The Journal-Record Bicentennial Edition Thursday, July 1, 1976 Section D, Page 2 OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FOUND DECLARING FIRST POST MASTER OF WINFIELD TO BE MARTIN BOWLING Up until recently, the Journal Staff had established Joseph Lester McGAHA as being the first Postmaster of Winfield but when Geva CANTERBURY, a citizen of Winfield, was going through valuable papers of his late ancestors, he ran across an official document written in June 1873, complete with seal and everything that slightly changed the post office story. This original document in June 1873 was a disbursement report to the Government from Martin C. BOWLING, Postmaster of Palo in Fayette County. It was written with a quail pen and with walnut-stain ink and was a report of the affairs of the Palo Post Office. All carriers from this office travelled on horseback but a list of the carriers were not given on this report. Then thee was a second document which was a letter appointing Martin C. BOWLING Postmaster of the first Winfield Post Office on January 26, 1888. Newt WHITEHEAD, who later served twelve years as postmaster, said that Joseph Lester McGAHA, known as Mac, had the first post office in connection with his General Merchandise Store, the third store in Winfield in 1887, and from the two different sources, evidently McGAHA took care of the early citizens mail before the postoffice(sic) was established or else he was the first Winfield citizen appointed as Postmaster after Mr. BOWLING. A great-grandson of Mr. McGAHA, M. Reno McGAHA of Levelland, Texas who visited in Winfield a few hours last summer, knew of his great-grandfather's store and post office and also said that he bought and fattened opposums for sale in the back of his general store. He recalled hearing his father tell about some boys breaking into the store and freeing the 'possums on one night in those earliest days of Winfield. The exact number of years that Mac McGAHA served was not known nor was the definite period of time that Mr. BOWLING served known. Elizah WADSWORTH and Nathan MUSGROVE both served for a period of time as Postmaster of Winfield between its beginning and 1899. In talking with Jim GREEN, retired mail carrier after serving in the capacity for forty-four years, and also the son of Benjamin Franklin GREEN, said that his father, known to most friends as Frank GREEN, was appointed Postmaster in 1898, after Wadsworth served. He remembers Mr. GREEN moving the family from the river east of Boston, to the old Dr. WHITLEY place in East Winfield now Burgess Community, in September 1899, and he had already been serving for several months and boarding with Dr. J. F. EARNEST. Mr. GREEN served until 1903. Newt WHITEHEAD, who helped build the railroad through Winfield, in 1887 when he was only eighteen years of age, said that he was appointed Postmaster in 1903 and served twelve years, going out in 1915. During Mr. WHITEHEAD's term in the postoffice(sic), White McDONALD, T. C. McCLESKY, and Jeff CANTERBURY were the mail carriers as were shown on a picture of the group (courtesy of Mrs. Lula McCLESKEY HAYNES) before they went out on the route one morning. Citizens out toward Brilliant, remember Mr. CANTERBURY walked and carried the mail for awhile and later Jimmy SMITH carried the mail all the way to Brilliant. Following Mr. WHITEHEAD, Belton HODGES was appointed but few people remembered to mention his serving and Mr. jim(sic) GREEN explained that Mr. HODGES just didn't like the postal work and that Will WADE, the assistant postmaster, did most of the paper work until a new appointment was made appointing R. F. "Nander" WHEELER. Mr. WHEELER, now a resident of Raymondville, Texas, served as Postmaster until 1912. >From 1921 to 1933, James McDONALD, who later served four terms as Mayor of Winfield, served for twelve years as Postmaster. Following Mr. Jim Mac, as many people called him, R. G. CARPENTER took over as Postmaster and also served a period of twelve years, going out in February 1945. Mrs. E. C. HOLLIS received a temporary appointment and served in 1945-6. Mr. Arthur BURGESS was appointed in 1946. William FLOWERS is postmaster at present.