POST OFFICE
Research by John Nance

Postal service in the English Colonies was supplied by private enterprise and was the responsibility of each colony under supervision of the English Crown.

Following the Revolution, 1775-1783, it was imperative that channels of communications be established within the bounds of the new formed nation immediately.

The Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as Postmaster General with instruction to initiate postal service between the states. Under Franklin's direct supervision, postal service along the east coast and within populated areas became effective immediately. Service to isolated areas continued to be provided by private carriers, horseback riders, buggies, wagons and walking travelers. Drop points such as trading posts, mills and individual residences were used.

Versailles, located in a isolated remote rural area on the Columbia Dirt Road, was within the boundary of Indian Territory, until the Tellico Treaty of 1805. Versailles was considered as a major drop point, defined as a post office at that time, and depended on this type of service until 1830, when the post office was officially established. The signing of the Treaty extended Rutherford County boundary line to the Alabama State line. It's location amplified it's importance as a communications and trading point until the forming of Bedford county. Versailles during this time was located in Williamson county.

Before the year 1900 mail was delivered to rural residents out of post offices when that addressed or his agent came in and asked for it. For instance, if the addressee lived eight miles from the post office, that would mean a 16 mile round trip by horse or walking. Delivery to the post office at first was once a week, then, thrice, and later six days each week. During the first 25 years of this initial development period most any community could get a post office usually amount to a drop point. Usually the store owner or clerk served as postmaster as he had to be present anyway. The development of the rural routes caused a discontinuance of the small post offices as transportation improved, This continues even today. Some examples of these are Everglades, Puckett, Rover and Versailles. These experimental or trial routes began, by authority of Congress, near Washington. DC and was voted to extend nationwide.

During the period 1836-1875, the boundary line between Williamson and Rutherford counties changed several times. In 1869 a boundary change was ratified and became ratified and became effective in 1840 placing Versailles in Rutherford County.

Postmaster lists with dates of service have been compiled and maintained by several sources. Land Laws of Tennessee, Book 1& 2; D. B. Beers map of Rutherford County made from the 1870 census; Tennessee Gazetteer map of 1834 and the Rutherford County Historical Society are some of the sources.



Postmasters by dates of service are listed below:

Versailles: Williamson County.
1 Richard Ransom 1830-39
2 L.B. Robinson 1839-39
3 S.B. Robinson 1839-40

Versailles: Rutherford County.
4 Marquis L Covington April 27 1840
5 James C Hopkins October 2 1846
6 Samuel M Hopkins May 1 1851
7 Willis S Ransom May 24 1854
8 William W Arnold May 28 1866
9 John W Parsley December 11 1866
10 W.C. Westbrooks October 7 1869
11 John W Nance March 25 1874
12 Benjamin F (Frank) Nance August 4 1896
Discontinued September 15 1906.

Rockvale - 10th District - Rutherford County
1 Minus B Carlton 1872
2 John N Dykes 1881
3 Thomas F Carlton 1891
4 Farnus M Carlton 1893
5 Lemuel R Hutcherson 1906
6 Andrew Jackson 1907
7 Thomas F Carlton 1909
8 Cecil G Bowling 1919
9 Ruby Lee Gillespie Powers 1953

Rockvale, much lime Versailles, started as a drop point. In 1869, John N Dykes bought four acres of land near the Snail Shell Cave Road for approximately $100.00. Upon completion of the building of his home, he set aside one room to be used as a post office. Thus Dykes was the first postmaster, but not officially appointed.

The post office remained at this location for several years. It was officially established in 1872 with Minus B Carlton named as postmaster. Since there was not an immediate move or change in location many rumors have it that Dykes continue to serve though Carlton was the appointed official.

In 1884 Frank Carleton built the store house now known as Windrows Grocery. After obtaining approval, the post office was relocated in the store on the north side as you enter the front door. It was relocated in a store operated by Jim Cabiler around 1900, approximately fifty yards west of the present day site. It was then moved to the present site in the lower floor of the Masonic Building in 1911. This building burned in 1934 and was rebuild. Records show that not a penny or piece of mail was lost during the fire.

