In a message dated 08/11/2000 2:18:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time, suekren@namfg.com writes: << They settled in Clay Co. sometime after Minnie was born in 1863. I have >reason to believe that my gggrandfather, James was the first postmaster >of Saline City. Would anyone out there be able to offer information?? >> Nothing about James Long being postmaster. Following is information about Saline City from the old history. It has the only mention in the book of James Long. Glorianne 1884 History of Clay County, p. 267. SUGAR RIDGE TOWNSHIP. SALINE CITY. Saline City is situated in the southwestern part of the township, on the C. & T. H. R R., of which it is an outgrowth, and dates its history from the completion of said road. The original plat was laid out by Henry Jamison as a speculative venture, and consists of 100 inlots and eight outlots. The streets running north and south are Picketts, Depot, Wood and Burnett; crossing these at right angles are First, Second, Third and Fourth streets, all of which are sixty-five feet in width. Warren's Addition was laid out in August, 1872, by James Warren, and consists of twenty lots. Jamison's Addition of twenty lots was made in the year 1873. By an act of the Board of Commissioners, of September, 1872, the name was changed from Saline to Saline City, on account of there being another village and post office of the former name in the State. The first lots sold were purchased by Pickett & Jenks, of Terre Haute, and Edwin Barnett, soon after the town was laid out. The first residences were erected by James Long and a man by the name of Hoyt. Pickett & Jenks built a large stave factory on Wood Point, near the railroad, in the latter part of 1872, and operated it extensively for several years thereafter. The present proprietors are Messrs. Patton & Forsythe, who do a large business. Daniel Barnett built the first hotel, which he kept for two years, and then retired from the business, renting the property to other parties. The first stock of goods was brought to the place by Pickett & Jenks, and kept for sale in a building on Wood Point, not far from their factory. Their successors were E. Nutting & Co., who sold goods about four years, when the stock was purchased by Patton, Forsythe & Co., the present proprietors. B. F. Holmes kept the first drug store, engaging in the business soon after the town was laid out, and continuing until 1873, at which time he disposed of his building to J. & J. Wardlow. Dr. Pickens erected a store building, which he sold in 1873 to Z. T. Barnett, who occupies it at the present time. James Herron, Daniel Manning and John Huckle were the first mechanics of the place. The first physician was Dr. McCorkle; the present M. D.'s are Drs. Gantz and Griffith.