Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.
I was born September 1, 1899 on what is now known as East Brown Street -- the first home I can ever remember was located directly behind what is now 509 East Plum St., Robinson, Illinois.
My grandfather, Mr. Noah Greaham was mail messenger about the years 1905 and 1906. He operated a "push cart" and met the I.C. and Big 4 trains and handled the mail to the Post Office, which was then somewhere on the West side of the Square. His salary was Fifteen Dollars per month.
On November 8, 1907 my parents were entertaining the Salvation Army Officers. I had gone to the south side to school. My younger brother was playing outside, when he suddenly burst in and pointed to my mother and said "Leepe Moke". Sure enough our house was a fire. The alarm was sent in, but due to an error, as to the location of the fire the "hose cart" and fire fighters arrived too late and our home was totally destroyed, except for a few articles of furniture and clothing.
At that time our town was enjoying an "Oil Boom" and since we were very needy and had no insurance the town's people built the present home of my mother, Emma Lake, and presented it to my grandmother, then a widow.
On March 24, 1920 I was appointed to the position of Sub-carrier, under Post Master N.J. Highsmith, (now deceased), AND FOR A FEW YEARS, ODDLY ENOUGH*, I operated a "push cart" and delivered parcel post all over the City. After 17 years, as a Substitute Clerk-Carrier -- during which time I substituted for Clerks, Carriers, and rural carriers. I was appointed Clerk on January 1, 1937, under Post Master E.G. Stifle, (now deceased).
I have been with the Post Office Department 36 years and 4 months. On November 30, 1928 I was married to Miss Mattie Boyd (one of six children), daughter of Pearl and Celia (Curtis) Boyd.
We are the parents of one daughter, Mary E. Weaver, who, with her husband, Norman Weaver and family of two girls and two boys, live at Oblong, Illinois.
My wife was born near Kibbie, and during the "Oil Boom", since places for oil workers to sleep and eat were at a premium, her parents operated a boarding house in "shifts" -- that is, the beds were in use day and night. She is one of five generations, still living, born in Crawford County -- Her grandmother on her mother's side, has lived in Independence, Missouri, some 50 years. She and her husband John T. Curtis, were two of the few "Latter Day Saints", in the County and they moved to Independence, Missouri to the large Colony, residing there.