The first rural route was started as an experiment in the early part of 1901. Minus B Carlton served as the first rural carrier, 1901-1907.

When the news became known in the wide general area, Freeland Jackson, Andrew A Scott, Bates Dryden and Fisis Tucker laid out four different routes, took names of would-be patrons and made application to be mail carrier. A postal employee rode the routes and numbered them numerically. An examination was held by the postal official and the routes were awarded accordingly. A.A. Scott made the highest grade and was awarded route numbered one, which was the one Freeland Jackson laid out. In 1907 A.A. Scott was ordered to operate out of the Rockvale Post Office and the route was rearranged, went to Concord, out toward Windrow, around through Jackson Ridge, through the Ditch Lane, down the highway to Mt Vernon Road, through Bunker Hill to Rover, Putnam Well, Fruit Valley and on to Versailles and Rockvale. Freeland Jackson thus received the route No. 1 and A.A. Scott took route No. 2. Jackson came from Eagleville through Mt Pleasant, Versailles and Concord. Thus both Versailles and Concord had rural mail service from Rockvale and Eagleville until 1934. When Jackson retired the Tenth District portion of Eagleville route was added to Scotts Rockvale route. Scott retired from mail service in 1935, after 31 years of service without a day off for any reason and never missed serving all his route every day during this time. The roads were mud; there were no bridges on most creeks and rain and sometimes snow blocked sections of the narrow, deep cut roads. There were times when the horse would be washed away down the creek. Lilliard Smotherman replaced Scott in 1935, and when he retired the first 51 years of R.F.D. (rural free delivery) was completed.

Beginning after 1870, the communities of Rockvale and Concord gradually began to develop all the requirements of a community and rivaled Versailles: general store, blacksmith shop, grist mill, cobbler shop, buggy or carrier shop, cabinet shop, school and church. Locally the three are considered separately but the whole wide area before 1870 was Versailles and after 1870 gradually became Rockvale. This was accelerated by the rural route initiating in Rockvale, the next school consolidation, school wagon routes, mutual telephone company and some new church organizations. Today Rockvale and Versailles share the nucleus of the Tenth District. Some of the above information was too minor to record and came from knowledge of living descendants and friends of A.A. (Buck) Scott.

The Versailles Post Office has always passed down from generation to generation as the second office in Rutherford County. Old Jefferson was first. However, the records reveal that Versailles was in Williamson County until 1840, and should properly be recorded as the second, behind Old Jefferson, in the much wider area.

Scott's relationship with the families along the route was one to marvel by today's standards: paying postage due, buying stamps, deliver parts, medicine, etc. with money from his won pocket. It is said that he lost only a few pennies, if that, over the many years. The old adage of "The mail must go through" was the spirit and dedication that Scott lived by. Grady Jackson was the appointed substitute carrier during this period, but was never used.. The other members of the Scott family, Howard and Robert (Jack) served as substitute carriers. Jack retired January 1981, having served longer than any other substitute carrier for the Rockvale Post Office.

Some records indicate Sam Kelton was the post master around 1900. He also served as an appointed Post Master at Overall. It is believed that Kelton served in a temporary status at Rockvale while serving as regular Postmaster at Overall.

Midland Post Office:
William D Holden 1886
James M Williams 1891
Discontinued (Combined with Fosterville, 1907)

Link Post Office: William H.H. Gentry April 15 1870
Bascom Holden August 4 1896
Charles H Williams June 6 1899
John W Westbrooks October 1 1900
Discontinued — December 31 1905

Swanvale Post Office:
Benjamin F Williams April 14 1891
Discontinued January 6 1892 (combined with Versailles). Swanvale P.O. was located in a grocery store across from Carl & Ester Barnes present home.

Everglades:
Located at Jackson Ridge, in a grocery store and served as a collection point. Uses primary in the same manner as large mail boxes are today.