Uncle Sam's Letters A Century of Postal Progress
A historical survey traces the U S post office from colonial days to rail and steam, noting key figures, laws, and reforms that built a nationwide service. It covers early routes, a shift from letters by foot to horse and steam, the pony express highlight, stamp adoption, free delivery, money orders, dead letters, and the department's evolving structure and finances.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Post Office Department
Senate
Darwin
Harrison
Tyler
Wickliffe
Key
Murderer's marriage before prison term in Richmond
Isabel Cottrell of Richmond marries John E. Poindexter, bound for a two year prison sentence for a crime against a shoe clerk. The ceremony at Monumental church follows a night of secrecy and close companionship, with the groom not leaving her side. Poindexter faces transfer to the penitentiary in the next day or two.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Isabel Cottrell
Richmond
John EB. Poindexter
Curtis
Poindexter
Sergeant Lee
Armstrong
Episcopal
Monumental Church
Richmond Theatre
John Alvis
John E. Poindexter
Episcopal Church
E. C. Minor
Mr. Tyler
Gouverneur Street
Miss Cottrell
Amar
Doreyres
Attempted Outrage in a Church in Memphis
Memphis February 10. At 9 am an usher at St. Peter's Catholic Church found a seventeen year old girl about to be raped by a negro. The assailant fled, but the cries drew help and the attempt was thwarted. Police seek the attacker.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Memphis
St. Peter’s Catholic Church
Peter
Jaening
A French Aspasia Ball at Madame Adam’s Paris Salon
At a recent Mme Edmond Adam fancy ball in Paris, four Christy minstrels represented America amid a crowd of dignitaries and belles. Guests wore papier mime costumes by nationalities, with figures like Gambetta, Beust, and Yung in vivid disguises while a diverse mix of French, American, and Russian notables attended. The event showcased Mme Adam’s salon culture and political asides, ending with a lively procession through her rooms.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
la Messine
Mme
Juliette
Beauvais
Madame la Messine
Paris
M. la Messine
George Sand
Proudhon
Edmond Adam
Adam
Comptoir d’'Escompte
Rochefort
Assembly
Bordeaux
Senate
Mme. Adam
Gambetta
MacMahon
Belleville
France
Comptoir d’Escompte
Tribune
Maison Salland
Aspasia
Third Republic
la Republique Athenienne
Count von Beust
M. Spuller
Mmes
Rechlin-Schwartz
de Bornier
Rivet
Yung
Joncieres
Bertin
Henri Greville
Vensigny
Madame Yung
Mme. Keechlin-Schwartz
Andrieax
Turr
Josephine
Guido
Lucian Wyse
Queen Elizabeth
Gripps
Gervex
Suisse
Ney
de la Moskowa
Anc
Mrs Astor Wears $800000 in Diamonds at Washington Ball
At a Washington ball last week Mrs. Astor displayed diamonds valued at about 800000 dollars. Her earrings, two large solitaires, were priced at 50 dollars each. A diagonal diamond chain of 500 stones, valued at 1000 dollars each, complemented the costly necklace and head ornaments.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Mrs. Astor
Robbery in Chicago as masked youths raid street
In Chicago last night seven or eight young men, with cloths over their faces, drew revolvers as they carried out a bold street robbery. No injuries reported though two witnesses fled. Police launched a hunt for suspects.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Robbery at Ehrman’s Dry Goods Store
In Ehrman’s dry goods store two female customers faced armed robbers who demanded their money and surrendered about $12. The proprietor and a man named Karman were roughed by the gang as they resisted. the thieves fled before arrest. No description of the burglars is provided.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ehrman
Karman
Green
China
Union Club
New York
Bellows Falls
Rotch
New Bedford
Duels In Virginia End In Fatal Pitchfork Assault
