Tri-Counties Genealogy & History by Joyce M. Tice Tioga County Post Offices, Tioga County PA Bradford County PA Chemung County NY Tioga County PA

Tri-County Genealogy & History Sites Home Page How to Use This Site Warning & Disclaimer No Unauthorized Commercial Use Say Hello to Joyce  Article - You Gotta Know the Territory

Joyce's Search Tip - January 2008 Do You Know that you can search just the articles on the site by using the Articles button in the Partitioned search engine at the bottom of the Current What's New Page?

The first list of Post Offices I found was on page 36 of the 1883 Tioga County History. But then by going through the 1897 History, township by township, I was able to add a LOT more as well as start dates and other information. Compiled by Joyce M. Tice. The right most colums represent the existence of the PO in the 1875 Atlas, The 1899 Directory map and the 1909 Directory Map. The implementation of Rural Free Delievery in 1903 reduced the number of post offices.

Early Post Office History in Tioga County

In ":the olden days" and even today there are points of confusion caused by post office proximity. In the 1880 Diary of my GG Grandfather, Joe Holly, he lists himself with an Austinville address. Austinville is in Columbia Township in Bradford County and Joe lived in Sullivan Township in Tioga County, but Austinville was the closest post office. Similarly, many families who lived on the North Road (Now Hulslander Road) in Sullivan got mail through Sylvania in Bradford County. This results not only in confusion over their location, but in incorrect records as well. Many Sullivan Township births and marriages were put in the newspapers as having occurred in Sylvania, and it is a very difficult point to keep straight for today's researchers, who, not being familiar with the territory, make erroneous conclusions. I am sure the same points of confusion exist elsewhere in areas where I am not so familiar. Even today, one of our cemetery volunteers, and user of these pages lives in Sullivan Township and has a Troy address in Bradford County. In fact, I even know people not too far from me who live in Pennsylvania and get mail through a New York rural delivery and visa versa. The same circumstance occurs on the PA-Delaware border.

All but a very few of the post offices listed here are long gone. In fact, it has resulted in a loss of "identity" to the rural communities that now have an address in Mansfield or Wellsboro. Today's newspapers record people who died at home in Mansfield, when in fact they were in Roseville or Elk Run (Bungy) or some other place that no longer exists in the eyes of the post office.

