Decatur County Journal
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, Jun 19, 1913

The Ringgold and Decatur County rural letter carriers convention held in Mount Ayr Saturday evening was quite generally attended by the carriers from both counties, says the Ringgold Record-Herald.

The Decatur County carriers came in on the 6 o'clock train Saturday evening fifteen in number, and a number of carriers from other towns of this county came in later in automobiles. At eight o'clock they met in the I.O.O.F. Hall where the meeting was called to order by IRA A. BARTHOLOW, of Weldon, president of the Decatur County association, after which they were led in prayer by CHARLES E. MOREY, of Pleasanton. The minutes of the last meeting were then read by the secretary, followed by a number of short talks on different subjects by F.P. ALLEN, of Leon, C.R. TURNER, of Leon, J.F. SUMPTION, of Lamoni, L.C. MAIN, of Mount Ayr, C.E. MOREY, of Pleasanton, JOHN NEWTON, of Davis City, ROSCOE HAGEN, of Davis City, and OSCAR THOMAS, of Lamoni. They next elected delegates to the state convention which resulted in the election of J.L. HEATHMAN and J.F. SUMPTION, both of Lamoni, with F.P. ALLEN, of Leon, and C.E. MOREY, of Pleasanton, as alternates.

The association had prepared a program for the evening on subjects pertaining to the rural route carrier which was carried out as follows:

The first on the program was FRANK P. ALLEN, of Leon, on "Carrying Mail for Twelve Years," followed by the discussion of "Benefits of the Association," by C.R. TURNER, of Leon. C.E. MOREY, of Pleasanton, next discussed "The Mode of Conveyance," followed by JOHN NEWTON's talk on "Taking Care of Your Horses." "The Different Ways of Carrying Mail," was next discussed by ROSCOE HAGEN, of Davis City, followed by L.C. MAIN on "How to Live and Support a Family on the Salary of a Rural Carrier."

After the regular business of the association the Ringgold County carriers met in a called meeting and proceeded to elect officers for the coming year as follows: I.C. MAIN, of Mount Ayr, president; J.A. MANNASMITH, of Kellerton, vice president; W.L. CAMPBELL, of Kellerton, secretary and treasurer. L.L. HACKER, of Mount Ayr, E.O. CORNELL, of Kellerton, and W.W. POOR, of Mount Ayr, were elected as a board of directors.

Following the meeting of the association they were invited to take part in a bountiful supper as guests of the Mount Ayr carriers. The feast was prepared and served by O.V. PAYNE.

The meeting was a grand success and much enthusiasm was shown in the talks by the different members and there is no doubt but that much good will come from such meeting. The Decatur County carriers returned Sunday morning to their homes.

Following are those who were in attendance: J.B. STROBEL, Maloy; J.F. SUMPTION, Lamoni; J.A. MANNASMITH, Kellerton; LESTER L. HACKER, Mount Ayr; JOHN E. WILSON, Mount Ayr; CHARLES E. MOREY, Pleasanton; JOHN E. STROBEL, Mount Ayr, substitute; GLEN RUMLEY, Leon; O.I. THOMAS, Leon; C.R. TURNER, Leon; J.L. HEATHMAN, Lamoni; O. CORNELL, Kellerton; W.L. CAMPBELL, Kellerton ELMER R. POOR, Mount Ayr; L.C. MAIN, Mount Ayr; E.L. WATERS, Leon; B.S. BAKER, P.M. (sic), Grand River; W.W. POOR, Mount Ayr; JOHN NEWTON, Davis City; ROSCOE HAGEN, Davis City; AUSTIN DRAPER, Grand River; D.W. DAY, Grand River; FRANK P. ALLEN, Leon; CARL MY REYNOLDS, Leon; IRA A. BARTHOLOW, Weldon.

Transcription by Nancee (McMURTREY) SEIFERT, October 21, 2009