash Assets $ 5,509.91 ($5632.02 at end 2007)
Net Assets as of Dec 31, 2008 (Total Assets minus the LongTerm Liability of the 9 Life-Time Memberships at $250.00
$ 3,259.91
each = $2250.00)
Membership Summary:
Regular Memberships (30 last year)
Sustaining Memberships (31 last year)
Life Memberships (9 last year)
Free Copies to APS, Hist. Societies, Linn's, etc. (8 last year)
Total Distribution (78 last year)
3
24
37
9
8
78
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
A Study of Brown County, South Dakota - Part 2
By Gary Anderson and Ken Stach
Hecla (1886-Open)
The Hecla post office was first established as Marna
on May 23, 1883. The name was changed to Lansing on Aug 27, 1883 and then finally to Hecla on
Nov 26, 1886. Hecla’s first postmaster was Joe B.
Stone. The office is still in operation. (1) The town
was named for the volcano of that name in Iceland.
It was founded by the Western Town Lot Company
in 1886. (4)
Postmaster Compensation:
Joe B. Stone
Herman S. Sheldon
Herman S. Sheldon
Joseph Wegener
William P. Hines
William P. Hines
William P. Hines
William P. Hines
William P. Hines
William P. Hines
William P. Hines
William P. Hines
John D. Lyon
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$217.77
$564.90
$512.00
$495.89
$371.49
$398.15
$440.83
$491.40
$593.74
$606.90
$795.00
$1000.00
$1200.00
Hecla, Dakota. May 7, 1887 postmark with
bullseye killer on 2c pse cover to Iowa
Hecla, Dak. Jul xx, 1888 standard 27mm
plain circle postmark on cover to Iowa
Various statehood postmarks from Hecla, S.
Dak. shown below
Hecla, D. T. manuscript marking with straight
line Feb 15, 1887 postmark modified from
Lansing (Hecla’s previous name)
4
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Houghton (1886-1986)
Huffton (1882//1905)
The Houghton post office was open a few months
short of one hundred years, being established Oct
25, 1886 and closing May 1, 1986. Its first postmaster was William C. Houghton. (1) According to
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, in her book South
Dakota Geographic Names, the town was named for
C. W. Houghton, a local landowner. It was founded
in 1886 by the Western Town Lot Company. (4)
The Huffton post office was open the first time from
Oct 24, 1882 to Nov 14, 1905 with William H.
Woodman as its first postmaster. Mail was forwarded to Putney upon the first closure. Huffton
was open a second time from Dec 9, 1905 to Dec
31, 1962 with mail to Claremont upon the second
closure. (1) Brown County History adds that Huffton
was originally named Foxton and was platted first in
1882 to the southeast of the present site, mainly by
settlers from Michigan, in anticipation of a Milwaukee Railroad line north from Groton. When the
Great Northern Railway was put in from North Dakota to Aberdeen, Foxton was moved to the David
Huff (thus, “Huffton”) homestead and renamed in
1889. The post office was established on Oct 24,
1882. A father, and later his daughter, served as
postmaster for 52 consecutive years from 1910 to
1962. (3)
Postmaster Compensation:
William C. Houghton
Edward B. Olson
Edward B. Olson
Cyrus M. Spurr
Cyrus M. Spurr
Cyrus M. Spurr
Cyrus M. Spurr
John H. Duerr
John H. Duerr
John H. Duerr
John H. Duerr
John H. Duerr
Thomas H. Norton
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$80.34
$227.70
$161.07
$175.17
$145.61
$141.45
$153.81
$191.52
$202.72
$222.25
$238.00
$333.00
$400.00
In its heyday, Huffton had a general store, a post
office, two elevators, a church, a school, and several
residences. As the years went by and church bodies
consolidated, the church steeple was removed and
the building became a town hall, but later it was torn
down. The elevators became outdated and were
sold in the 1960’s to farmers for storage. For all the
activity in this once bustling community, by 1980
there were only the two elevators, two school buildings, and one early-day house. (3)
Postmaster Compensation:
David I. Huff
David I. Huff
David I. Huff
Robert T. Paine
Howard W. Cole
Charles H. Tyler
Elmer T. Tyler
Elmer T. Tyler
Elmer T. Tyler
Elmer T. Tyler
Charles A. Van Kleeck
Louis Anderson
Harry E. Benson
Harry E. Benson
James W. Morse
Houghton, Dakota. Nov 22, 1888 postmark in
purple with solid star killer on 2c green banknote adhesive on cover to Illinois
Houghton, S. Dak. Nov 20, 1910 statehood
postmark (Doane 3-3)
5
1883
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$8.55
$26.46
$15.24
$138.20
$96.14
$124.42
$72.34
$64.44
$70.03
$52.33
$81.99
$56.35
$84.00
$151.00
$80.00
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
River to the west. The post office was not commissioned until January of 1889 and the name change was
made in March of 1896 in honor of F. D. James,
owner of the southeast quarter section being subdivided. A depot was built in1 889, and soon a hotel
and café, a lumberyard, a church and parochial school,
a general store, a poolroom, a jail and three elevators
were added, plus several homes. The general store
was typical for the early 1900’s – selling everything
from groceries, clothing, millinery, and fine laces to
oil, hardware and farm machinery. It burned in 1927
and was not replaced, for the 1910 population of forty
had decreased to eleven in only ten years. The last of
the elevators was closed in the 1970’s. The saloon
was the business which had made James famous; it
became very popular during the years Aberdeen and
Groton were dry. Some of the liquor sold was labeled,
“Bottled for Ladner Bros., James, S. D., 1897”. With
liquor came rough and rowdy transients, who were
jailed when drunk and left with an open cell door before a freight train was due – a convenient solution to
the problem. All that remains of this once lively town
in 1980 are two homes. (3)
Huffton, Dak. Apr 10, 1886 standard 27mm
plain circle postmark with bullseye killer on
2c banknote adhesive to Pennsylvania
Postmaster Compensation:
Carl Voigt
Carl Voigt
Jerome Spratt
Jerome Spratt
Jerome Spratt
August J. Finberg
August J. Finberg
August J. Finberg
Two examples of Huffton, S. Dak. Statehood
markings: Jan 2, 1892 and Sep 25, 1902 on
government postal cards
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$121.10
$152.38
$178.53
$196.49
$163.56
$215.00
$235.00
$170.00
James (1896-1928)
The post office at James was first established as Chedi
Jan 12, 1889. It was changed to James on Mar 16,
1896 with Carl Voigt as its first postmaster. The office was closed on Mar 31, 1928 with mail to Groton.
