List of Letters at Post Office
The following lists are from various newspapers in Clinton. It is my understanding that, at that time, you sent a letter to someone at the post-office of a certain city. The residents went to the post-office to pick up their mail. If it was not picked up in a certain time frame, a list was published in the newspaper. If it still was not picked up, the letter was returned to the dead letter office (in New York, I think) and they would try to find a better address and resend the letter.
These lists are handy for genealogists because they give a small hint as to where someone was thought to be and perhaps there are other local records that can be searched.
The Clinton Herald, Jan. 17, 1857
List of letters remaining in the Post Office at Clinton, Decr. 31st, 1856.
| Andrew, James | Keen, W. W. |
| Agerty, George | Kaler, Miss Mary |
| Armstrong, J. L. | |
| Ames, Henry W. | Lee, John, Esq. |
| Atherton, A. P. | Lowry, George |
| Longfellow, William | |
| Brown, John L. | Luce, David P. 2 |
| Bourke, John | Lowry, Charles P. |
| Baldwin, Simeon 2 | Lee, Mrs. Mirrill |
| Burlingame, James | Lazlerzi, Joseph |
| Birdsell, W. | Lucy, Jery |
| Blackwell, Geo. W. | |
| Bell, Miss Mary Ann | Macorney, William |
| Bassett, Mrs. Jane | Miller, John W. |
| Manner, E. W. | |
| Childs, E. L. 6 | Miers, William |
| Conlon, James | Mercer, Rich'd 2 |
| Clemence, Henry A. | Morin, Michael |
| Cooke, Edward S. | |
| Chapman, George | Norton, Nathan |
| Chenoweth, Miss Eliza | Norton, Mr. |
| Delany, Timothy | Phillips, Charles |
| Dutcher, John C. | Phillips, J. M. |
| Daly, Simeon | |
| Durning, Jas. 2 | Remer, Lewis |
| Dennig, Henry | Ryder, Jonathan A. |
| Dean, J. F. 3 | Raney, James |
| Delkiner, Levi | Ross, William |
| Drake, Charles | Ryan, Thomas |
| Duffin, Felix | Reyley, Patrick |
| Devine, Timothy | Reddings & Gibson |
| Donaldsen, Miss M. A. | Rhodes, J. Esq. |
| Ellis, E. | Shaw, A. J. |
| Eldridge, Ira | Steele, Wilham |
| Scott, E. | |
| Fay, Thomas | Shelton, Dr. C. S. 2 |
| Farrell, Patrick | Sturghgan, John |
| Fisher, M. H. | Sames, Abraham 2 |
| Fisk, A. D. Esq. | Slater, John |
| Fanar, Miss E. | Smith, A. T. M.D. |
| Firmaw, William | Skeela, John L. |
| Sharman, J. P. Esq. | |
| Griswold, John | Smith, Geo. Esq. |
| Gridley, Norman J. | |
| Grimes, George E. 3 | Tierney, Michael |
| Grinnell, George | Thomas, Mr. |
| Thompson, Joseph | |
| Hull, Mrs. Lorenzo | Turner, Robert |
| Hays, J. R. | Turner, Thomas |
| Huffman, E. Esq. | Thomas, George |
| Hill, Geo. G. | Tedron, Hiram |
| Hays, Dr. Samuel | Toomer, Alexander |
| Hopson, James Esq. | Thornburg, W. M. |
| Herring, Henry | |
| Harwood, J. 3 | Vandeventer, John T. |
| Vaugh, J. D. 2 | |
| Jones, G. W. | |
| Jonson, Lydia L. | Woode, Amarilla |
| Jackson, James | Warner, William |
| Jeffries, Lewis | White, W. R. |
| Waters, Spencer | |
| Kingsbury, Geo. W. | |
| Kennedy, James | Young, John |
Held for Postage
| Jones, Rev. Willimer | Flower, Mrs. B. F. |
Clinton Daily Age, May 25, 1892
The following is a list of letters remaining at the post-office at Clinton, Iowa, for the week ending May 24, 1892:
| GENTLEMAN'S LIST | |
| Bunderson, Nese | Morse, Geo |
| Bochanan, C F | McLaughlin, Geo |
| Booth, Mr. | Murphy, James |
| Carr, Harry | McDermaott, Jas |
| Dolphus, Charles | Olsen, Pedar |
| Dees, Henry C | Rese, Herman |
| Downes, J P | Stone, E D |
| Hams, John G | Schmitz, H J |
| Hardersen, Thos. | Schultz, J B |
| Ives, J B | True, Jasper |
| Jinkrom, P | Wolcott, J N |
| Lapig, Chas. | Walters, Chas. |
| M. L. Mr., 227 5th Ave | |
| LADIES' LIST | |
| Bernard, Estella | Tuttle, Mrs. M R |
| Erickson, Theresia | Tobrock, Mrs. W J |
| Neasy, Mrs. A | Tuttle, Miss Nettie E |
| Raye, Mrs. Elizabeth | |
Parties calling for the above will please say "advertised" and then give date of list. F. W. Marin, P. M.
The following is the list of letters remaining in the Post Office at Lyons, Iowa, for the week ending May 21, 1892.
| Coy, G U | Girlach, Miss Dolly 2 |
| Kush, Phillip H | Ringer, Mr. H D |
| Smith, Patrick | Smith, C L |
| Schatterman, August | |
| POSTAL | |
| Holy, Mr. | Nagle, M F |
Parties calling for the above will please say "advertised" and give the date of list. V. S. Nelson, P. M.
Clinton Daily Age, June 8, 1893
The following is a list of letters remaining at the post-office at Clinton, Iowa, for the week ending June 6, 1893:
| GENTLEMAN'S LIST | |
| Archerman, Fred | Henderson, John |
| Baker, Charlie | Jepson, W |
| Berger, M S | Kramer, Philip |
| Bobnar, Matiza | Leach, Curt |
| Brown, George Lay | Laffrnty, Danl |
| Conrad, Carl M | Miller, W A |
| Cook, B C | Meyers, Leon C |
| Campbell, Geo M | Mains, Capt P P |
| Dawnson, M Joe | Mitchell, T S |
| Duhn, August | Monroe, Tom |
| Dunn, Steve | Mruphy, W J |
| Elderedge N (Barber) | Opstrndt, John H |
| Econner, S | Olds, Rev S C |
| Furgard & Brown | Philips, Mr and Mrs A J |
| Freer, F A | Payton, John |
| Fignell, Charles | Porter, E G |
| Grimes, Guy M | Reed, A |
| Grader, Lew | Silverton, J M M of C A N W Ry |
| Gowdy, W E | Todden, William |
| Higgins, E S | Teter, A M |
| Hogh, L N | Tallman, H P |
| Harvey, S C | Winkley, John L |
| Hall, W H | Wever, William |
| LADIES' LIST | |
| Crapser, Mrs Louisa | Mathews, Mrs S A |
| Gwin, Annetta | Wilson, Miss Sadie |
| Jensen, Francis | Young, Miss Lula |
| Loft, Miss Mintie | |
Parties calling for the above will please say "advertised" and give the date of list. F W Mahin, P. M.