Tioga County Post Offices
Joseph F. Gartland Writes More Interesting History
Blossburg--the first record I have of this post office is under the name Canal Port.  It was established after its near neighbor, Liberty.  When the Patterson Brothers came through guiding immigrants into New York State in 1792, they discovered coal, the first in the county.  The place was then known as Peter's Camp, probably after he can't established by the builders of the Williamson Road.  Aaron Bloss, the earliest permanent settler, arrived in 1806, erected a home, afterwards a hotel, and operated the first coal mines.  In later years, about 1826, a canal was planned to connect with the Chemung Canal in New York State and it was from this the post office received its first name Canal Port.
 The canal was never built but 35 years later one of the first railroads in the United States, the Corning and Blossburg, wheeled into town.  In the meantime the coal industry brought first to Blossburg and later to other mining towns in the county a distinct ethnic group composed of Irish, Scotch, and Welch miners.  These men with their sons and daughters have brought to their county, state and nation a fame and credit that is not excelled by the representatives of any other race or workers in any other industry.
 Such names as Wilson, Dunsmore, Kerwin Rees, Bannon, Cameron, Edwards, Murray, Evans and many more like names mean something.  Tennyson’s lines fit all of these men especially do they fit William R. Wilson, statesman, close adviser to a president, Cabinet officer and a man always in the forefront in the battle for human rights.  "He truly broke his births infidious bar, and grasped the skirts of happy chance, and breasted the blows of circumstance, and grappled with his evil stars, he made by force his merit known.  And lives to clutch the golden keys, to mold a mighty state's decrees, and shape the whisper of the throne.".
 Nathaniel Knapp was the first postmaster and serve until November 3, 1828.  I find the name Eleazer R. Utter as postmaster during this period without any dates being given in the absence of any other information I think this as an error as I sometimes found in records.  On January 26, 1827, the post office name was officially changed to Blossburg in honor of the first settler, Aaron Bloss,, though it had been known as such for some time before.
 Judge Knapp, a resident of Elmira, erected a sawmill and iron furnace in 1825 and made pig iron from Blossburg ore.  He built the first store in 1826 operated mines, built homes and was the first citizen of this place.  The industries he started and which later proved so profitable to others met many difficulties in their early days and Judge Knapp had to turn over the work so well begun to others.
 He was succeeded by Aaron Bloss January 10, 1831.  Mr. Bloss, the pioneer, was a famous tavernkeeper, able businessman and good storyteller.  He first settled in the vicinity of Covington in 1801 and died where he first settled in 1843.  Dr. Joseph P. Morris succeeded him as postmaster March 27, 1838.  He came to Blossburg in 1835 and was active in mining, railroading and iron manufacturing.  He moved to Mansfield in 1854 and took an active part in school and church work.  During his term the Corning and Blossburg railroad went into operation and it is said that it was the first in United States to use coal to generate steam.
 Thomas H. Turner was the next postmaster.  He conducted a store and served from August 2, 1841, to October 17, 1843, when he was succeeded by Henry H. Welsh, who held office until July 29, 1845, when Benjamin R. Hall was connected with the Magee stage coach line between Painted Post and Williamsport; kept tavern at Liberty and in 1842 opened a hotel at Blossburg which he kept for 20 years.  Alexander H. Gaylord took over the office December 31, 1846.  He came to Blossburg in 1837 and the fact that at one time or another he held practically every local office in the gift of the people speaks well for his popularity.  At various times he was also superintendents of the glass factory, surveyor, land agent, manufacturer and lumbermen.
 F. B. Andrews was the next postmaster and served from May 8, 1849 to February sixth, 1852.  Mr. Gaylord again took office and serve this time until April 19, 1861, when James P. Taylor took the place and served until September 16, 1866, when Thomas W. Thomas was appointed.  Mr. Thomas held office until February 5, 1869, when Mr. Taylor was reappointed serving until his death, May 10, 1874.
 Joseph Maxwell succeeded him and served until the appointment of Alfred James, May 29, 1876.  Mrs. James's father, John James, was mail agent of the Corning and Blossburg railroad from 1862 until his death on March 4th, 1873.  E. H. Mosher was appointed postmaster May 7, 1886, and served until January 19, 1890.  Mr. Mosher was one of the town's most popular men and the father of Miss Flo Mosher, who married George Houck of Wellsboro, a pioneer in the bicycle and automobile industry, whose activities covered two continents.
 George D. Wilkinson succeeded him, and to turn was succeeded by Frank H. Stratton March 29, 1894.  About this time W. H. Clement and Miss Stratton, both well remembered as excellent postal officials, came into the service.  The next postmaster was Francis I. Jones, afterwords US Commissioner of Employment in the Department of Labor.  Mr. Jones was postmaster from July 19, 1898 to January 26, 1903.  He never lost his affection for his old home and his greatest delight is to talk about Tioga County with all a Welshman's enthusiasm.  Dr. Daniel O. Merrick became the next postmaster, and held office until January 18, 1912, when he was succeeded by George D. Clark, a prominent merchant and able postmaster.
 My records close with Michael C. Birmingham, who was appointed, February 7, 1916, and served, I believe, for eight years.  He was an able-bodied postman and no doubt the party in which he was taken such an interest now that it will soon be in power will use his services in some position.

Daggett--this post office the 18th to be established in the County, was opened May, 8, 1828, with Major Seth Daggett as postmaster.  The Major came to Tioga County with his parents from New Hampshire in 1807, and was long one of the foremost men in the County.  He was sheriff in 1830; engage in lumbering; built a number of sawmill; opened the first grist mill and drove the first wagon in Jackson Township.
A Descendent, Seth Daggett, was landlord of the Wilcox House in Wellsboro for number of years in the eighties and nineties and his two of a vicious daughters, Georgia and Leah, are kindly remembered by their early playmates.  The post office is located in Jackson Township one Hammond Creek and during its existence was known first as Daggett's Mills, then as Spencerville, Dallasville and last of all Daggett.  An early mail contract, 1828-1832, 100 years ago, require that mail be carried once a week by stage from Elmira New York to Southport; French Mills, called Jackson; Ingham; Rutland, called Bentley's to Mansfield."
 Joshua Spencer, who came to the Township, soon after the Daggett's, was the second postmaster taking office January 18, 1831.  He built and conducted the first hotel in the Township.  The name of the office was changed to Spencerville August 10, 1832, but restored to Daggett's Mills January 8, 1833.  The town's continued as the leading community in the Township until about 1860, when it gave place to Millerton.  Major Daggett again took over the office July 13, 1841, and was succeeded by Richard Jones 27, 1842.
 John P. Brees was the next postmaster, taking office March 8, 1847, when the name was changed to Dallasville.  This may have been done in honor of George Mifflin Dallas, of Pennsylvania, who was Vice President at the time.  Abram Miller succeeded to the postmaster ship January 28, 1848, and in turn was succeeded by John W. Joslin October 2, 1849, when the name of the office was changed to Daggett's Mills.
 Orrin B. Wells was the next postmaster and took office May 30, 1850, being succeeded by Andrew Murdough September 5, 1853, and by Abraham B. DeWitt on May 30, 1855.  Dr. Nathaniel Smith became postmaster December 17, 1858.  He was born in Vermont are Revolutionary stock and was a lawyer as well as physician and one of the County's most cultured men.  During the Civil War, while postmaster, he cared for the families of the soldiers without charge.
 One Sun succeeded him as physician in Millerton and the other, Dix W. Smith, he noted New York attorney, resided in Elmira.  Ruben Wells became postmaster or January 5, 1863, and was succeeded by William H. Ferguson June 27, 1865, who in turn was followed by John Lain February 24, 1873, and DB Lain January 18, 1877.
 William E. Compton, was commissioned next on April 11, 1890, and was succeeded by David H. Scott May 12, 1894.  On July 1, 1895, a last change the post office was made when it was changed to Daggett.  Henry F. Swazey was made postmaster and was succeeded by Jerome L. Eighmey March 19, 1904.  The office was discontinued August 30, 1904, with the coming of rural delivery.

