Republic of Texas Mail Routes - Shepperd's Store in the Lake Creek SettlementClick Here To Read Lake Creek Settlement Narrative History In addition to being the first store in the Lake Creek Settlement, W. W. Shepperd’s store was also the first post office in the Lake Creek Settlement. When the town of Montgomery was founded, Shepperd’s store was the first post office in the town. W. W. Shepperd was also the first postmaster. He became the first postmaster on May 17, 1837 about two months before the town of Montgomery was founded. In 1838, two Republic of Texas mail routes included W. W. Shepperd's store. The advertisement below appeared in the December 30, 1837 edition of the Telegraph and Texas Register, soliciting bids for carrying the mail in the Republic of Texas along certain routes for the following year of 1838. Republic of Texas mail route No. 1 went through W.W. Shepperd's store and Republic of Texas mail route No. 14 began at W. W. Shepperd’s store.
Route No. 1 ran from Houston to New Cincinnati via Shepperd’s store.
No. 1. From Houston to New Cincinnati, via Shepherd’s store, 100 miles, weekly. Leave Houston on Monday 8 AM, and arrive at New Cincinnati on Wednesday at 8 P M. Leave New Cincinatti on Thursday at 8 AM, and arrive at Houston on Saturday at 8 P M.
Route No. 14 started at Shepperd’s store and ran to the La Bahia Crossing on the
Colorado River via McGuffin’s, Fanthorp’s, Washington, Independence, and Mitchell’s.
See Telegraph and Texas Register, November 18, 1837. Robert Barr prepared this notice on October 25, 1837. Even though the town of Montgomery was founded in July of 1837, Barr is still referring to the post office located in the Lake Creek Settlement as Shepherds Store. When Barr makes his request for sealed proposals for 1839, he will refer to the post office as Montgomery rather than Shepherd's Store.
Post Office Papers No. 50 On December 10, 1837, G. Brightman received compensation from Robert Barr, the Post Master General of the Republic of Texas, "for transporting mail from Houston to Shepherds Store.”This was three months after W. W. Shepperd founded the Town of Montgomery in July 1837 and just four days before Montgomery County was created on December 14, 1837.
RECEIPT OF G. BRIGHTMAN TO ROBERT BARR
Recd of R. Barr Eighty Dollars for transporting the mail from Houston to Shepherds Store Houston Dec. 10th 1837
Recpt. G. Brightman $80.00 Decr 10, 37 76 Post Office Papers No. 74
RECEIPT OF D. LAUGHLIN TO ROBERT BARR
D. Laughlin rect. for 500$ apr. 3 166
See p. 60,Texas Post Office Papers 1836-1839, Compiled and Edited from the Manuscripts in the Texas State Archives by James M. Day.1836 – 1839.
Post OfficePapers No. 55
LIST OF POST OFFICES
Date Comm Post Office County Post Master Remarks
[18]37 May 17 Montgomery Montgomery W. W. Shepperd W. W. S. Resigned [18]40 April 5 Montgomery Montgomery C B Stewart 1840
See p. 70, Texas Post Office Papers 1836-1839, Compiled and Edited from the Manuscripts in the Texas State Archives by James M. Day.1836 – 1839. W. W. Shepperd was the Post Master in the Lake Creek Settlement, and later Montgomery, from 1837 to 1840 when his son-in-law, C. B. Stewart took over as Post Master in April of 1840 when W. W. Shepperd resigned. W. W. Shepperd resigned as Post Master shortly after selling his interest in the town of Montgomery and the county courthouse to James McCown. W. W. Shepperd was Post Master for almost 4 years. |
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