(1)
According to Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (4) the
town has a name of uncertain derivation. It is said to
have been named for F. D. James, owner of the land
on which the railroad station was built; other possibilities are that it was named for Tom James of nearby
Tacoma Park, for John R. James, early settler at
nearby Columbia, or for the James River. (4)
Several examples of James, S. Dak. statehood
postmarks: May 1, 1899 with bullseye, Feb
29, 1908 Doane marking, and Oct 1, 1920
The book Brown County History notes that James was
originally called Chedi, after Chedi Lake on the James
6
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Mansfield (1882-1953)
Lansing, Dak. May 21, 1885 straight line postmark with bullseye killer
on 2c vermillion pse to Wisconsin. An example of a provisional postmark, possibly pieced together from newspaper type.
Lansing (1883-1886)
The Marna post office was established May 23,
1883 with Charles A French as first postmaster.
The office was changed to Lansing on Aug 27, 1883
and finally to Hecla on Nov 26, 1886. The proposed name for the office was Osband. (1) No reference could be found as to why the office was named
Marna. Furthermore, no postmaster compensation
data was recorded.
Moody (1890-1896) - NKC
Postmaster Compensation:
1885
The Moody post office was in operation from Aug
27, 1890 to Jul 15, 1896 with Daniel Kight as first
postmaster. Mail was sent to Murray upon closure.
The proposed name for the office was Foster. No
reference could be found as to why the office was
named Moody, although one would suspect it was
tied to Gideon C. Moody, who was an early politician from Dakota Territory, federal judge, etc.
$44.80
Liberty (1884-1887) - NKC
The Liberty post office operated for a little under three
years, from Sep 24, 1884 to Mar 16, 1887 with Walter
Bell as its first postmaster. Mail was forwarded to
Hecla upon closure. The proposed name for the office
was originally Riverside. (1) No reference could be
found regarding why the office was named Liberty.
Postmaster Compensation:
Daniel Kight
Daniel Kight
Ira D. Kight
Postmaster Compensation:
Walter Bell
1885
(1)
Marna (1883-1886) - NKC
The post office at Lansing was first established as
Marna on May 23, 1883. It was changed to Lansing
on Aug 27, 1883 with Charles A. French as its first
postmaster. The office was finally changed to Hecla
on Nov 26, 1886 and is still in operation under that
name. (1) No reference could be found as to why the
office was called Lansing, although one would assume
it somehow tied with the city of that name in Michigan. However, there was a L. W. Lansing who was a
member of the 1885 South Dakota Constitutional Convention and a settler in Hand County; perhaps the office was somehow named for him.
Seymore D. Perkins
The town of Mansfield straddles the Brown and Spink
County line. The post office
is actually in Spink County;
therefore, it will be addressed
when that county is covered.
$24.20
7
1891
1893
1895
$13.04
$77.82
$18.48
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
less than fifteen, and the small store, two houses and
one elevator were all that remained. Hamlin Garland, whose father was operating a general store in
Ordway as well as farming in those days, recorded
his impressions of this area. (3)
Murray (1885-1903) - NKC
The Murray post office was established Jan 30,
1885 with Henry Z. Murray as its first postmaster.
The name of the office was changed to Bern on May
13, 1903. The proposed name of the office was Fair
View. (1) Brown County History (3) notes that Foster, Nahon and Murray were all named in hopes that
they would grow into towns. But, the towns never
materialized. The post office as obviously named
for its first and only postmaster, Henry Murray.
