Postmasters, Oppenheim

Linda Kreisher generously typed this piece. She is researching the FONDA family starting with Douw Jellise b.1640 appx. and the Marlette family starting with Gedeon b. 1624. Most of her research has been centered around New Jersey and New York, especially Albany, Fultonville, Fonda, Herkimer & Montgomery Counties and the Mohawk Valley.

PostMaster	Date of Appointment
Ezekial Belding	Feb. 6, 1813 (4/1/13)
Ezekial Belding	Feb. 28, 1819
George W. Burr	Dec. 22, 1840
Ezekial Belding	Aug. 6, 1843
Peter W. Plantz	April 8, 1844
John P. House	June 22, 1849
John P. Cline	Oct. 24, 1851
John P. Swarthout	Sept. 3, 1853
Augustus Brown	Dec. 12, 1856

PostMaster	Date of Appointment
John P. Swarthout	June 5, 1861
John N. Cline	May 3, 1870
Anson F. Brown	June 13, 1883
Alva Mosher	March 25, 1884
Anson E. Brown	Nov. 20, 1884
Charles E. Brown	Nov. 19, 1885
Anson E. Brown	July 24, 1889
Newel A. Brown	Aug. 14, 1901

Discontinued 11/30/01 Effective 12/14/01	Mail to Crum Creek Order Rescinded 12/5/01
Melvin E. Barker	Sept. 10, 1902
Discontinued 4/12/07 Effective 4/30/07	Mail to St. Johnsville

Compiled from postal records in the National Archives Washington, D.C. by Ralph Reynolds, 7 Wooster Street, Gloversville, N.Y. (circa 1975)

PostMaster	Date of Appointment
Abram D. Pinckney	March 10, 1864
Jeremiah S. Austin	Nov. 5, 1888
James B. Austin	June 1, 1891
George Van Allen	Jan. 12, 1901
Malvin Brownell	March 12, 1901
George Van Allen	Feb. 4, 1903
Discontinued March 15, 1915	Mail to Dolgeville

Compiled from postal records in the National Archives Washington, D.C. by Ralph Reynolds, 7 Wooster Street, Gloversville, N.Y. (circa 1975)

The cross-roads of Crum Creek no longer has a Post Office. However, from 1854 to 1905 it did. There was never a regular Post Office building; the appointed Postmasters usually used a room in their house, or if they owned a store, that place was the official Post Office.

The first Postmaster of Crum Creek was Emory G. Storms. Mr. Storms received his commission as Postmaster on July 17, 1854 during the administration of President Franklin Pierce. Mr. Storms would serve three times as Postmaster, for a total of 35 years! In those days, the Post Office positions were highly political, so when there was a change of party in the national administration, the Postmaster could lose his or her job.

The cancellation stamp for Crum Creek is now in the possession of Mr. Harlin Smith of St. Johnsville, a descendant of Emory G. Storms. Mr. Storms’ certificate of appointment by Postmaster General James Campbell is also still in existence, in possession of Mrs. Francis Shuster of Dolgeville.

The other Postmasters of Crum Creek were: Lydia A. Yauney, appointed in 1855, William Failing, appointed briefly in 1867, and George Reese who was the last Postmaster, serving from 1889 to 1905.

There were 4 other Post offices in the Town of Oppenheim, all of them closing by 1915. They were: Brockett’s Bridge (in the old tavern just on the East side of the bridge carrying Route 29 over East Creek), Lottville, Middlesprite (also known as the "Irish Settlement"), and Oppenheim (located at what was known as the "Center", where Route 29 and Route 331 cross). The latter Post Office was often located in the Oppenheim General Store, but sometimes was in private homes.

The advent of the automobile, and better roads, spelled an end for most of these small Post Offices. Now the Town of Oppenheim is served by two Post Offices, St. Johnsville in the East end and Dolgeville in the Western section.

PostMaster	Date of Appointment
Emory G. Storms	June 29, 1854
Lydia A. Yauney	May 8, 1855
Emory G. Storms	Dec. 17, 1859
William Failing	July 6, 1867 Rescinded July 25, 1867
Emory G. Storms	July 25, 1867
George Reese	June 15, 1889
Discontinued Nov. 6, 1905 Effective Dec. 14, 1905	Mail to St. Johnsville

Compiled from postal records in the National Archives Washington, D.C. by Ralph Reynolds, 7 Wooster Street, Gloversville, N.Y. (circa 1975)

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