Roy M. Daniels

Leonardville Rural Mail Carrier for 47 years from 1910 to 1957

1892 - 1964

 Roy Daniels Tells of 47 Years of Mail Service 

When Roy Daniels, Leonardville, first substituted as mail carrier in 1909, he didn't know he would be doing that for the next 47 years as a profession.

Mr. Daniels started out on the regular payroll of the Postal Department in 1910. His pay was $75 per month, and with the expense of keeping his horses shod, harness in repair and the horses fed, he didn't have much to speak of left over. He picked up a little on the side by working nights in the opera house and operated the movies. For a while he worked at selling Overlands and Whippits for Lou Kopacheck.

In the early years he often considered quitting the postal service and getting into some other work, but his father would talk him out of it.

Delivering mail on the rural routes for 47 years has been a variety of experiences. Roy tells of good times and bad times, and of good weather and bad weather, but the mail went through.

Take the snow storm of 1915 for an example. Roads were all dirt at that time, and full of ruts. When the snow started to fall, he had to leave his rig at home and go by horseback. The wind blew so badly that the roads were getting to be full. Even on horseback though, the daily journey wasn't easy. Roads became so bad Roy found it necessary to cut fences and ride across fields. He said he figured he cut one man's fence about 15 times.

During this storm, and as a result of it, Roy had to ride horseback for five weeks straight, but he reached his patrons during that time.

Another "worst" for Roy was the mud hole in the Alert Timber. On the road south from the Alert school house, there was a spring seep in the road, and after heavy rains the hole would seep and the mud would get "belly deep" to a horse. The last time Roy went through that hole he broke the harness and singletree. He bypassed the hole after that in wet weather.

Many times on bad days, said Roy, patrons would invite him in for a hot cup of coffee, food, or in one case a whole set of dry clean clothes. It seems as though he got stuck on the route one day, and Franz Lawson came out to give him a hand. After the men got Roy unstuck, Franz brought Roy to the house where he was served coffee and food, given a dry set of clothes and was sent on his way. "That just shows you what kind of patrons I had on the mail route," said Roy. He added: "The patrons have gone to a lot of bother to help me. Not one ever charged me a dime to pull be out of a mud hole."

Even the womenfolk have a hand in Roy's mail carrying career. His sister, Mrs. Clyde Olson, often substituted for him during a sick spell or for some other reason he couldn't make the rounds.

A few years back Roy thought of quitting the Postal Department. The story got out, and on one trip around the mail route he received more than he delivered. When he returned, the back seat of his car was filled with gifts from his patrons. They included pies, cigars, cakes, chickens, and nearly every thing imaginable. This made Roy think that if they thought that much of him, he would continue to serve them. "When I finally did quit, it was a hard decision to make, but I wanted to before the old rocking chair caught up with me. Now we hope to enjoy a few years of our retirement," said the retired mail carrier. He went on to say: "I don't think any mail carrier has had better patrons to work with than I have had in the 47 years of my mail carrying. I really don't think I have an enemy on the route."

In the 47 years, 5 months, Roy has never had an accident other than runaways with a team. 27 years ago the postal department started a safe driving campaign. Just prior to his retirement Roy received an award for 27 years of safe driving. He also received a citation from Post Master Summerfield, and a warm personal letter from the same person congratulating Roy on his long and efficient term of service.

Roy has been very active in the Masons and Eastern Star. Mrs. Daniels, who has shared his life for 41 years, has been a teacher since 1910 in various schools around this part of the country. At present she is principal of the Leonardville Grade School. She is planning to retire in the near future, and she and Roy can enjoy their retirement together and travel "before the rocking chair get them."