Postmaster Compensation:
Vincent P. Kennedy
Vincent P. Kennedy
William T. Sheridan
William T. Sheridan
William T. Sheridan
John McNeary
John McNeary
Mrs. Cerinda E. Locker
Mrs. Cerinda E. Locker
Annie M. Hall
Annie M. Hall
Rufus J. Hall
Rufus J. Hall
Rufus J. Hall
Rufus J. Hall
Postmaster Compensation:
Henry Z. Murray
Henry Z. Murray
Henry Z. Murray
Henry Z. Murray
Henry Z. Murray
Henry Z. Murray
Henry Z. Murray
Henry Z. Murray
Henry Z. Murray
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
$7.47
$47.65
$43.15
$40.71
$49.90
$36.79
$35.05
$30.43
$38.34
1883
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$576.41
$408.59
$347.78
$231.32
$207.14
$177.05
$90.31
$76.32
$56.97
$64.33
$67.74
$94.98
$126.00
$155.00
$120.00
Ordway (1881-1944)
The post office at Ordway was open from Sep 19,
1881 to Oct 31, 1944 with William N. Brayton as its
first postmaster. Mail was forwarded on to Aberdeen upon closure of the office. (1) The town was
named for Nehemiah G. Ordway, of Warner, New
Hamphire, who was seventh governor of Dakota
Territory from 1880-1884. (5)
Ordway was founded in the summer of 1881, at the
end of the Chicago and Northwestern rail line. It
was an early farm center and an early candidate for
both the capital of an undivided Dakota and for a
Methodist university. Settlers came rapidly, and
this boom town soon had, as its peak population, a
general store, two hotels, a lumberyard, a lawyer, a
physician, and a druggist. Later, two elevators and
a blacksmith shop were added. By 1883, Ordway
had no chance of becoming the territorial capitol;
the rail line was extended to Columbia, and Ordway
had lost the economic advantage of being a terminus, and Bismarck was chosen as the Territorial
capitol. In 1885, the Methodist University was assigned to Mitchell. Excavations which had been
started to the north of Ordway for a university building were abandoned. In 1950, the population was
Ordway, Dakota May 5, 1882 magenta postmark with bullseye killer on government
postal card to Aberdeen, Dakota
Ordway, Dak. Oct 1, 1884 postmark on merchant corner card cover to Minnesota
8
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Plana (1887-1927)
The Plana post office was open from Aug 30, 1887
to May 14, 1927 with Daniel D. Jones as its first
postmaster. Mail was processed at Bath upon closure of the office. (1) According to Virginia Driving
Hawk Sneve, the town was first called Hadley and
is thought to have been renamed for the Plana
Manufacturing Company of Illinois. It has a railroad station, which at present is unused, two elevators, a country school, and several houses. (4)
Ordway, Dak. Oct 21, 1884 postmark with
bullseye killer on 2c banknote cover with merchant corner card to Minnesota
According to Brown County History, Plana was first
named Hadley by Welsh settlers, who came to the
area from Wisconsin. With the support of Welsh
settlers, the town grew to include a general store, a
depot, a school, a church, a community hall, a barber shop, three elevators, and several homes. The
church was built in 1887. Now grass grows high
around the few remaining structures. (3)
Postmaster Compensation:
Daniel D. Jones
Daniel D. Jones
Daniel D. Jones
Daniel D. Jones
Daniel D. Jones
Morgan H. Jones
Morgan H. Jones
Morgan H. Jones
Morgan H. Jones
Edward C. Tague
Napoleon J. Wilmsen
Fred Tyson
Ordway, S. Dak. Nov 29, 1906 statehood postmark (Doane 2-1) on postcard
Pectoria (1883-1884) - NKC
The post office at Pectoria was open about 18
months, from Jun 11, 1883 to Dec 24, 1884 with
Herbert W. Diment as its first postmaster. Mail was
sent to Columbia upon closure. (1) The Early History of Brown County South Dakota notes that
Brainard was originally known as Pectoria. A town
site was laid out on Sand Lake where boats landed
that made the trip on the James River from Columbia to Port Emma, Dakota Territory. A grade was
built for the proposed railroad that was never built.
On Nov 28, 1883, a meeting was held at the M. J.
Sackreiter house and those present voted to change
the name from Pectoria to Brainard. (2) No reference could be found as to why the office was named
Pectoria. Furthermore, no postmaster compensation
data was recorded from this office.
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$117.67
$80.80
$104.61
$71.64
$69.86
$72.01
$52.91
$89.25
$89.93
$28.00
$103.00
$110.00
Plana, S. Dak. Apr 18, 1910 statehood postmark (Doane 3-1) on postcard
9
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Putney (1887-1963)
Putney’s post office was established Feb 16, 1887
with John Fleming as its first postmaster. The office was discontinued on Feb 28, 1963 and established as a Rural Branch of Aberdeen on Mar 1,
1963. The rural branch was discontinued officially
on Oct 31, 1972. Postmarks exist from March of
1963 showing it to be a rural branch of Groton;
however, it was never officially designated as such.
(1)
The town was named for Putney, Vermont, the
home town of H. W. Campbell, an early settler. (4)
Putney, Dak. Sep 7, 1887 fancy shield postmark with solid star killer on 2c brown
printed stamped envelope to Pennsylvania
Brown County History notes that Putney is now but
a reminder of what it once was. In 1887, after rail
service was available, Putney was platted and
named by settlers from New England. Soon a general store, a drugstore, two grocery stores, a hotel, a
blacksmith shop and a dance hall were built. That
first year, the Putney Messenger, a short-lived newspaper, was published. Early in the twentieth century, two elevators were built and, later, a service
station. One elevator was in use until recently
(1980). Two general stores were operating in 1940,
but by 1970 only one. (3)
Postmaster Compensation:
John Fleming
John Fleming
John Fleming
Edmund T. Wickwire
Edmund T. Wickwire
Edmund T. Wickwire
Henry E. Bartniger
Sylvester L. Spratt
Charles F. Smith
Clark G. Bousman
Norman R. Murner
William G. Honey
William G. Honey
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$26.07
$191.60
$145.49
$191.84
$169.92
$159.77
$209.66
$165.79
$178.59
$174.28
$213.00
$232.00
$170.00
Groton, S. Dak. Putney Rur. Sta. Mar 12,
1963 postmark on philatelic cover; Putney
was never officially designated as a rural
branch of Groton
Aberdeen, S. Dak. Putney Rur. Sta. USPO Apr
5, 1963 postmark on philatelic cover; Putney
was officially a rural branch of Aberdeen
Two examples of Putney, S. Dak. Statehood
postmarks: Apr 26, 1904 and Feb 23, 1911
10
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Randolph (1908-1953)
Richmond (1909-1913)
The Randolph post office was open from Jan 8,
1908 to Nov 30, 1953 with Charles R. Yeager as its
first postmaster. Mail was sent to Stratford upon
closure. (1) No reference could be found as to why
the office was named Randolph, but one wonders
what the middle initial of the first postmaster (“R”)
stood for!
