A Century of
California
Post Offices
1848-1954
PART II
THE FIRST
DECADE
Twenty-one
LISTS
Official and
Unofficial of
Post Offices
Established in the Period
1848 to 1859
LIST 2
*Appointments
of Postmasters
CALIFORNIA TERRITORY
|
San Francisco |
Saml. Yorke At Lee |
9 Nov '48 San Francisco Co. |
|
|
Stephen J. Dallas |
21 Nov '48 |
|
|
John W. Geary |
22 Jan '49 |
|
|
Jacob B. Moore |
17 Apr '49 |
|
Monterey |
William G. Marcy |
21 Nov '48 Monterey Co. |
|
Salt Lake |
Joseph L. Haywood |
18 Jan '49 Utah T. |
|
Green Springs |
James C. Parks |
28 Jul '51 Eldorado Co. |
|
Vernon |
Gilbert A. Grant |
8 Nov '49 Sutter Co. |
|
Stockton |
William Hopkins |
8 Nov '49 San Joaquin Co. |
|
Culloma |
Jacob T. Little |
8 Nov '49 Eldorado Co. |
|
San Jose |
J. D. Hoppe |
8 Nov '49 Santa Clara Co. |
|
Sacramento City |
Henry E. Robinson |
8 Nov '49 Sacramento Co. |
|
Benecia |
Charles W. Haden |
8 Nov '49 Solano Co. |
|
Sonoma |
Lilburn W. Boggs |
8 Nov '49 Sonoma Co. |
|
Napa City |
Charles Briggs |
9 Apr '50 Napa Co. |
|
Junction |
Jno. S. Beener |
9 Apr '50 Contra Costa Co. |
|
Fremont |
Henry A. Weeks |
9 Apr '50 Yolo Co. |
|
Placerville |
Thomas C. Nugent |
9 Apr '50 El Dorado Co. |
|
Weaverville |
A. Woodworth |
9 Apr '50 El Dorado Co. |
|
Mission San Jose |
Jose Jesus Vallego |
9 Apr '50 Santa Clara Co. |
|
Santa Barbara |
Samuel Barney |
9 Apr '50 Santa Barbara Co. |
|
Los Angeles |
J. Pugh |
9 Apr '50 Los Angeles |
|
San Diego |
Richard Rust |
9 Apr '50 San Diego Co. |
|
Santa Cruz |
Alex'r. McLean |
9 Apr '50 Branciforte Co. |
|
Nevada City |
Alex'r. M. Blanton |
12 Dec '50 Nevada Co. |
|
Haydensville |
J. C. Higgenbotham |
21 Jan '51 Mariposa Co. |
|
Graysonville |
I. West Van Benchsten |
28 Jul '51 Tuolumne Co. |
*From microfilm of the original Post Office Department “Records of Appointments of Postmasters, State of California, 1848-1930”, now filed in the National Archives, Washington, D. C.
However, San Francisco and Monterey did not open for business until months after the first appointments. Most if not all of the others operated by authority of the Special Agent before the dates given in this table. See the correspondence quoted in Appendix B and comments in the introduction.
LIST 3
*REGISTER OF
ALL OFFICERS AND AGENTS CIVIL, MILITARY AND NAVAL
in the
SERVICE OF
THE UNITED STATES ON THIRTIETH SEPTEMBER 1849
CALIFORNIA TERRITORY
NOTE: Compensation of Postmasters and Nett Proceeds of their offices, from July 1, 1848 to June 30, 1849.
|
Post Office |
County |
Postmaster |
Compensation |
Nett Proceeds |
|
Monterey |
|
Wm G. Marcy fr Feb 23 |
$93.08 |
$139.63 |
*The “Register of all Officers and Agents in the Service of the United States sometimes called the “Official Register”, sometimes the “Blue Book”, was authorized by Congress April 27, 1816, and further by resolution July 14, 1832. At first it was published by the Department of State; 1861-1905, by the Department of the Interior; 1907-1932, by the Bureau of the Census; thereafter, by the Civil Service Commission. As of the first of July or the thirtieth of September of each odd-numbered year, it names everyone in the service of the United States, civil, military and naval, and gives the compensation received during the previous fiscal year. Early Registers also showed the net proceeds of each post office for the same fiscal year, except where 'no returns' were made up to the date of publication. The Post Office Department has been omitted since 1913.