A Sun despatch from Onancock Virginia recounts a bloody duel between Louisa Wise and Margaret Downing, sparked by Benjamin Young. Both women used weapons including a pitchfork and a club in a fierce fight that left Downing wounded fourteen times and Wise severely injured. The attacker fled and Young disappeared.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Onancock
Louisa Wise
Margaret Downing
Benjamin Young
Young
Miss Wise
Miss Downing
der Drummond
Misa West
Money-queen Hetty Green in a portrait of penury
The tale reviews Hetty H. Green nee Robinson, famous New Bedford miser and heir to large fortunes from her father Edward Mott Robinson and aunt Sylvia Ann Howland. It recounts stories of frugality, including skipping a doctor visit and consuming crackers and cheese to save hotel meals, and notes her marriage to a Chicago merchant and the couple’s investments via bank agents.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gath
Cincinnati Enquirer
America
Hetty H. Green
Robinson
New Bedford
Edward Mott Robinson
Sylvia Ann Howland
New York
Grath
Louisville, Nashville and Great Southern Railroad
California
Pacific Ocean
Paris
J. H. Green
Cisco
Green
Mr. Green
Phillips and Garrison in a Kansas abolition debate remembered
The interview recalls James Redpath's Kansas troubles and Garrison's non resistant stance. It notes Wendell Phillips shaping Garrisonian thought with eloquence and exposition, contrasts Lincoln's early vilification with later praise, and argues abolitionists used strong language to defend enslaved people.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James Redpath
San Francisco Chronicle
Garrison
Kansas
Sharp
Jon Brown
Eee Phillips
J. Re—Wendell Phillips
Phillips
Milton
New England
Boston
Wendell Phillips
Beacon Street
Sumner
Gentleman's Club
Fanny Kemble
Wilkes
Washington
Illinois
Ingersoll
Colonel Ingersoll
Wreck of Imperial Mills Elevator Blows Wheat Losses
The Imperial mills elevator at Sixteenth and Dearborn streets toppled yesterday morning spilling 123,000 bushels of wheat. The 100 foot high structure, 110 by 60 feet, valued at 90 000 to 100 000 dollars, suffered total loss with 65 000 dollars in wheat and about 50 000 dollars in mill damage. No insurance covered the accident.
Wedding reception siege ends in fatal shooting near Rome
A Cincinnati report from February 12 describes a Rome Ohio wedding reception at John Winkler's where armed men demanded money for a treat. After an initial payout, they returned, six men opened fire for about thirty minutes, leaving one dead and five others critically or fatally wounded.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cincinnati
Rome
John Winkle
Woman with mental illness dies by self immolation in Louisville
In Louisville on February 12 Ellen Fitzgerald, aged 49, suffering severe mental illness for years, ended her life by setting herself on fire using her underclothing. The incident occurred as authorities report she had been in a fragile sane state for a long period. The investigation continues.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Louisville
Ellen Fitzgerald
Death of the Lightning Proof Reader in New York
John C. Robinson, longtime proofreader for the Tribune and later the Sun, famed as the Lightning Proof Reader, died at Williamsburgh. He could decipher crabbed manuscripts quickly, detecting forgeries and reading 696 words a minute. He once read a forged Tribune piece that Greeley almost believed to be his writing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
John C. Robinson
the Tribune
the Sun
Williamsburg
Richard Hildreth
Horace Greeley
Count Pulaski
Gerrit Smith
The
Tribune
Greeley
Robinson
Disease outbreak data and policy blame in colonial record
The report notes 168000 cases and 101000 deaths with a stated infection rate of one per 500 of the population. Southern districts suffer severe ravages, Low Choo shows 725 per 10000 infected. Authorities claim the disease entered due to opposition by foreign envoys led by Sir Harry Parks to quarantine measures.
