Postal service in 1821 was problematic in most of Missouri. Article I, Section 8 of the U. S. Constitution gave Congress power, “To establish post offices and post roads.” While established post roads were among the best roads in the U. S., and many remain unchanged to this day, few were in Missouri at statehood.
Post roads in southeastern Missouri in 1820 ranged from well-established to little more than bridal paths. Consequently, the mails were irregular. The editor of the Missouri Gazette and other newspapers complained that subscribers often failed to receive them, and eastern papers took a month or two to arrive. Officials suspected deputy postmasters stole some public documents in route. The Ste. Genevieve Correspondent complained it took 14-21 days to get mail from St. Charles – a distance of 80 miles.
The mail routes in 1819 included weekly routes: Shawneetown to St. Louis; Smithland, Kentucky to Cape Girardeau; Harrisonville, Illinois by Herculaneum, Mine a Breton, Ste. Genevieve to Kaskaskia; and Kaskaskia by Ste. Genevieve, Tuckers, Hughes, Cape Girardeau and Winchester (Sikeston) to New Madrid.
Other routes visited every two weeks included Harrisonville, Illinois by Herculaneum, Potosi, St. Michaels, Greenville, into Arkansas; Jackson to Greenville; Ste. Genevieve by Potosi to Franklin Courthouse; Ste. Genevieve to Fredericktown; and Potosi by Bellevue to Murphy Settlement (Farmington). Routes added by Congress March 3, 1821 led from Shawneetown by Jonesborough, Illinois and Bainbridge, Cape Girardeau County, to Jackson; and from Ste. Genevieve, by the Saline, Amos Byrd’s, John F. Henry’s, and Bainbridge, to Cape Girardeau.