Ansonia--this post office was established in June 21, 1828, and was first designated Pine Creek post office.  The name changed to Ansonia September 16, 1870.  It was again changed to Ebenton on March 1, 1886, and back again to its present name, Ansonia, August 15, 1894.  While known as Pine Creek the office is located at the mouth of Marsh Creek in the locality known as Manchester Mills.  About the time the name was first changed to Ansonia it moved to the Harrington home near its present location.
Daniel Fuller, the first postmaster, served from June 21, 1828, the March 24, 1832, when he was succeeded by Ugenio Cushman, who in turn was succeeded by John Mathers., November 15, 1834.  Mr. Mathers served nearly 10 years and was succeeded by Hezekiah Stowell March 7, 1841, in turn he by Cornelius Cole, June 2, 1851.
 John Dickinson was appointed next and served from July 19, 1852, the July 15, 1853, being succeeded by Deroy Harrington who, March 13, 1862, turned the office over to Horace Broughton.  Albert Harrison followed May 29, 1867, and held office until January 25, 1869, being succeeded by Nathaniel Glassmier, who served until January 9, 1872.  It was during this period the post office named Pine Creek was changed to Ansonia.  I believe after Anson Phelps while Phelps Dodge & Co.
 Ms. Ella . Leib was the next postmaster and Horace Broughton against succeeded to the post office or March 20, 1872, and George W. Harrington July 12, 1872, making three separate postmaster's in that year.  Mr. Harrington served until March 5, 1884, when John F. Howe was appointed.
 William H. Thompson was next appointed and served from June 26, 1884 to March 2, 1891.  During this term the post office name was changed to Ebenton, in honor evidently out of some one whose name was Eben.  Thomas L. Reese now became postmaster and was succeeded by Gilbert E. Tate June 30, 1894, and shortly after, August 15, 1894, the name was again changed to Ansonia.  John D. Gross was appointed postmaster May 4, 1896, Laura Gee August 22, 1898; William Mason March 5, 1902; Ida E. Foster March 18, 1913; Edwin H. Eick July 12, 1919; Casper Cleveland, February 1, 1922; Harry J. Mengee , November 25, 1922; and Perle H. Miller July 14, 1930.
 The first settlers in the vicinity of Ansonia were Jacob Fuhrman, who located at the mouth of Marsh Creek in 1804, followed by his brothers, the Harrington's and then the Dimmick's, Steele's , Bernauer's, Dickinson's, Swopes, Rexford's, Kelsey's, Gees, and Scranton's.  Their first-out let to the business world was by flat boats down Pine Creek to Williamsport.  A few years later the State Road from Towanda, Wellsboro via Ansonia to Coudersport was put through and many years later, and the 1880s the Pine Creek railroad was constructed.  For many years Ansonia was and still is probably the only post office in Shippen township.  It was for many years the center of lumbering and for many years well known to many still living whose axes rung  in it's nearby mountain forests of white Pine and Hemlock.  It's postmaster's included many of the foremost men of the County.
 Due to an error, the list of Westfield postmaster's printed sometime ago failed to include the name of E. S. Holcomb, who served ably and well from March 1, 1901 to February 3, 1911.  Mr. Knapp who was his assistant and who is the present postmaster called my attention to this—J. F. Gartland

Cowanesky-- Cowanesky is for shown in the directory of 1813 with William Lindsley as postmaster.  Whether it is the same office established at Cowanesque Valley in 1865 and its name change to cowanesque we in 1889 I am unable to say.  William Lindsley maybe one of the Lindsley's who settled near Lawrenceville.  The office did not appear in subsequent issues of the directory--Joseph F. Gartland

You are the visitor since the counter was installed on June 03, 1998 Page relofated & Counter reset 02 JAN 2007