Until 1959, postmasters in the United States were presidential political appointees. Associated salaries were a way for politicians to reward loyal followers. Thomas Dickman was Greenfield, Massachusetts’, first postmaster. He was also the first editor of the Greenfield Gazette (then known as The Impartial Intelligencer), founded in 1791. When Democratic Republican Thomas Jefferson was elected president in 1802, his administration chose the blacksmith Ambrose Ames to replace Dickman. Federalists were outraged, but powerless to stop it. Ames served until the Whig William Henry Harrison won the presidency in 1840, and in 1842, Richardson Hall (here, “Richard”) was appointed, serving until the Democrat John Tyler became president in 1846. Each succeeding postmaster served until his supporting party lost the presidency or until they retired. The pattern continued until 1959, when postmasters became subject to Civil Service exams and rules.