LIST 4
TABLE OF
POST OFFICES IN THE UNITED STATES
January 1,
1851
(No changes
Jan. 1, 1851 to May 31, 1851)
Washington
W. & J. C. Greer, Printer
CALIFORNIA
|
Office |
County |
Postmaster |
|
Benicia |
Solano |
Charles W. Haden |
|
Culloma |
El Dorado |
Jacob T. Little |
|
Fremont |
Yolo |
Henry A. Weeks |
|
Haydensville |
|
J. C. Higginbotham |
|
Junction |
Contra Costa |
John S. Beener |
|
Los Angelos |
Los Angelos |
I. Pugh |
|
Mission San Jose |
Contra Costa |
Jose J. Vallego |
|
Monterey |
Monterey |
William G. Marcy |
|
Napa |
Napa |
Charles Briggs |
|
Nevada City |
|
Alexander M. Blanton |
|
Placerville |
|
Thomas C. Nugent |
|
Sacramento City |
Sacramento |
Richard A. Edes |
|
San Diego |
San Diego |
R. Rust |
|
San Francisco |
San Francisco |
Jacob B. Moore |
|
San Jose |
Santa Clara |
Jacob D. Hoppe |
|
Santa Barbara |
Santa Barbara |
Samuel Barney |
|
Santa Cruz |
Santa Cruz |
Alexander McLean |
|
Sonoma |
Sonoma |
Lilburn W. Boggs |
|
Stockton |
San Joaquin |
Jonathan Tittle |
|
Vernon |
|
Gilbert A. Grant |
|
Weaverville |
|
A. Woodworth |
LIST 5
THE UNITED
STATES POST-OFFICE GUIDE
by Eli Bowen
Late of the
Contract Office-County
New York D.
Appleton and Company, 200 Broadway
MDCCCLI
(May 1, 1851,
with changes to Aug. 1, 1851
No changes
in California)
CALIFORNIA
|
Post Office |
County |
Postmaster |
|
Benicia |
Solans |
Charles W. Hayden, special |
|
Bidwell's Bar |
Butte |
E. Shepherd |
|
Centerville |
Nevada |
C. D. Cleveland |
|
Culloma |
El Doraod |
Jacob F. Little, special |
|
Double Springs |
Calevaras |
David Shall |
|
Fremont |
Yolo |
Henry A. Weeks |
|
Hamilton |
Butte |
Lyman Bristol |
|
Haydensville |
|
J. C. Higginbotham |
|
Jackson |
Calevaras |
Henry R. Mann |
|
Junction |
Yuba |
John S. Beener |
|
Los Angelos |
Los Angelos |
John Pugh |
|
Mission San Jose |
Contra Costa |
Jose J. Vallego |
|
Mokelumne H. |
Calevaras |
J. B. McKinney |
|
Monterey |
Monterey |
William G. Marcy |
|
Napa |
Napa |
Charles Briggs |
|
Nevada City |
|
Alexander M. Blanton |
|
Placerville |
Placer |
Thomas C. Nugent |
|
Sacramento City |
Sacramento |
Henry E. Robinson, special |
|
San Diego |
San Diego |
R. Rust |
|
San Francisco |
San Francisco |
Jacob W. Moore |
|
San Jose |
Santa Clara |
Jacob H. Hoppe, special |
|
Santa Barbara |
Santa Barbara |
Samuel Barney |
|
Santa Cruz |
Santa Cruz |
Alexander McLean |
|
Shasta |
Shasta |
R. W. Crewshaw |
|
Sonoma |
Sonoma |
S. W. Boggs, special |
|
Stockton |
San Joaquin |
Jonathan Tittle |
|
Vernon |
|
Gilbert A. Grant |
|
Weaverville |
|
H. Woodworth |
MAIL ROUTES
IN CALIFORNIA
Approved by the 31st Congress, 2nd Session, ending March 4, 1851.
From Eureka, via Trinidad City and Klamath City, to Klamath Diggings.
From San Francisco, via Benicia and Junction, to Stockton.
From Sacramento City, via Boston, Nicholas, Eliza and Yuba City to Marysville.
From Marysville to the Gold Diggings on the Bear, Yuba and Feather Rivers.
