Tingley's first Post Office was established in what is present-day Sand Creek Township, located in Union County, Iowa. Before the stage route had been established, around the year 1867, Edgar SHELDON and Tingley CORNWALL established this Post Office with a proposal to name it Silver Street. The Post Office Department in Washington, D.C. rejected this name because there was another Silver Street post office within the State of Iowa. When the men decided to use CORNWALL's first name, Tingley, the name was approved.

Tingley CORNWALL, who was a schoolteacher, was the first Postmaster for the Union County site. Edgar SHELDON also served as Postmaster when his residence was a stage stop along the route.

With the arrival of the railroad, the town of Eugene moved 2 miles east and 2/4 miles south to the railhead of Tingley. (The original site of the Tingley Post Office was located three miles north and two miles east of the current site of the town of Tingley.)

Prior to 1948, postmasters were appointed or reappointed with each administration change in Washington D.C. Of all of Tingley's postmasters, Donald R. KINNE had the longest tenure.

Tingley's first rural route was established in 1903 and consisted of 22 miles. Over the years it has been added by extenstion and consolidation with Ellston and Beaconsfield routes to its present length of 117 miles.

Tingley's first rural mail carrier, Boyd REFFNER, started his route on September 15, 1903. He had 102 boxes along his 22-mile route with 510 patrons. Because cars were not allowed until 1913, Boyd used a span of little mules to pull his mail wagon. Boyd was paid a salary of $50 a month. He resigned in 1908.

Ed STOVER took over the rural route on June 1, 1908 and carried the mail until January 31, 1921. His salary ran from $864 to $1,728.

George BLUNCK was appointed rural mail carrier on June 27, 1921. In 1924 he transferred to rail mail service. Earl ECKERMAN was appointed at temporary rural carrier.

Wayne A. OVERHOLTZER served as a rural mail carrier for 38 years, retiring on March 1st of 1962. His final trip was made on February 28, 1962, covering the Tingley and Ellston rural routes. The bundles of mail he is carring was for the Tingley route with about that much more waiting for him at the Ellston Post Office.

Kenneth MORROW transferred from Digaonal's route in 1962, retiring on November 30, 1979. John F. OVERHOLTZER, after serving over 25 years as a substitute carrier for Wayne A. OVERHOLTZER and Kenneth MORROW, was appointed as a regular carrier on January 26, 1980. John carried mail for three routes - Tingley, Ellston, and Beaconsfield, which was a total of 110 miles.

SOURCE: Tingley Centennial

Submitted by Sharon R. Becker, 2009