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The first settler, of course, experienced great difficulty in keeping up their postal communication with the outer world, and as the earliest settlements were along the beach and in the south-eastern quarter, the first postoffices were at Anderson's (Whisky Creek, now Claybanks postoffice,) at Stony Creek, (Benona postoffice, of which Hon. A. R. Wheeler has continuously been postmaster), and then at Pentwater - the first postmaster, E. R. Cobb. Mr. Wheeler who came in the beginning of 1853, states the few settlers along the Claybanks and at the Creek, instead of going individually to Grand Haven, hired a man to go for them, giving him 25 cents for each letter he took out, and 12 1/2 cents for each letter he brought in, and as the postage was then 25 cents on an ordinary letter, it would cost in all 50 cents to send out each letter, and 87 1/2 cents for one received if the postage was not prepaid. They also paid five cents for the carriage of each newspaper. The next step was to petition the Legislature to establish a weekly mail route from Grand Haven to Manistee, along the beach, which was done in 1856, Henry Pennoyer, of Crockery Creek, Ottawa County, being the first mail contractor, and retaining the contract for eight years. In 1860 the mail service became semi-weekly. The mail was at first carried on horseback, and many were the narrow escapes in crossing rivers. One driver was drowned, another narrowly escaped, and several horses were lost - two horses being lost at Pentwater, at one time, and two at Ludington, with the driver, named "Dolph." Pentwater was the great centre from which for many years mail matter was distributed. Until 1864, all the postoffice in Hart was a fence corner, in which letters were left, and the first postoffice was in what is now the Argus office. The postoffice at Blackberry Ridge was established twenty years ago, and was for seventeen years kept in J. Gibbs' house. The postoffice at Pentwater was opened in 1856, with E. R. Cobb as postmaster. The postoffice was established in shelby, December 15, 1866, previous to which the mail was got in Benona. Walter H. Churchill was appointed postmaster, and still retains the office. New ERa postoffice was not established until 1873, P. Goble being first postmaster, followed by Joseph Zeek, and then by the present postmaster J. M. Wilson. POSTOFFICES. The following is the list of postoffices in the county in 1882: Allen Creek, in Colfax, C. Woodworth, P. M.; Benona, in Benona, Hon. A. Wheeler, P. M.; Bird in Leavitt, R. J. Carpenter, P.M.; Con-moo-se, in Leavitt, F. Dutton, P.M.; Claybanks, in Claybanks, William Eaton, P.M.; Crystal Valley, in Crystal, E. F. Avery, P.M.; East Golden, in Golden, H. Crossman, P.M.; Ferry, in Ferry, J. Keeney, P.M.; Flower Creek, in Claybanks, Amos H. Armitage, P.M.; Grand View, in Grant, H. Tower, P.M.; Hart, in Hart, James K. Flood, P.M.; Hesperia, in Newfield, John C. McCowen, P.M.; Marshville, in Benona, H. J. Marsh, P.M.; Mears, in Golden, C. Slaght, P.M.; New ERa, in Shelby, J. M. Wilson; Oceana, in Hart, Clarence Powers, P.M.; Pentwater, in Pentwater, C. F. Lewis, P.M.; Rothbury, in Grant, Charles Brown, P.M.; Sammous Landing, in Benona, J. H. Sammons, P.M.; Shelby, in Shelby, W. H. Churchill, P.M.; Smith's Corners, in Weare, E. P. Gregory, P.M.; Woodburn P.O. in Crystal, Charles H. Brown, P.M. |