Descendants of Early Postmasters
Member jure John Hess Adams (Postmaster); member no. 334
Member jure John Hess Adams (Postmaster); member no. 334
The Descendants of Early Postmasters 1607–1900 (DEPM) is a hereditary society that honors individuals whose ancestors contributed to the growth and operation of the American postal system from the colonial period through the end of the 19th century. Membership is open to U.S. citizens of good character, aged 18 or older, who can prove lineal descent from an ancestor who held a qualifying postal-related position between 1607 and 1900.
Eligible roles are broadly defined and include not only postmasters and Postmasters General, but also postal surveyors, inspectors, and clerks. The society also recognizes tavern keepers and innkeepers who hosted mail stops, printers, booksellers who acted as informal distributors, stagecoach and Pony Express riders, ferrymen, riverboat and steamship captains, railway mail service personnel, and even those involved in building roads, bridges, or clearing waterways to facilitate the delivery of the mail.
The society seeks to deepen the appreciation of American history through the lens of postal communication and infrastructure. It promotes scholarship in the field, supports the preservation of postal history, and encourages philately among its members and the public. DEPM is proud to support the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, particularly its Fund for Innovation and Excellence, educational exhibits, and efforts to conserve historic postal artifacts.
John Hess Adams was a respected civic leader and skilled tradesman in Reynolds, White County, Indiana. Born near Norwalk, Ohio, he relocated several times with his family—first to New York, then back to Ohio, and finally settling in Indiana by 1845. Over his lifetime, Adams worked as a carpenter, cooper, farmer, and railroad foreman. His technical skills and industrious spirit helped lay the foundation for the small but growing town of Reynolds.
In the 1850s and 1860s, Adams was closely involved with the New Albany and Salem Railroad, later known as the Monon Route, serving as a bridge foreman and, later, as the station agent. This railroad, one of Indiana’s most important 19th-century transportation arteries, connected rural towns like Reynolds to the broader national economy and mail network.
During President Grover Cleveland’s first administration (1885–1889), Adams was appointed postmaster of Reynolds. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing mail delivery, maintaining records, and ensuring communication links across the region—an essential function in an era before telephones were common. As was typical in small towns at the time, his position often intersected with other community responsibilities, reinforcing his status as a trusted public servant.
Adams’s service as postmaster placed him within the broader historical context of American postal expansion during the Gilded Age, a period when rural post offices became lifelines for commerce, political news, and personal correspondence. Postmasters were pivotal in sustaining the flow of information across America’s heartland, and Adams was no exception. He was also active in local politics, aligned with the Democratic Party, and held several minor offices in the gift of the people. He and his wife, Rebecca Elizabeth Bunnell, raised five children in Reynolds, where Adams lived until his death in 1910. He is buried in Bunnell Cemetery near the town he helped build.
Or you can download the PDF here.