The Richmond post office was open for about fourand-one-half years, from Apr 1, 1909 to Dec 15,
1913 with Charles Worton as its first and only postmaster. Mail was sent to Aberdeen upon closure.
Although short-lived, postmarks from Richmond as
not uncommon. (1) No reference could be found as
to why the office was named Richmond.
Randolph was platted in 1908 when the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad built its line across the
southern part of the county. The town grew to serve
a large area before highway transportation improvements made it possible for people to buy their goods
in other towns. In its best years, Randolph had a
bank, a general store, five elevators, a hardware
store, a school, a church, a post office, and a barber
shop. Rail service was excellent; there was a train
to Aberdeen in the morning and one returning in the
evening. The barber, E. C. Griffin, also taught
school and was a tailor, at one time making all the
uniforms for the baseball team. Although the post
office was operated until the general store closed in
1953, the town had long since declined, a result of
the financial crash and hard times in the 1930’s.
Today (1980), the total population of Randolph is
one. (3)
Richmond was platted as soon as the Minneapolis
and St. Louis rail lines were built northwest of Aberdeen. Its plat was recorded on Mar 19, 1907. A
depot and grain elevator were soon built, and an artesian well was dug. These were soon followed by a
stockyard, a lumberyard, and a large building housing living quarters for the freight agent, a stores and
a post office. By 1912, the population had grown to
44, but the decline was already in sight. In December, 1913, the post office was moved to Wetonka.
In 1926, the depot was moved to Long Lake, but
because of an abundant harvest, the Dean Grain
Company built a second elevator. The “Dirty Thirties” brought an end to the town. The last grain elevator closed in 1967. The town died, but its name
lives because of the development of nearby Richmond Lake. (3)
Postmaster Compensation:
Postmaster Compensation:
Charles R. Yeager
Melvin J. Gordon
1909
1911
Charles Worton
Charles Worton
$148.00
$100.00
1909
1911
$1.00
$40.00
Richmond, S. Dak. Feb 11, 1910 postmark
and 4-bar killer on postcard
Randolph, S. Dak. Aug 30, 1909 postmark and
4-bar killer on postcard
11
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Rondell (1880-1902)
The Rondell post office was one of the earliest in
Brown County, being open from Apr 23, 1880 to
Nov 15, 1902. Its first postmaster was James E.
Humphrey. Mail was sent to Warner upon closure.
(1)
The book Early History of Brown County South
Dakota provides this story on the name of the office: Francis Raundelle, a Frenchman, came to New
Orleans. From there, he proceeded up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where he came into the employment of the American Fur Company. In 1842,
his company sent him up to Sioux City, then up the
James River to Oakwood Post in Brown County,
now Rondell – named after him. Minnie Slack
McCaughey says his name was originally spelled
Raundelle. (2)
Rondell, Dak. Jun 25, 1883 standard 27mm plain
circle postmark with bullseye killer on 3c green
banknote adhesive on cover to Minnesota
Postmaster Compensation:
James E. Humphrey
James E. Humphrey
James E. Humphrey
James E. Humphrey
James E. Humphrey
James E. Humphrey
James E. Humphrey
James E. Humphrey
James E. Humphrey
James E. Humphrey
Joseph W. Morgan
1881
1883
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
$35.02
$107.84
$138.50
$181.65
$141.67
$125.63
$127.05
$95.66
$93.27
$121.31
$117.32
Rondell, Dak. Jan 9, 1886 standard 27mm
plain circle postmark, but with the date in
manuscript within the dial, bullseye killer on
cover to Minnesota
Rondell, Brown Co., Dak. Feb 10, 1882
serifed oval postmark with pen cancel on 3c
green banknote adhesive on cover to Minnesota
Rondell, S. Dak. Dec 17, 1891 statehood postmark (standard 27mm plain circle) with bullseye killer on cover to Minnesota
12
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Rudolph (1883-1908)
Saint Ansgar (1883-1887) - NKC
The Rudolph post office was open from Apr 3, 1883
to Jan 15, 1908 with Henry G. Sfeze as its first postmaster. Mail was sent to Aberdeen upon closure. (1)
The town was named for H. Rudolph McCullough,
an officer of the Chicago and North Western Railroad Company. (4)
The Saint Ansgar post office was open for a little
over four years, from Jul 2, 1883 to Oct 11, 1887
with Andrew H. Tollefson as its first postmaster.
Mail was sent to Verdon upon closure. No reference could be found as to why the office took this
name, but one would suspect it had ties to the town
of the same name in Vermont.
The town plat for Rudolph was recorded on Nov 18,
1881, when it was for a time the end of the line on
the Chicago and Northwestern Railway. John Morrow, while operating a livestock enterprise on this
section of land he had purchased, built a large structure near the depot. It served as general store, post
office, meat market, hotel and home. He also operated a livery barn and stockyards until 1908. Promoted only by the railroad and John Morrow, and
faced with the rapid growth of Aberdeen and Warner, the town collapsed quickly. By 1980, all that
could be found of Rudolph were cellar holes and
unfilled wells. (3)
Postmaster Compensation:
Andrew H. Tollefson
Andrew H. Tollefson
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
$20.67
$24.71
Santa Clara (1885-1896) - NKC
Santa Clara’s post office was open from Jan 5, 1885
to July 31, 1896 with James K. Fletcher as its first
postmaster. Mail was sent to Detroit upon closure.
