J. M. Marshall of Arlington, Nebr. drew number 50 in the Tripp County opening and filed on the northwest quarter of section thirteen in this township. He was a good-natured, lovable fellow who could have enjoyment on a slight pretext. Every day he went to Lamro for his Omaha World Herald on the trail that crossed this section a couple of blocks north of the Farmers Elevator. There was talk in the early part of 1909 that a town would be platted where Winner is now located. This seemed a good joke to Marshall, so when he passed along here, he would stop his team, stand up in the buggy and call, All aboard for Omaha. Martin Mortensen frequently rode to town with him, and Martin would caution him not to forget to pass the town.
One afternoon Martin noticed a shack on what is now Second Street, across the alley from the Barnum Building and drove up to it to see what was going on. He found D. A. Sinclair, who came out and informed him that he was the postmaster of Winner, saying he was ready to serve anyone who wanted mail. Mr. Sinclair told him that thus far no one received any mail here except his immediate family. Marshall went to Lamro and had his mail transferred to Winner, thereby being the first person to receive mail in this town. The same day Emil Bloom and Jimmy Novotny, homesteaders six miles east, stopped to see what was going on, and they took a post office box together, being the first persons to receive a post office box in Winner.
The first post office fixture installed by Mr. Sinclair was a series of boxes for rent, which he made out of a beer case divided into partitions. As stated above, Bloom and Novotny got the first one and J. M. Marshall the second.
W. J. Vasbinder, who gained considerable notoriety as a ball player about this time, was the first mail carrier from Lamro to Winner. Later on Harry Kinneman was appointed a regular carrier.
The first money order issued was to C. T. Scheutz, who still resides on his homestead in the north Ideal country; the first parcel post package received was for A. J. Adamson, who resides on his farm a half mile west of Winner; the first parcel post package sent was mailed by Miss Josephine Style, who was employed on the Tripp County Journal; the first insured parcel post package was received by L. D. Evans, who was then bookkeeper in the bank of Johnson and Gardner and is now cashier in the Bank of Winner.
The first passenger train to arrive in Winner was on July 4th, 1910, but no mail was carried on trains until a short time later.
The post office was opened in a frame building where the Meyer Welding Works is now located, but at that time it was half the present size. June 8, 1913, the post office was moved into the east end of the first floor of the Barnum & Butterfield Building, where it remained till June, 1923, when it was transferred to the Nunemaker Building on Third Street.
D. A. Sinclair received his first commission from Postmaster General Frank H. Hitchcock October 11, 1909, and his presidential commission was signed by President Taft January 16, 1912.
M. K. Nolan was the second postmaster, appointed by President Wilson. He served three years, being succeeded by C. A. Donohoe, who filled out the unexpired term of Mr. Nolan, who resigned.
Fred Goode, the present incumbent, is the third appointed postmaster. Thus far all the postmasters of Winner have been Democrats except D. A. Sinclair.
The present office force is as follows: E. D. Lynn, money order clerk; W. H. Fulwider, clerk at day window; Owen Short, night clerk; James Dowd and Frank Webster, carriers.
The business of the office shows a nice gain over each previous year, which is a good index of business conditions generally.
Money Orders:
Issued during 1922
$65,532.46 Postal Account:
Sales during 1922
..$13,538.78
Issued during 1923
$69,520.69
Increase in business
...$ 3,988.23
Sales during 1923
..$14,764.16
Increase in business
$ 1,225.38