First Postmaster At Shirleysburg

Did you know? Welch's 1909 history of Mount Union, Shirleysburg and Shirley Township says Kimber Barton was the first postmaster in Shirleysburg, chosen in 1805. Africa's 1883 county history named someone else, with a hedge: as near as could be ascertained, it said, the pioneer postmaster of Shirleysburg was James Lyon.

Welch says Kimber was one of the five children of John Barton, one of the pioneer school teachers in Shirleysburg. The others were Thomas Gage, John Jr., Mary and Sabra. John Barton came from England late in the eighteenth century, settled first in Doylestown, Bucks County, and, so far as Welch could learn, moved to the vicinity of Shirleysburg with his wife and five children about 1785.

Of Kimber, Welch adds that he had an inclination toward music and literature, and that he was the grandfather of Miss Ann Diven of Mount Union.

Checked 2026-10-30 · County histories and primary sources, read in full

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