(1)
The book Brown County History notes that the
post office was established on a quarter section
owned by J. H. Fletcher. Then in 1886, both Hecla
and Claremont were established as towns, further
removing any hopes for this town near the Sand
Hills. The post office commission was not listed as
canceled until Jul 17, 1896, although the service had
been discontinued earlier. (3) No reference could be
found as to why the office took this name.
Postmaster Compensation:
Kate L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
John L. Morrow
1885
1887
$69.60
$57.72
$128.59
$134.33
$263.75
$272.25
$311.05
$313.21
$357.74
$314.72
$322.47
$322.00
Postmaster Compensation:
James K. Fletcher
James K. Fletcher
James K. Fletcher
George C. Bennett
George W. Streeter
George W. Streeter
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
$3.81
$21.63
$27.56
$28.48
$23.52
$19.42
Savo (1893-1915)
The Savo post office was open from Aug 31, 1893
to Sep 30, 1915 with Daniel T. Wegner as its first
postmaster. Mail was sent to Frederick upon closure. (1) The book South Dakota Geographic Names
notes that the town was 30 miles north of Aberdeen,
and the center of Finnish settlement, but the derivation of the name is unknown. (4) However, Early
History of Brown County South Dakota notes tha
Kustaa Frederick Bergstadius was an early settler to
the area who was born in Savo, Finland. (2)
Rudolph, Dak. May 12, 1884 territorial postmark on cut square (from the Postmark Collectors Club archives), only reported example
of a postmark of any kind from Rudolph to
date
13
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
The book Brown County History (3) gives additional
information on the Savo community: Savo (NE 14128-63), had its first post office in the home of
Daniel Wegner from 1882 to Nov 15, 1900. Then,
the position was given to a man who had taken the
Civil Service examination. Later, when a store was
built on the NE quarter of section 14, the post office
was moved there. A creamery was built by the
store, organized in 1901 as the Savo Finnish Creamery Company, which was the first legally incorporated co-op in the area. The co-op was patterned
after co-ops in Finland. The success of this joint
venture spurred a second cp-op, known as the Savo
Farmers Telephone Company, organized on Nov 7,
1910. As hopes for the town of Savo faded and rural mail delivery became available from Frederick,
this post office officially closed on Sep 30, 1915.
The creamery closed the same year as the post office, and three years later the store closed.
Shelby (1883//1886) - NKC
The Shelby post office was open the first time from
Jun 1, 1883 to Oct 7, 1884 with Andrew J. Stoneburner was its first postmaster. Mail was sent to
Columbia after the first closure. The office was
open a second time from Dec 15, 1884 to Nov 11,
1886, with mail being sent to Detroit after the second closure. No reference could be found regarding
why the office was named Shelby.
Postmaster Compensation:
Charles Rolf
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$24.05
Stratford (1906-1986)
The Stratford post office was open for eighty years,
from Aug 9, 1906 to Feb 15, 1986 with Blanche M.
Lynch as its first postmaster. Mail was sent to Aberdeen for processing after closure. (1) The town
was founded on land owned by a pioneer real estate
firm called the Floete, Cory, Bemis and Company.
When the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad built a
line through the site, officials of the road purchased
the land for a town from this company and in conjunction with the real estate firm selected the name
Stratford from the list of names submitted. (4)
Postmaster Compensation:
Eliza M. Wegner
Eliza M. Wegner
Eliza M. Wegner
Abraham West
Paul Geranen
Paul Geranen
Erick Erickson
Erick Erickson
Erick Erickson
1885
$33.66
$39.30
$24.77
$21.77
$29.92
$62.25
$139.00
$181.00
$60.00
Postmaster Compensation:
Blanche M. Lynch
Alfred T. Bergstrom
Aage T. Jessen
1907
1909
1911
$149.00
$568.00
$610.00
Savo, S. Dak. Mar 16, 1906 postmark (Doane
2-1) on cover
Stratford, S. Dak. Jun 16, 1910 standard postmark with 4-bar killer on postcard
14
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Tacoma Park (1914-1951)
Verdon (1887-1982)
The post office at Tacoma Park was open from Apr
13, 1914 to Dec 31, 1951 with Edmund A. Stephenson as its first postmaster. Mail was sent to Columbia upon closure. (1) The town took its name from
the park in which it is situated. (4) The site of Tacoma Park was first homesteaded by an eccentric
pioneer, Tom James. Old settlers claimed that
James named his wooded claim Tacoma Park after
Tacoma, Washington, although no one else considered it a park at the time. (2)
The post office at Verdon was established Jun 14,
1887 with James F. Neilan as its first postmaster. It
was officially discontinued on Oct 1, 1982 with mail
to Conde; however, all services were terminated
prior to official discontinuance. (1) The town was
platted in 1886 and was named for the town and
river in France at about the same time as Conde and
Ferney, near-by towns, which were also given
French names, presumably by the French wife of a
railroad official. How Verdon came to be spelled
with an “o” is uncertain, as the French city is Verdun. (4)
Tacoma Park was built to be a resort and it served as
one from 1890 into the 1930’s. By 1895, the Farmers Alliance established the Tacoma Park Association. It became the central resort for a large area,
the Great Northern running hourly trains from Aberdeen at the height of the chautauqua and carnival
seasons. Lots were leased for ninety-nine years, and
many summer homes were built in the shade of a
grove of trees. By 1914, the resort was so popular
that a general store was built and a post office commissioned. Soon after that, an elevator was added to
the businesses in order to take advantage of the excellent rail service. (3)
Postmaster Compensation:
James F. Neilan
Ezra Elliott
Ezra Elliott
Ezra Elliott
Ezra Elliott
Ezra Elliott
Ezra Elliott
Hattie L. Elliott
Hattie L. Elliott
Hattie L. Elliott
Hattie L. Elliott
Oscar N. Anderson
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$379.06
$391.18
$506.49
$367.97
$403.91
$422.64
$424.10
$396.61
$523.01
$671.00
$664.00
$560.00
The Populist Party had many meetings in the hall
built on the park grounds. Large open-air meetings
drew thousands of people. Visitors came by team,
train, and early automobile to enjoy the carnivals,
chautauquas, nightly dances and summer theatre,
accompanied by the customary stands and a merry
go-round. The hard times of the 1930’s, the recurring floods on the river, and the greater freedom afforded by the automobile, in combination, brought
the demise of the resort. A few homes at Tacoma
Park are still occupied (1980). (3)
Verdon, Dak. 8/29/1887 manuscript postmark
with pen killer on government postal card to
Wisconsin. This postmark is a little over two
months after the office was established.
