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| Right to Left: Broughton Post Office in 1911 with employees, Fred Wilson, Arthur Wilson, Harry Hughes and mail carriers Ed Gholson, Sherman Porter, and J. B. Hatton. Photo from: Hamilton County Illinois "Celebrating 175 Years of History" Posted by permission. The following article from 1967 Goshen Trails written by C. E. Hatton and published by the Hamilton County Historical Society includes the above picture. Mr. Hatton mentions his owning the picture and gives the date of the renovation of the Post Office. "Broughton Post Office" by C. E. Hatton A Post Office was established at Rector, Ill., August 18, 1853, was moved to Rectorville May 18, 1858 and to Broughton, IL. Sept. 13, 1887. Mr. T. Leo Dodd of Eldorado says, these changes were made because the railroad missed Rector. (It also missed Rectorville, Editor) Rectorville, surveyed Feb 25, 1857, was established about three-quarters of a mile west of Rector. It is said, that the sweet gum timber is what brought Rectorville into existance and when it was all cut Rectorville waned rapidly and was vacated by 1887. Broughton was surveyed May 4, 1872 and the Post Office moved from Rectorville to Broughton Sept 13, 1877. The Postmasters serving this office and the date of their appointments are as follows: Hezekiah Gregg Aug 18, 1853 - Samuel Wilson May 18, 1858 - Rhesa R. Sullivant Jan 2, 1864 - Samuel B. Allen July 16, 1864 - Israel N. Mercer Nov 22, 1878 - Daniel A. Reeves Nov 26, 1883 - Wm Hardesty May 29, 1889 - Wesley W. Gholson June 3, 1893 - Charles W. Allen March 2, 1898 - James H. Allen Jan 3, 1905 - James M. Richardson Oct 5, 1906 - Fred Wilson Apr 27, 1910 - Fred Wilson Feb 6, 1930 (No explanation for the two appoiintments). Others were Mrs. Ruth McElvain Jan 17, 1934 - Ruby A. Irvin July 8, 1945 - Miss Ruby A. Bealmer, name changed from Mrs. Ruby A. Irvin, Oct 2, 1945 - Miss Winifred Hughes Aug 1, 1948 - Otis G. Sutton July 13, 1956 - John F. Woolridge July 3, 1958 - Claude Lasater Mar 19, 1965. The picture of the interior of the Post Office at Broughton, Illinois is taken from a post card sent by my Aunt Emma Hatton to her sister, Daisy Roth, and came into my possession along with some other family pictures at the time of Aunt Daisy's death. It has a post mark of June 15, 1911 on it. Fred Wilson was appointed postmaster April 27, 1910 and I am guessing the picture was taken about that time. In the picture from left are J. B. Hatton, Sherman Porter, Ed Gholson, Harry Hughes, Arthur Wilson, and Fred Wilson. Arthur Wilson was the Assistant Postmaster and a brother to Fred. John F. Woolridge who served as postmaster 1958-1965 told me the equipment shown in the picture was still in use in 1957. Joshua B. Hatton served as carrier on. Rural Route No. 1 from its establishment on Oct 1, 1903 until Aug 20, 1920. He was my Father's brother and I can remember visiting in Broughton with them for a week just about the time I started to school in 1908. In an interview with Mrs. Fred Wilson in 1966, she said that when her husband took over the office in 1910 the carriers used horses for transportation, hitched to carts or buggies and when the ground thawed in the spring and most country roads became nearly impassable they rode horse back. Uncle J. B.'s route was 25 miles long and during the early spring when it took until long after dark to get around it, she said Fred would watch for his lantern as he came down the road to town, then would go over and open the office to check him in. This he did for the other carriers too. William S. Porter served as carrier on Rural Route No 2 from its establishment on Oct 1, 1903 until March 31, 1918. I remember playing with his sons during my visits with Uncle J. B. and Aunt Emma. Robert Wilson (not in picture) served as carrier on th original Rural Route No 3 from its establishment on Feb 1, 1905 until its discontinuance on Feb 15, 1907. Edward Gholson served as carrier on Route No 4, which was renumbered Route No 3 when the original No 3 was discontinued, from its establishment on Sept 15, 1905 until Jan 31, 1920. He also served later from Aug 21, 1920 until Nov 30, 1942. Harry Hughes was substitute carrier for all three routes at that time and is the only one still living. The classification of the Post Office at Broughton was changed from a 4th class office to a Presidential class office on April 1, 1921. The present Rural carriers are John F. Woolridge, Route No 1, substitute is John F. Deen, Dean Meyers, Route No 2, with John W. Owen substitute, Anna B. Griswold is the clerk. The two routes are much longer and with modern roads and transportation the carriers are home much earlier. At the dedication of the remodeled postal facilities on Tuesday July 5, 1966, Senator Paul Douglas said the pay roll at the Broughton Post Office exceeded several times the receipts, but that the people of the communtiy has a right to its service. (submitted by Silvetta Parsons) |