Westport Bank Robbery Told by Watchman Dickenson
Six masked men pulled off a daring 3000 dollar bank heist in Westport Conn after a 3 am explosion. Watchman Dickson describes being bound gagged and in a closet as burglars pried open the inner vault used an air pump and powder to blow the door. They escaped with loot and left the town reeling.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Shores
Fort Sumter
Westport
Conn
First National Bank
John Dickson
Dickson
Peres
Orice
Westporter
Tey
Anen
Urglars
la Croix
Infidelity Scandal Shocks Providence Household
Walter Scott, a lunch supplier to printers, discovers his wife Mary Anna Scott and longtime employee Edwin W. Nichols engaging in an affair. After investigations, the pair are confronted at the Horse Guards Armory. both are warned to leave town. Scott plans divorce. Nichols faces possible arrest if he stays.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Providence
Walter Scott
Edwin W. Nichols
Nichols
Mr. Scott
J. Scott
Boiler explosion at Oviatt Wagon Works injures workers
An Akron dispatch reports a boiler explosion at the Oviatt Wagon Works in Hudson. Russell Oviatt, son of the proprietor, shut off the steam and was blown fifteen feet, severely scalded. George Gosseaport and Gideon Mills were seriously injured. One end of the building was blown out with $1200 in damage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Orscry Wati
Akron (D
Hudson
Oviatt
Russell Oviatt
George
Seaport
Gideon Mills
Butter Improvement Co Promises Better Butter Supply
July August and winter butter equal to best June product. Grocers pay 3 to 5 cents a pound extra for butter from this powder. Guaranteed harm less and production up 6 to 10 percent. Churning time cut by half. Sold by druggists, grocers and general storekeepers. Send stamp for hints to paper makers Act 8 Butter Improvement Co.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Act 8
Butter Improvement Co
VolTab BELT Co offers 30 day trial of electro voltaic belts
The VolTab BELT Co of Marshall Michigan offers to send Electro-voltaic Belts bands trusses and other appliances on a thirty days trial to all persons suffering nervous difficulties rheumatism dyspepsia and related ailments with the belief that their use will quickly relieve symptoms and improve health.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
VolTab Belt Co
Marshall, Mich
Also Mentioned on This Page
Uncle Sam
United States Post Office System
Pilgrim Fathers
Plymouth
England
Lovelace
New York Colony
John Hayward
Iliam Penn
Proprie
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Pracrie
Maryland
Virginia General Assembly
Thomas Neale
Great Britain and Ireland
Maine
Continental Congress
Franklin
Colonial Congress
Congress
United States
Samuel Osgood
Massachusetts
John Adams
Haberstam
Davin
Monticello
Wortland
Savannah
Pesmes
Reed
Madison
Creswell
Department
Princess Anne
Sidney Shores
Dames Quarter
Dames
Guasie
Samuel Shores
Sidney
Gussie
Deals Island
Mount Vernon
Marris Shores
Madame Edmond Adam
London
Nouvelle Revue
Mother Eve
Madame ¢Adam
Compiegne
Bismarck
Varzin
Tewis
Abd-El-Kadir
Henri de Lacretelle, Jr
Gaston Berardi Tils
Philip
Merveilleuses
Incroyabies
Bohemia
Tourgeuneff
Flotow
Senator Hebrand
Temps
Erasmus
Madame Hebrand
Mary Stuart
Elizabeth
Elizabeth of
Parma
Spain
Louise Therese of Savoy
Philip V
Redpath
Lincoln
J. R
Luther
Saulage
Arrison
Abraham Lincoln
North
South
District of Columbia
Svarebody
Sryant
Uncle Horace
Japan
San Francisco
Yokohama
National “Sanitary Board
Westport Bank
Dickenson
Oer
Ghaboline
Estore Harn
Aiscerpere
Mov
Olor
waerTh
Ain
Arty
Dng
Cas
San
Kennedy& Coo
Geg
Canada
COR
Second Ave
WOOD
Pittsburgh
Geo. C. Goodwin & Om Weeks & Potter
Smith, Doolittle & Smith
Carter, Harris & Hawley
Mass
Geo. C. Goodwin & Co
Weeks & Potter
Cutler Bros. & Co
Jno. W. Perkins & Co
W. F. Phillips & Co
Portland
Talcott & Co
8. G. Moses & Co
Hartford
Alonzo F. Wood
J. H
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!