lawyers. He moved the building across the street east to a plot leased from the Illinois Central and transferred the post office to it.

Martin H. Cassell succeeded Mr. Moore on January 1, 1880, serving until his election as county judge, when Allison M. Cavan was appointed March 28, 1887. On August 10 that year, M. H. Cassell was killed in the Chatsworth wreck, as noted in the Campbell House chapter. It was during his term the office was moved to a room in the Eagle Block, now 20 North Central, but in November it was returned to the Moore Building where it remained until 1891. Robert Robinson received his appointment December 23, 1890 and was succeeded by Lewis M. Kerr on May 5, 1894. Kerr died April 28, 1896 and his father, Dr. Samuel L. Kerr, took over the office at the request of the son's bondsmen until the appointment of Isaac J. Jenkins, Jr., May 29, 1896.

Silas D. Patton was named postmaster July 1, 1898, and he moved the office to its present location July 1, 1901. On April 3, 1902 two mail routes into the country were put in operation, Will Klug carrying on No. 1 and James Barlow on Route 2. A third route was added in Patton's second term with Earl Carlin as carrier.

Frank G. Robinson received his first appointment February 12, 1907, and was succeeded by John F. Bosworth February 26, 1915. During Bosworth's term the office was advanced to second class status. Mr. Robinson was again appointed May 28, 1920 and served until May 5, 1933 when John J. McGuire took over the office. McGuire resigned February 1, 1948 because of ill health, and Peter J. Roth the present postmaster succeeded him. His staff includes Miss Minnie Hynes, assistant and Harold Bonar and Mrs. Ursula Stitt, clerks. James Kauth and Henry Rippel are the two city mail carriers, a service launched January 1, 1950.

Charles Edward Barclay has carried mail on Route 1 since 1928 when he succeeded John Burtis, after previously serving as assistant postmaster from March 4, l918, with about a year out for army service. Owen E. Carroll succeeded James Barlow on Route 2 August 20, 1921, beginning his deliveries with Barlow's horse and two-wheeled cart. Barclay has always used a car. Grover Brines, Sr. was carrier on Route 3 when it was discontinued in 1942 and the route divided between the other two carriers. With much of the Panola routes absorbed by El Paso carriers, the two routes were lengthened until on March 1, 1954 Mr. Barclay was driving seventy-one miles and Mr. Carroll sixty miles daily.

CEMETERIES. Though our first city residences were built in 1856 and others followed in quick succession, it was not until August 11, 1859 that a group met in the Third Street schoolhouse to discuss the establishment of a cemetery. William Branch presided and Robert Jenkins served as secretary. Plans were laid to form a stock company to be called the El Paso Cemetery Association, and to solicit subscriptions to be used in purchasing a site. Section 4, located east of

Page 127

Go to previous page

Go to next page

Go to El Paso Story gateway page