Tacoma Park, S. Dak. Aug 29, 1944 standard
postmark with 4-bar killer on 1c Presidential
series adhesive on postcard
15
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Warner (1881-Open)
The Warner post office was established Jun 9, 1881
with Charles N. Cooper as its first postmaster. It is
still in operation. (1) The town was named, according to old-timers, for an early settler, Warren Tarbox. Why the name Warren became Warner (from
Warren) is not known, based on Virginia Driving
Hawk Sneve and her book South Dakota Geographic Names. (4) A more likely explanation for
the town’s name is that it was named for Dakota
Territorial governor Nehemiah Ordway’s hometown
of Warner, New Hamphire, as he was governor
from 1880-1884 when the town was founded. (5)
Verdon, Dak. Dec 3, 1888 standard 27mm
plain circle postmark with bullseye killer on
pink cover with corner card of local merchant
Postmaster Compensation:
Charles N. Cooper
Niles I. Gilbert
Charles N. Cooper
Niles I. Gilbert
Niles I. Gilbert
John M. Moriarty
John Breidenbach
William Bain
William Bain
August E. Berg
Bion W. Estey
Bion W. Estey
Alexander L. Williams
Alexander L. Williams
Alexander L. Williams
1883
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$240.04
$421.51
$293.51
$372.22
$473.64
$475.54
$286.36
$254.71
$320.59
$328.05
$375.78
$348.90
$410.00
$463.00
$430.00
Verdon, S. Dak. Oct 19, 1898 statehood postmark with bullseye killer on 2c TransMississippi commemorative adhesive, corner
card of physicians/surgeons in Verdon
Warner, Dak. Nov 21, 1882 postmark with
serifed (Roman) letters and bullseye killer tying 3c green banknote adhesive on yellow
cover to Minnesota
R.F.D. Apr 12, 1907 Verdon, S. Dak. Postmark on postcard (Richow RFD type 2F-1)
16
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Westport (1882-Open)
The post office at Westport was established May 22,
1882 with Frank E. Hemstreet as its first postmaster.
The office is still open. (1) The town was named for
a Milwaukee railroad official. (4)
Postmaster Compensation:
Frank E. Hemstreet
Frank C. Bailey
Murray Dickey
O.A. Dickey
O.A. Dickey
O.A. Dickey
O.A. Dickey
Ferdinand C. Benjamin
Ferdinand C. Benjamin
Ruth A. Denison
Hans A. Nording
Hans A. Nording
Hans A. Nording
Hans A. Nording
Hans A. Nording
Warner, Dak. Mar 20, 1883 standard 27mm
plain circle postmark with bullseye killer on
3c green banknote adhesive on cover
1883
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
$225.45
$413.78
$377.36
$372.22
$250.83
$296.01
$214.39
$228.40
$246.14
$287.26
$307.44
$298.33
$372.00
$477.00
$430.00
Warner, Dak. Rec’d Aug 7, 1889 postmark
with bullseye killer; unusual use of received
handstamp as mailing postmark.
Westport, Dakota. Sep 8, 1882 postmark with bullseye killer on government postcard to Aberdeen
Two examples of statehood postmarks from
Warner: Apr 8, 1900 with cork killer and
Type 2B RFD marking from Feb 25, 1903
Westport, Dak. May 14, 1883 postmark
17
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Westport, S. Dak. Feb 4, 1901 postmark with
quartered cork killer on cover with 2c red adhesive and several strikes of return address
handstamp “W. G. Preston, Hillsview S. D.”.
Hillsview was in neighboring McPherson
County, but well to the west, near Eureka, so
it is not clear why the sender would have
mailed this cover from Westport instead of a
closer office.
Westport, Dakota. Nov 12, 1883 postmark
with negative star in circle killer on governmental postal card to Aberdeen, Dak.
