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Downs Township History
Post Offices
McLean County, Illinois

(Transcribed by: Teri Moncelle Colglazier)

In the early days, postal facilities were always of less interest than at the present. Few families took the papers, and the correspondence of an entire neighborhood, like this around Diamond and Old Town, would not amount to as much as that of a school girl now. They depended largely on sending letters by some one going to, or returning from, the new home. Twenty-five cents for a letter was too much for frequent correspondence, and it was not unusual for a letter to remain in the office for weeks, especially along about tax-paying time, before the required "two bits" could be spared. The earliest post office for this part of the county, was at Gov. Moore's, though soon after that, one was established at Lytleville, and one at LeRoy, though, in point of convenience, Bloomington was better than either. About 1556, Downs Post Office was established, and was kept at the house of Mr. Peasley until the railroad was built, and was then transferred to Downs Station, without a change of name. The Postmasters of Downs, since the office has been located at. the station, have been C. D. Bellville, John Bellville, John A. Davis, and Oliver Staten, who was appointed April 1, 1879. [The History of McLean County, Illinois, Chicago: W. LeBaron Jr. & Co., 1879]

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