From Sacramento City to the Gold Diggings on the American River and its forks.
From Sacramento City to the Gold Diggings on Upper Sacramento River.
From San Francisco, via Benicia, to Sacramento City.
From San Francisco, via Santa Clara to San Jose.
From San Francisco via Sansilito, San Raphael, Petaluma, Sonoma and Napa, to Benicia.
From San Jose, via Redwood, to Santa Cruz.
From San Jose, via Mission of San Jose, Amadors and Martinez, to Benicia.
From Stockton, via San Joaquin City, Grayson, Tuolumne City and Empire City, to Sacramento.
From San Jose, via Gilroy's and San Juan, to Monterey.
From Monterey, via San Juan and Pachecos, to Mariposas.
From Monterey, via Soledad, San Miguel, San Luis Obispo, Dana's, Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara, and San Buena Ventura, to Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles, via Santa Ana, San Juan, Capistrana, and Santa Margarita, to San Diego.
From Los Angeles, via San Gabriel, Rolando, Chimo, Temecula and Aqua Caliente, to Gila Town.
From Los Angeles to San Pedro.
From Stockton, via Emory's Ferry, Knight's, Mountain Inn, Jamestown, Sonora, Hawkin's Bar and Aqua Frio, to Maraposas.
From Stockton, via Ranche, Louise, Double Springs, Mockulumne Hill, Murphy's Diggings, Carson Creek and Mormon Gulch, to Sonora.
From Stockton, via Lairds to Sacramento.
From Sacramento, via Pattersons Mississippi Bar, Mormon Island, Greenwood Valley, Columa, Weberville, Salmon, Georgetown and Placerville, to Ringgold.
From Sacramento City, via Dr. Traxton's, Nantucket and Mud Springs, to Logtown.
From Sacramento City, via Taylor's, Dry Creek and Jackson, to Volcano.
From Sacramento City, via Vernon, Nicholaus, Yuba City and Eliza, to Marysville.
From Sacramento City, via Fremont, Cache Creek, Colusi's, Monroe's, Ide's and Cottonwood Creek, to Redding's Springs.
From Sacramento City, via Ophir, Aulum, Illinoistown and Rough and Ready, to Nevada City.
From Marysville, via Foster's Bar, to Downieville.
From Marysville, via Veazie City, Hamilton and Bidwell's Bar, to Toll's Diggings.
From Bedding's Diggings, via Weavertown, Big Bar on the Trinidad, South Trinidad, Redwood and Union Town, to (Humboldt's Bay) Eureka.
LIST 6
DAILY ALTA
CALIFORNIA
San
Francisco, Tuesday Morning, July 29, 1851.
Post Offices in California
|
|
†Removed from junction (New York of the Pacific)
*County Seats
LIST 7
REGISTER OF
OFFICERS AND AGENTS CIVIL, MILITARY AND NAVAL
in the
SERVICE OF
THE UNITED STATES
on
THE
THIRTIETH OF SEPTEMBER 1851
PREPARED AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
CALIFORNIA
(NOTE: Compensation of Postmasters and Nett Proceeds of their offices, from July 1, 1850 to June 30, 1851.)