Westport, Dakota. Mar 10, 1888 double circle
postmark with bullseye killer on corner card
cover from merchant in Wesport to Illinois
Two examples of Westport, S. Dak. Postmarks: the upper one being a Mar 31, 1910
standard postmark with 4-bar killer and the
lower being a different type 4-bar ro Sep 2,
1920
Westport, S. Dak. Rec’d Feb 5, 1894 with additional strikes canceling the two 1c Columbian issue adhesives on cover to Pennsylvania
18
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Yorkville (1879-1883)
The Yorkville post office was the first in Brown
County, being established Jul 30, 1879 with Charles
R. Foster as its first postmaster. It was discontinued
on Feb 2, 1883 with mail to Bath. (1) The book
Early History of Brown County South Dakota provides some good information on this office…The
first post office in Brown County was located at
Yorkville. William York came to Dakota Territory
in the spring of 1878 and settled on a claim on the
James River. There was a ferry crossing at this
point operated by the government of the United
States. The York family built a log house from the
trees along the river. It consisted of a grocery store,
a hotel and the United States Post Office. Hubbard
E. Hosley assisted at the first post office the winter
of 1880-81. He traveled about four miles on snow
shoes in order to secure enough food for himself and
his son, William, who was seven years old at the
time. (2)
Yorkville, Dakota Jan 20 (1880) manuscript
postmarked cover to Massachusetts
Postmaster Compensation:
Mrs. Eliza A. York
1881
$49.19
Yorkville, Brown Co., Dak. Jun 4, 1881
serifed oval postmark with bullseye killer on
cover to Massachusetts.
References:
1.) Patera, Alan H., John S. Gallagher, and Kenneth
W. Stach, South Dakota Post Offices, The Depot,
Lake Grove, OR, (1990), 400 pages.
2.) Brown County Territorial Pioneer Committee,
Early History of Brown County South Dakota,
North Plains Press, Aberdeen, SD, (1965), 208
pages.
3.) History Committee of Brown County Museum
and Historical Society, Brown County History,
North Plains Press, Aberdeen, SD (1980), 594
pages.
4.) Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk, South Dakota
Geographic Names, 1973, Brevet Press, Sioux Falls,
SD, 639 pages.
5.) Robinson, Doane, Encyclopedia of South Dakota, 1925, Will A. Beach Printing Co., Sioux Falls,
SD, 1003 pages.
Yorkville, Dec 30 (1879) manuscript postmark
at left of cover, with additional “Foster City,
D. T. 12/31/79” marking and pen cancel on
3c banknote adhesive on cover to Massachusetts. In addition, this cover has a nice early
corner card from M. S. James & Co., Richmond, Brown Co., Dakota. Perhaps the postmaster at Yorkville (Eliza York) was out of
postage stamps, thus the additional marking
at Foster City when the 3c adhesive was applied.
19
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Contents of the Cover
By Ken Stach
Figure 1. “Custer Massacre at Big Horn, Montana” - June 25, 1876, artist
unknown, from the Wikipedia website.
In this installment of “Contents of the Cover”, we
have a cover (illustrated in Figure 2) postmarked
from Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory (near
present-day Bismarck, ND) on the day the Battle of
the Little Big Horn began...June 25, 1876. There
are numerous interesting comments throughout the
letter, including plans to celebrate the 4th of July;
however, the highlight is most certainly the notation
that “We hear nothing from the expedition”, referring to the 7th Cavalry’s ill-fated excursion that
summer. That comment takes on extra significance,
as it was from Fort Abraham Lincoln that Custer
and the 7th had departed on May 17. The letter, in
its entirety, is provided below, with bold face type
used to emphasize areas of particular interest.
Students of the American West, the settlement of
the frontier, and those interested in the plight of the
Native Americans all recognize the date of June 25,
1876 as one of particular significance. For it was on
that summer’s day, little more than a week before
our nation’s centennial celebration, that “Custer’s
Last Stand” began near the Little Bighorn River in
eastern Montana Territory, near what is now Crow
Agency, MT. Also known as the Battle of the Little
Bighorn (the Natives Americans referred to it as the
Battle of Greasy Grass Creek), this armed engagement was between a combined force of the Lakota
and Northern Cheyenne with the 7th Cavalry of the
United States Army.
The battle was the most famous action of the Great
Sioux War of 1876-77, and was a remarkable victory for the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne, led by
Chief Sitting Bull. The U.S. Seventh Cavalry, including a column of 700 men led by George Armstrong Custer, was defeated. Five of the 7th Cavalry's companies were annihilated and Custer himself was killed, as were two of his brothers and a
brother-in-law.
Ft A. Lincoln D.T. June 24
My Dear Nellie,
I have been almost distracted for the last three or
four days, or ever since I stopped using tobacco. It
seems as though every tooth in my head kept aching
continually and neurolgia comes in to help it along,
and add to the intensity of the thing. I have stood
20
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
Figure 2. Postmarked “Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dak. Jun 25” with enclosed letter dating this
cover to 1876...the day of “Custer’s Last Stand”. George Armstrong Custer and the 7th Cavalry
left this fort on May 17, 1876 in pursuit of the Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. Colonel William
McCaskey, in this letter to his wife, notes “We hear nothing from the expedition.”
out against it for a week and can easily overcome
the vices of tobacco. The craving for something to
eat is nearly over, but I am uneasy and want something to do. It is pretty hot here and with perspiration and a good bath each morning I hope to get
some of the nicotine out of my system. Dr says it
was all toxicity of the liver and poor digestion
brought about by heat and excessive use of tobacco.
