W. W. ShepperdFirst Postmaster of the Town of Montgomery&First Postmaster of Montgomery County, TexasW. W. Shepperd was the first Postmaster of Montgomery, Texas. At least one record in the Post Office Papers proves that Shepperd was a Republic of Texas Postmaster at his store in eastern Washington County as early as May 17, 1837. This was one and a half months before the founding of the town of Montogmery in July 1837 and almost six months before the founding of the County of Montgomery in December of 1837. W. W. Shepperd's store was also the first the first post office in the town of Montgomery and in Montgomery County. Telegraph and Texas Register, November 18, 1837
On November 18, 1837, almost a month before Montgomery County was created, the Post Master General of the Republic of Texas, Robert Barr, requested sealed proposals to carry the mail on the different mail routes throughout the Republic. Two of these mail routes included W. W. Shepperd's Store: Route No. 1. "From Houston to New Cincinnati, via Shepherds store" and Route No. 14. "From Shepherds to La Bahia Crossing on the Colorado." This advertisement also appeared in the December 9, 1837 and the December 30, 1837 editions of the Telegraph and Texas Register.
General Post Office Houston
See Telegraph and Texas Register, November 18, 1837. Robert Barr prepared this notice on October 25, 1837. Even though the town of Montgomery was founded in July of 1837, Barr is still referring to the post office located in the Lake Creek Settlement as Shepherds Store. When Barr makes his request for sealed proposals for 1839, he will refer to the post office as Montgomery.
Post Office Papers No. 50 On December 10, 1837, G. Brightman received compensation from Robert Barr, the Post Master General of the Republic of Texas, "for transporting mail from Houston to Shepherds Store.” This was three months after W. W. Shepperd founded the Town of Montgomery in July 1837 and just four days before Montgomery County was created on December 14, 1837.
RECEIPT OF G. BRIGHTMAN TO ROBERT BARR
Recd of R. Barr Eighty Dollars for transporting the mail from Houston to Shepherds Store Houston Dec. 10th 1837
Recpt. G. Brightman $80.00 Decr 10, 37 76 Post Office Papers No. 74
RECEIPT OF D. LAUGHLIN TO ROBERT BARR
D. Laughlin rect. for 500$ apr. 3 166
See p. 60, Texas Post Office Papers 1836-1839, Compiled and Edited from the Manuscripts in the Texas State Archives by James M. Day.1836 – 1839.
Post Office Papers No. 55
[Scan No. 55 here]
LIST OF POST OFFICES No. 55
Date Comm Post Office County Post Master Remarks
[18]37 May 17 Montgomery Montgomery W. W. Shepperd W. W. S. Resigned [18]40 April 5 Montgomery Montgomery C B Stewart 1840
See p. 70, Texas Post Office Papers 1836-1839, Compiled and Edited from the Manuscripts in the Texas State Archives by James M. Day.1836 – 1839. W. W. Shepperd was the Post Master of Montgomery from 1837 to 1840 when his son-in-law, C. B. Stewart took over as Post Master in April when W. W. Shepperd resigned. W. W. Shepperd resigned as Post Master shortly after selling his interest in the town of Montgomery and the courthouse to James McCown. Shepperd was Post Master for almost 4 years.
[Scan and transcribe PM Barr's payment to Jacob H. Shepperd for carrying mail Montogmery, October 26th 1838 here]
Post Office Papers No. 69 ACCOUNTS OF POST OFFICES July 1838 - JANY, 1841
MONTGOMERY POST OFFICE DR. [Finish scan and transcription of No. 69]
This record is reporting the revenue taken in by the Montgomery Post Office. The first Postmaster reporting is W. W. Shepperd. Beginning in April of 1840, Shepperd's son-in-law, C. B. Stewart, became the second Postmaster of Montgomery, Texas.
Post Office Papers No. 78 and No. 79
Post Office Papers No. 188
[Feb. 27, 1839?]
Post Offices and Names of Post Masters
W. W. Shepperd Shown as Post Master of Montgomery, Texas in September 15, 1840 Edition of The Morning Star Newspaper(Houston, Texas) Vol 2, No. 95, Page 3 of 4
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