|
Office |
County |
Postmaster |
Compensation |
Nett Proceeds |
|
Agua Fria |
Mariposa |
|
No Return |
|
|
Antioch |
Contra Costa |
|
No Return |
|
|
Benicia |
Solano |
C. W. Hayden |
1285.17 |
2,478.56 |
|
Bidwell's Bar |
Butte |
|
No Return |
|
|
Big Bar |
Trinity |
|
No Return |
|
|
Centreville |
Nevada |
|
No Return |
|
|
Chico |
Butte |
|
No Return |
|
|
Columa |
El Dorado |
John T. Little, 3 qrs |
1500.00 |
3,394.90 |
|
|
|
S. S. Brooks |
500.00 |
1,506.07 |
|
Dobbin's Ranch |
Yuba |
|
No Return |
|
|
Double Spring |
Calaveras |
|
No Return |
|
|
Downieville |
Yuba |
|
No Return |
|
|
Eliza |
Yuba |
Henry Severance 3 qrs |
40.37 |
35.57 |
|
Empire |
Tuolumne |
Edward Conway 2 qrs |
4.80 |
6.92 |
|
Fremont |
Yolo |
Henry A. Weeks 2 qrs |
36.35 |
53.64 |
|
Georgetown |
El Dorado |
|
No Return |
|
|
Gilroy |
Santa Clara |
|
No Return |
|
|
Goodyear's Bar |
Yuba |
|
No Return |
|
|
Graysonville |
Tuolumne |
J. W. Van Benschoten |
No Return |
|
|
Hall's Ranch |
Colusi |
|
No Return |
|
|
Hamilton |
Butte |
Lyman Bristoe, fr May 27 |
2.81 |
3.97 |
|
Haydensville |
|
J. C. Higginbotham |
No Return |
|
|
Horr's Ranch |
Tuolumne |
|
No Return |
|
|
Jackson |
Calaveras |
|
No Return |
|
|
Jacksonville |
Tuolumne |
|
No Return |
|
|
Junction |
Contra Costa |
John S. Beener 3 qrs |
81.06 |
119.26 |
|
Knight's Ferry |
San Joaquin |
|
No Return |
|
|
Lassen's |
Butte |
|
No Return |
|
|
Livermore Ranch |
Contra Costa |
|
No Return |
|
|
Los Angeles |
Los Angeles |
J. Pugh |
No Return |
|
|
Louisville |
El Dorado |
G. G. Blodgett, fr Apr 1 |
87.47 |
151.01 |
|
Mariposa |
Mariposa |
|
No Return |
|
|
Martinez |
Contra Costa |
O. C. Coffin, fr Oct 1 |
140.90 |
217.52 |
|
Marysville |
Yuba |
James Cushing |
1817.92 |
4,633.43 |
|
Mission San Jose |
Santa Clara |
Jose J. Vallego, fr Oct 1 |
84.80 |
122.24 |
|
Mokelumne Hill |
Calaveras |
J. B. McKenzie, fr Jun 2 |
17.10 |
25.65 |
|
Monroeville |
Colusi |
|
No Return |
|
|
Monterey |
Monterey |
A. Randall 3qrs |
402.16 |
678.97 |
|
Moon's Ranch |
Colusi |
|
No Return |
|
|
Mormon Island |
Sacramento |
|
No Return |
|
|
Mountain Inn |
Tuolumne |
|
No Return |
|
|
Nappa |
Nappa |
|
No Return |
|
|
Nappa City |
Nappa |
C. P. Briggs 3qrs |
126.97 |
200.83 |
|
Nevada City |
Nevada |
A. M. Blanton, fr Oct 1 |
1122.19 |
2,281.48 |
|
Nicolaus |
Sutter |
F. H. Russell, fr Aug 8 |
134.59 |
196.28 |
|
Oak Spring |
Tuolumne |
Drury Shoemaker, fr Apr 1 |
36.83 |
55.25 |
|
Park's Bar |
Yuba |
|
No Return |
|
|
Placerville |
El Dorado |
T. C. Nugent |
1118.70 |
2,319.59 |
|
Quartzburg |
Mariposa |
|
No Return |
|
|
Rough and Ready |
Nevada |
|
No Return |
|
|
Sacramento City |
Sacramento |
Jonathan Tittle, to Nov 24 |
792.00 |
30,589.08 |
|
|
|
Richard A. Edes |
1208.00 |
58,088.95 |
|
Salmon Falls |
El Dorado |
|
No Return |
|
|
San Diego |
San Diego |
Richard Rust, 2 qrs |
158.62 |
309.45 |
|
San Francisco |
San Francisco |
J. B. Moore |
2000.00 |
101,528.42 |
|
San Joaquin |
San Joaquin |
|
