By Guest Author Bruce McGirr
In celebrating Women’s History Month we’d like to explore an overlooked area of Wyoming history—the establishment by women of post offices throughout the state. This list only presents place names and postmaster names, but it shows how these women had the foresight and conviction to proceed forward in building important community institutions. Not all of the post offices survived but those that did would become thriving locations for conversations and interactions with neighbors and friends. Many sites were in very sparsely-settled areas and were often combined with other operations such as general stores, but they were always vitally important to communication. On a county-by-county basis here is the story of these first women postmasters of post offices that are still in operation today. This list is only part of the over 260 post office locations in Wyoming started by women. Post office names are in Bold Letters
Big Horn County
Manderson (aka Alamo) Named after CB&Q Railroad Chief Manderson with Postmaster Gertrude Quiner
Campbell County
Gillette Named after B&M Railroad surveyor/engineer Gillette with Postmaster Margaret J. Livingston
Rozet Probably named for wild roses with Postmaster Katherine Shaughnessy, also owner of a mercantile
Carbon County
Baggs (aka Baggs Crossing) Name changed from Bagg’s to reflect new Postmaster Margaret Baggs
Crook County
Devils Tower With Postmaster Elizabeth Grenier
Tower Post Office With Postmaster Lillie L. Marshall
Fremont County
Crowheart Named for Crowheart Butte, with Postmaster Nellie I. Heenan
Goshen County
Huntley May be associated with Old English hunta +leah meaning hunter woodland clearing, with Postmaster Hazel Holcomb
Jay Em Associated with James Moore’s JM Ranch with Postmaster Elizabeth Thorton
Veteran Originally built up by World War I veterans with Postmaster Effie Mahoney
Yoder Probably named after Jess Yoder with Postmaster Alma N. Johnson
Hot Springs County
Grass Creek (aka Midwest) Large oil field community with Postmaster Flora Thomas
Johnson County
Linch Was the homestead of the Linch family with Postmaster Leola R. Crawford
Laramie County
Carpenter Rail stop on CB&Q railroad line with Postmaster Bessie E. Fell
Lincoln County
La Barge (2) Named after mountain man Joseph Marie La Barge with Postmaster Lillian Roberts
Thayne Named for Henry Thayne with Postmaster Laura Thayne
Niobrara County
Lance Creek The namesake of the Lance Formation and fossils found there with Postmaster Frances J. Ragen
Park County
Meeteetse Means “meeting place” in Shoshone language with Postmaster Margaret B. Wilson
Platte County
Glendo (aka Bellewood) From Gaelic word for valley (glean) with Postmaster Bridgett McDermott for both post offices Bellewood and Glendo
Sheridan County
Ranchester Named by S. H. Hardin, English native and rancher, with Postmaster Helga M. Davis
Sublette County
Bondurant Named after AC Bondurant and laid out by Chicago NW Railroad with Postmaster Ellie Bondurant
Cora The name came from James Noble’s general store at his Cora ranch with Postmaster Minerva Westfall, who is said to deliver mail on a gray stallion to Big Piney, a 70-mile round trip
Pinedale (aka Fremont) Named for a creek by Charles Peterson, with Postmaster Cecilie Peterson
Teton County
Jackson Named for Davey Jackson, fur trader, with Postmaster Maggie Simpson
Moran Named after Mount Moran by the Allens who built the Elkhorn Hotel, which housed the post office and store, with Postmaster Maria Allen
Wilson Founded by Nick Wilson, one of Wyoming’s first pony express couriers, with Postmaster Matilda R. Wilson
Uinta County
Robertson Named for John (Jack) Robertson, fur trader and first settler, with Postmaster Helen N. Miller
Bruce McGirr has authored a book about forgotten post offices in Wyoming. You can purchase the book here. The Alliance would like to thank Mr. McGirr for his research and writing of this article.
