Bert Morgan Retired

[genealogynut]

Howard Courant
Thursday, May 5, 1938

Last Saturday, April 30, marked the day of a 32 year term of service in the Rural Free Delivery division of the postal department of the U. S. government, for B. M. Morgan, of Howard.  He reached the 30 year retiring period two years ago.  In good health, however, he concluded to accept the two years more carriers are priviledged to take, beyond which they have no further choice.  Thus the first day of May he found himself a free man with no job, but not worrying, as he retires on pay.  Mr. Morgan was one of the earlier carriers, receiving his appointment on February 1, 1906, four years (if memory serves) after the R. F. D. was organized, under the administration of Thos. E. Thompson as postmaster, (1899-190?), which would be in 1902.  He succeeded George Lorance as carrier on Rt. 5, and was preceded only by W. B. Goodner and Pete Lorance, possibly two years each.

Mr. Morgan started out in the horse and buggy days making the all-day trip, in all weathers and over bad roads for the first ten years.  Incidentally the innovation of the R. F. D.  inspired the first earnest effort to establish good roads throughout the county.  At first, the carriers drove their own teams.  Later, the conventional mail-wagon of those days, prescribed by the government, was used until superseded by the motorcar.  At the end of the first decade, Mr. Morgan secured a Model N Ford, which greatly lightened his labors.  Needless to say, now, more than twenty years later, he no longer drives that sort of a car.  Many changes have taken place within the three decades, including those of the postal department.  Mr. Morgan has served under six Howard postmasters.  They were: Thos E. Thompson, W. P. Heichert, now of Los Angeles; B. W. Hamar, H. A. Gilmore, Austin Kimzey, and L.S. Haile.  Mr. Heichert and Mr. Haile are the only survivors of the six.

B. M. Morgan retires with the good will and respect of the people he has served and of the entire community in which he has lived for so many years.

Some re-organization recently has been effected.  Route 5 is ordered discontinued, its patrons practically all absorbed by No. 2 carrier Holly N. Miller.  A few families will be served by Clarence Patterson of Route 4.  The R. F. D. system inaugurated here thirty-five years ago originally included six routes.  It is now reduced to four, with a possibility of being further reduced in the future.

At Fiat, a supper is to be given tonight, by the patrons old and new, in honor of Mr. Morgan and to Mr. Miller, the new carrier.  Also, the present force at the postoffice and the R. F. D. carriers joined in the presentation of a gift expressive of their appreciation and the long association with Bert M. Morgan.

[genealogynut]

There is no connection between his Morgan lineage and the Morgan line I married into.

[Ms Bear]

World War I Draft Registration Records has  Bert Milstead Morgan of Howard, Elk, KS.  45 years old, born April 27 1873, occupation was Rural Letter Carrier.  Nearest relative was Chloe Morgan.  Registered on Sept 12, 1918 by H E Turner

[genealogynut]

That was interesting, Ms Bear.  Thanks for posting it.  I also remember where Bert Morgan uased to live in Howard.  It was across the street east of where Agnes Miller now lives.  (For those that are familiar with Howard)