No Return |
|
|
San Jose |
Santa Clara |
J. D. Hoppe |
2000.00 |
3,642.52 |
|
San Juan |
Monterey |
Edward Smith, 3 qrs |
10.49 |
15.33 |
|
San Louis Obispo |
San Luis Obispo |
|
No Return |
|
|
Santa Barbara |
Santa Barbara |
Samuel Barney |
29.75 |
44.12 |
|
Santa Clara |
Santa Clara |
Fletcher Cooper, fr Jan. 8 |
173.84 |
277.78 |
|
Santa Cruz |
Branciforte |
Alex. McLean, 3 qrs |
164.66 |
236.64 |
|
Shasta |
Shasta |
Robert W. Crenshard, fr Mar 9 |
19.09 |
27.47 |
|
Sonoma |
Sonoma |
L.W. Boggs |
329.98 |
536.99 |
|
Sonora |
Tuolumne |
R. F. Sullivan, 2 qrs |
300.41 |
581.39 |
|
Staple's Ranch |
San Joaquin |
|
No Return |
|
|
Stockton |
San Joaquin |
G. R. Buffum, 2 qrs |
1000.00 |
4,476.14 |
|
|
|
Jonathan Tittle, fr Mar 14 |
1000.00 |
5.019.09 |
|
Trinidad |
Trinity |
|
No Return |
|
|
Tuolumne City |
Tuolumne |
|
No Return |
|
|
Vallejo (State Capital) |
Solano |
Lyman Lislie, fr Jun11 |
13.54 |
7.62 |
|
Vernon |
Sutter |
G. C. Addison, 1 qr |
120.02 |
218.97 |
|
Volcano |
Calaveras |
|
No Return |
|
|
Weaverville |
Trinity |
A. Woodworth |
No Return |
|
|
Wood's Diggins |
Tuolumne |
Robert Turner, fr Apr 1 |
89.95 |
158.40 |
|
Yuba |
Yuba |
|
No Return |
|
|
Yuba City |
Sutter |
E. Risley, fr Feb 27 |
55.25 |
91.03 |
LIST 8
SACRAMENTO
DAILY UNION
November 20,
1852*
Post Offices in California
(Corrected to September First)
|
Office |
County |
Postmaster |
|
Agua Frio |
Mariposa |
Benj. F. Whittier |
|
Antioch |
Contra Costa |
Geo. W. Kimball |
|
Auburn |
Placer |
Wm. Gwynn |
|
Aurum City |
El Dorado |
J. S. Bostich |
|
Benicia |
Solano |
Rufus Brackett |
|
Bidwell's Bar |
Butte |
A. B. Newcombe |
|
Big Bar |
Trinity |
John T. Weaver |
|
Bodega |
Sonoma |
Joseph M. Millar |
|
Bucksport |
Trinity |
Jonathan Clark |
|
Big Oak Flat |
Tuolumne |
Fleming Amyx |
|
Carson's Creek |
Calaveras |
Chas. G. Lake |
|
Centreville |
Nevada |
William Elder |
|
Charley's Ranch |
Butte |
Charles Clark |
|
Chico |
Butte |
Alex. H. Barbour |
|
Colusi |
Colusi |
Ben. Knight |
|
Coloma |
El Dorado |
Sydney S. Brooks |
|
Contra Costa |
Contra Costa |
Amedee Marier |
|
Cosumne |
Sacramento |
William D. Wilson |
|
Cotton Wood |
Shasta |
Marcus J. Clanton |
|
Cold Spring |
El Dorado |
John M. Goetschins |
|
Cache Creek |
Yolo |
Arch. McDonald |
|
Dobbin's Ranch |
Yuba |
Wm. W. Dobbins |
|
Double Springs |
Calaveras |
A. Boileau |
|
Downieville |
Yuba |
E. M. Haskell |
|
Drytown |
Calaveras |
C. H. Crane |
|
Elk Horn |
Contra Costa |
John Mayo |
|
Foster's Bar |
Yuba |
T. M. Benton |
|
Fremont |
Yolo |
Jesse M. Shepherd |
|
Georgetown |
El Dorado |
Wm. T. Gibbs |
|
Gilroy's |
Santa Clara |
James Houck |
|
Goodyear's Bar |
Yuba |
D. O. Woodruff |
|
Garrotte |
Tuolumne |
Cage Tucker |
|
Green Springs |
Tuolumne |
James S. Taber |
|
Hamilton |
Butte |
Lyman Bristol |
|
Horr's Ranch |
San Joaquin |
Geo. A. Warren |
|
Jackson |
Calaveras |
Chas. Boynton (acting) |
|
Jacksonville |
Tuolumne |
Geo. B. Keyes |
|
Knight's Ferry |
San Joaquin |