I have been trying to settle my nerves with whiskey
and quinine & c. Perhaps you will think the remedy is as bad as the tobacco - but I don’t think I
should ever come to drink much. I do want to get
my teeth fixed one of these days and if there was
nothing else to call can’t it would pay in trust. I am
getting quite thin – weigh about 140 now, but when
I get to see you I’ll come to gain again I suppose.
mony. Can attend civic entertainments if invited &
c. Besides the firing of guns – we will probably
have a little fun for the men – such as races – with
socks over their heads – greased pig & greased
pole – and such other appropriate North American
games. A little friendly target – and good dinners –
our time is almost 1 hour & 35 minutes earlier you so where it is half past one with you – it will be 12
with us – consequently you can imagine us – shooting off our 4” at that time but I suppose you will be
having such a grand time and seeing so much that
you will have but little time to think of us.
The Indians we were to have for breakfast the
other morning didn’t put in an appearance, so we
didn’t get a chance to distinguish ourselves - have
Lt. Ogle sleep in his camp on the hill - my horses
and other soldiers in good shape to see Mr. Indian.
Whenever I think of it I am so glad that you are east
and having a good opportunity to see things. You
know no after you have seen all. I am almost satisfied. I haven’t much curiosity but always want you
to see, for you do enjoy it and it is more pleasure to
me to give you pleasure than enjoy it myself. I don’t
know that I shall remain east after I come. I only
want you and one lace is as good as another to me
there.
We just received news how the 4th is to be celebrated at the posts – 13 guns at sunrise – national
salute at noon & 13 at sunset – to which the Commanding Officer may add any appropriate cere-
I will have made enough to pay for my clothes by
the way for the short time I will be east. I think I
can buy ready made clothing that will fit well
enough. What do you think? I was going to have
21
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
you attend to this, but perhaps it would give you too
much trouble. When in Phila you could find out at
some of the large stores there – Wanamaker & Browns
– send a suit – or suits – such as you would like me to
wear until I come out I can send you the measures if
you remain east until I come you could get them there –
but if not then at Mabley’s – if you go home I want a
pair of boots from Fipfe’s – and will await your word
to this and I give you full instructions. I want some
changes made in the measure by numbers. I don’t need
much else – Lyon made me a large white hat – like the
Cmdrs – got the pattern from Capt Bradley – it is
quite a hat and may save me a sunstroke – was made
from a bedsack – as a matter of course I don’t expect
you to buy me anything until I send you the money – but
only to cover amount & let me know. I have already
drawn from pay – and just have almost enough here to
pay my mess bill – give me a statement of your financial condition and how long you can hold out.
Mr. Haslemont left us Thursday night for Bismarck –
next morning sent me word that the man who stole his
gun & money was captured and on his way to Abercrombie. I was glad to hear it. The thermometer sums
up to about 90 in the shade – grass getting brown already from the affects of the sun – time is passing along
as furiously as we can expect – and I hope inside of 6
or 8 months to met you somewhere east of the Mississippi. We hear nothing from the expedition.
Didn’t receive anything from you by east mail – and
write this on Saturday in advance of the mail which
comes in tonight. Hope to get a letter and will conclude this for mail going out tomorrow morning. My
length of stay east will entirely depend upon you. If
Figure 3. George Armstrong Custer, Officer of the
Federal Army, ca 1860-65, Brady National Photographic Art Gallery
“We hear nothing from the expedition.”
you want to stay, I will, otherwise not – and probably a
couple months will be all that I will want. I an’t afford
to be away long on half pay and if I have to pay Fanning & Sullivan, I’ll not go at all, or only take a month
or so as to escort you back if you are ready to come. I
enjoy being east some, but the principal reason is to be
with you so you can make what our arrangements regarding our future you wish, and I’ll fall into them –
two weeks to a month is all I should want east of Detroit. I wouldn’t know what to do with more. I sent you
a letter from Lord in anyone to one (?). I sent him for
passes – he got me two – one to go & one to return – he
was very good and they help a poor fellow enormously.
June 25
Will write at length today in answer to your letter from
Ocean Grove, but as I have so many letters to return to
you, as you desire – will have to make two packages of
them.
In this I send you Jack & Ellen’s letters, one from Mr.
Lord, Martha’s, Mr Posts, and Mr. Canfields I send all
these as you seem to desire them – I believe they confirm all you have sent me.
With much love to all – Ever Yours
Will
22
Dakota Collector, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
April, 2009
DPHS Annual Meeting
Mark your calendars!
The annual meeting of the Dakota Postal History Society will be held in conjunction with
the SD State Coin and Stamp Show the
morning of
May 3rd, 2009
over breakfast beginning
at 8:30 am in the restaurant
at the Best Western Ramkota hotel in Watertown
Please plan to attend (spouses and guests are
welcome to attend as well).
Wanted
Announcing
Postal History items related to
Pembina County ND. I am trying
to assemble a group for exhibit
and am just starting out. I especially need Territorials and Advertising Covers, but all items are
considered.
“The Gordon Twedt Memorial
Award for an Article on
Dakota Postal History”
Open to anyone who is a member of the Society.
Any research pertaining to the postal history of
the Dakotas, North or South. Deadline is December 31, 2009. Send articles to Dakota Collector, P.O. Box 600039 St. Paul, MN. 55106.
The judges of this contest will be Gary Anderson, Doug Wick and Ken Stach. The winner will
have their article published in the Dakota Collector and receive a $100 cash prize. It was decided
at the annual meeting in 2004 in Sioux Falls that
this award would be continued and come out of
the club treasury since it was such a success. All
previous winners have donated their prize back
to the Society. We hope that this will continue to
be a successful contest.
Randy Nilson
P.O. Box 740561
Arvada, CO. 80006
Email—[email protected]
Member — APS, GPS, TRSG,
MPHS, SCC and DPHS.
23