In today’s world, many conveniences—like the mail—are often taken for granted. While we may complain about occasional delays in our modern postal system, the challenges of receiving mail in the past were far more significant.
Before 1845, the U.S. mail system operated under a contract-based model, where delivery routes were awarded to the lowest bidder, often using stagecoaches or similar services. For most Americans, receiving mail required considerable effort. You had two options: pay someone to retrieve your mail from the local post office or make the journey yourself.
Wealthier individuals could afford to hire someone for this service, but for the majority, a trip to the post office was a necessity—often involving hours of travel on horseback or by foot. This system, while practical for its time, lacked the accessibility and efficiency we enjoy today.
Reflecting on this history serves as a reminder to appreciate the progress we’ve made. The mail system has transformed from a cumbersome task into an indispensable service connecting people across the nation.
This process was abolished in 1845 when congress passed legislation stating:
That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General in all future lettings of contracts for the transportation of the mail, to let the same, in every case, to the lowest bidder, tendering sufficient guarantees for faithful performance, without other reference to the mode of such transportation than may be necessary to provide for the due celerity, certainty, and security of such transportation...
These routes became famously known as "Star Routes," named after the three asterisks (***) used by postal clerks in ledgers to signify the guiding principles of the service: "Celerity, Certainty, and Security." However, this system was not without its flaws. Corruption occasionally slowed the process, as local postmasters were known to accept bribes in exchange for awarding lucrative delivery contracts.
In 1896, significant reform came with the efforts of Congressman Thomas Watson, who championed and secured the passage of the Rural Free Delivery Act. This important legislation established mail delivery directly to rural areas across the United States, transforming the lives of countless Americans. The impact was particularly important in places like Henry County, where a large portion of the population lived in rural communities and could now receive mail without making long, inconvenient trips to the nearest post office.
Rural Free Delivery (RFD) officially arrived in Henry County in 1901, with Mr. T.J. McKibben appointed as the county's first mail carrier. Assisting him was Mr. H.A. Sims, who served alongside him on a 27-mile route that covered a population of 500. However, Mr. McKibben's tenure was brief, and he soon passed the responsibility to his assistant. On February 1, 1902, H.A. Sims formally took over the role, accompanied by his trusty horse, John.
A.H. Sims
For 11 years, A.H. Sims and his trusty horse, John, navigated the rugged terrain of Henry County, including plantation roads, pig trails, and rickety wooden bridges. John became so familiar with the route that he instinctively stopped at homes where neighbors rewarded him with treats. Faced with harsh winters and muddy roads, Sims built a custom mail wagon to protect himself and the mail from the elements.
Eventually, Sims transitioned to an automobile, but it too struggled with the same challenges. To secure his $500 annual salary (equivalent to nearly $20,000 today), Sims had to petition route members for their support. Along with his salary came 10 sick days, 15 annual leave days, and all legal holidays off—generous benefits for the time.
Sims loved his work and faithfully served multiple routes with his sons acting as substitutes. His only complaint? Residents who delayed him to finish their letters, joking they "wouldn’t be ready even when Gabriel blows his horn."
George Elliott
George Elliott, a native of Henry County and cousin to A.H. Sims, began his career as a rural postman in 1902. His dedication to the job was evident from the very start. After marrying that same year, he took his wife on his mail route during their honeymoon, sharing picnic lunches along the way to enjoy their newlywed bliss.
Elliott took pride in his work, often boasting of traveling nearly 100,000 miles over the course of his service. Despite enduring harsh winters, he found comfort in small gestures, such as his mother Fannie bringing out a hot brick to warm his wagon. His annual salary started at $360 and increased modestly over time, but what truly set him apart was his unwavering commitment—he famously never used a single day of sick leave for 18 years.
End of an era
By the 1930s, the era of Rural Free Delivery (RFD) as it had been known was coming to an end. Advances in transportation, road infrastructure, and the growing efficiency of centralized post offices led to the consolidation of many RFD routes into larger networks based out of major post offices. While this shift improved the speed and scope of mail delivery for rural areas, it also marked the end of an era for many dedicated rural postmen who had spent decades faithfully serving their communities. For some, this consolidation meant the loss of their livelihoods, as fewer routes required fewer carriers. However, the establishment of the federal civil service retirement system provided a safety net, ensuring that these public servants, who had braved harsh weather and treacherous roads to connect rural communities to the wider world, were not left without support.
The consolidation symbolized not only progress but also the close of a chapter in Henry County's history, one where the personal dedication of rural postmen played a vital role.
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