Lewis Dent |
|
Lassens |
Butte |
C. W. Pomeroy |
|
Los Angeles |
Los Angeles |
W. T. B. Sanford |
|
Louisville |
El Dorado |
Geo. G. Blodgett |
|
Mariposa |
Mariposa |
A. Stevenson |
|
Martinez |
Contra Costa |
O. C. Coffin |
|
Marysville |
Yuba |
James Cushing |
|
Mission San Jose |
Santa Clara |
J. J. Vallejo |
|
Monroeville |
Colusi |
J. C. Hulse |
|
Monterey |
Monterey |
A. Randall |
|
Moon's Ranch |
Colusa |
Nathl. Merrill |
|
Mokelumne Hill |
Calaveras |
James B. McKinney |
|
Mormon Island |
Sacramento |
John M. Shaw |
|
Murphy's |
Calaveras |
L. Berniaud |
|
Mud Spring |
El Dorado |
Darwin Chase |
|
Macksville |
El Dorado |
James H. Brass |
|
Mount Ophir |
Mariposa |
Theodore Bahnsen |
|
Napa |
Napa |
A. L. Boggs |
|
Nevada |
Nevada |
C. T. Overton |
|
Nicolaus |
Sutter |
F. H. Russell |
|
Nashville |
El Dorado |
E. De Young |
|
North Branch |
Calaveras |
E. T. Lake |
|
Oak Springs |
Tuolumne |
Drury Shoemaker |
|
Ophirville |
Placer |
J. G. Jackson |
|
Park's Bar |
Yuba |
James A. Gregg |
|
Placerville |
El Dorado |
T. C. Nugent |
|
Pleasant Grove |
Sacramento |
Alonzo Kenyon |
|
Petaloma |
Sonoma |
Garret V. Keller |
|
Quartzburg |
Mariposa |
Thomas Thorn |
|
Rough & Ready |
Nevada |
J. M. Maguire |
|
Ringgold |
El Dorado |
Jacob L. Sergeant |
|
Sacramento |
Sacramento |
R. A. Eades |
|
Salmon Falls |
El Dorado |
Samuel W. Mills |
|
San Diego |
San Diego |
P. H. Hooff |
|
San Francisco |
San Francisco |
Jacob B. Moore |
|
San Joaquin |
San Joaquin |
R. M. Harner |
|
San Jose |
Santa Clara |
John R. Wilson |
|
San Juan |
Monterey |
Edward Smith |
|
San Luis Obispo |
San Luis Obispo |
S. A. Pollard |
|
San Rafael |
Marin |
Moses Stoppard |
|
Santa Barbara |
Santa Barbara |
Samuel Barney |
|
Santa Clara |
Santa Clara |
F. Cooper |
|
Santa Cruz |
Santa Cruz |
Elihu Anthony |
|
Shasta |
Shasta |
Isaiah Roop (acting) |
|
Sonoma |
Sonoma |
Linus W. Boggs |
|
Sonora |
Tuolumne |
Peter O. Bertine |
|
Staple's Ranch |
Calaveras |
David J. Staples |
|
Stockton |
San Joaquin |
J. G. Candee |
|
San Antonio |
San Luis Obispo |
Thomas Watson |
|
Solidad |
San Luis Obispo |
John Richardson |
|
Sutter Creek |
Calaveras |
Benjamin Burt |
|
Suisum |
Solano |
W. P. Degman |
|
Trinidad |
Klamath |
L. B. Gilkey |
|
Texas Hill |
Sacramento |
James A. Crump |
|
Tehama |
Colusi |
Newell Hall |
|
Union |
Santa Clara |
Benj. F. Bucknell |
|
Vallejo |
Solano |
Lyman Leslie |
|
Vernon |
Sutter |
David Abdell |
|
Volcano |
Calaveras |
E. H. Gammell |
|
Weaverville |
Trinity |
G. F. Winston |
|
Wood's Diggings |
Tuolumne |
Robt. Turner |
|
Yuba |
Yuba |
Wm. E. Nelson |
*Also in all issues examined Oct. 13-30; Nov. 1-2; Nov. 15-20.
Transcribed
by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Frickstad, Walter N., A
Century of California Post Offices 1848-1954, Pages 282-291. Philatelic Research
Society, Oakland, CA. 1955.
© 2012 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden
Nugget Library's California Statewide Databases