FIRST POSTMASTER AT OKLAHOMA
Mr. James McGranahan was at one time postmaster at Oklahoma, but it was before Oklahoma was opened to settlement. Most all Oklahoma histories state that G. A. Beidler was the first postmaster, but there had been two postmasters at the Oklahoma station before the proclamation of the president opening Oklahoma, April 22, 1889. Mr. McGranahan had been commissioned postmaster in the fall of 1888—relieving N. S. Rodabuagh who had been the first commissioned postmaster at the Oklahoma station on the A.T. and S.F. Railroad. Mr. McGranahan said that the mail to Ft. Reno, Darlington Cantonment and Silver City on the South Canadian was all distributed from the Oklahoma office. He turned the post office over to G. A. Beidler at 10 a. m., Sunday, April 21, 1889. Mr. James McGanahan has presented to the Oklahoma Historical Society the letter stamp used by him here at the Oklahoma Post Office before the opening.

This cancellation stamp used by postmaster James McGranahan until 10 a. m. Sunday, April 21, 1889, at which time he turned the office over to G. A. Beidler.
[Chronicles of Oklahoma, Volume 14, No. 2, June, 1936]

The first postoffice in Oklahoma City:  Drawing made from original photograph and printed in Leslie's Monthly, 1889. G. A. Beidler stands in front and his son Chase, with rifle, stands at left. 
At extreme left is R. Lin Beidler, brother of the postmaster.
Source of Info: Daily Oklahoma April 23, 1939 Page 92

George A. Beidler, 79 years old, an eighty-niner and Oklahoma City's first postmaster died Monday night at his home, 601 West Seventh street.  The story of old territorial days, which he never grew tired of telling, reads like a chapter from a history of Oklahoma.  George Beidler saw Oklahoma City first as a frontier army post, then a crude pioneer village, nestled between the Santa Fe track, Oklahoma's first railroad, and a bend in the Canadian river. He lived to see it become the metropolis and capital of a new and presperous state.  Oklahoma City's first postoffice was a log cabin which he purchased at a total cost of $5, which stoood in a location about fifty yards west of the Santa Fe tracts on Main Street.  It later was replaced with a small frame structure which Mr. Biedler built.

Chose City Over Guthrie

Mr. Beidler's story as related to a reporter, April 22, 1912, tells of his early life in Pennsylvania and his first federal appointment in Oklahoma.  "Living in Pennsylvania I had been interested in the opening of Oklahoma several years before 1889 and in 1888 I made a trip to St. Louise to visit the original boomer, Captain Payne.  I joined the "Payne Oklahoma Colony" at that time but did not come into the state.  Congress a year later passed and the president signed the bill providing for the opening and then the idea occured to me to seek the postmastership of the Oklahoma station, choosing it rather than either of those proposed for Guthrie or Kingfisher."

Here Night of Opening

"With my son, G. Chase Beidler, I arrived soon after the opening, coming in at 10 o'clock at night over the Santa Fe, the only railroad here at the time.  As we alighted from the train, soldiers on guard wanted to know why we disobeyed orders and got off, but I managed to explain that I came under orders to take charge of the postoffice. We had no place to sleep, and the quartermaster of the troop, Captain Summers, allowed us to bunk on the floor of his house until we could arrange for other quarters.  There was no building provided by the government for a postoffice and, indeed, there were few shacks of any kind near the station.  So I rustled around seeking a place where the mail could be handled, as I knew that it would be coming in immense quantities with a few days.

Slept On Mail Table

"An old log corral owned by a sooner was found and he sold it to me for $5.  The soldiers aided me in moving it over to a spot now on the alley between Main street and Grand avenue about fifty yards west of the Santa Fe railroad.  I desired to have it within the distance limit to which the railroad would deliver the mail. I arranged the logs in the form of a corral about ten feet square and placed the door under the eaves.  On one side a sign Postoffice was hung over the door and an immense flag, amde by my wife before leaving Pennsylvania, was hung from a pole.  With some boards a bunk table was constructed on which my son and I slept at night and used in the daytime for a mail tale.  We were ready for business April 17, five days before the run.

Avalanche of Mail at Start

"My real troubles started the day of the opening and it seemed that they would be no let-up in the avalanche of mail which came in on every train.  The department would allow me no assistance, being unfamiliar with conditions, and for a considerable time we delivered mail simply by calling out names to the crowds gathered.  We would take turns calling until our voices failed.  This was continued even after I was allowed two clerks and we made no pretense of delivering papers, piling them on the floor and allowing those who expected mail of that kind to hunt through the pile.  The office jumped from a fourth class to a first class within three days after the opening."

Mr. Beidler's firm term as postmaster was from April 22, 1889 to April 15, 1894.  Following this he twice was elected register of deeds for Oklahoma County.  He again was made Oklahoma City postmaster by President McKinley, serving from August 1897, to July, 1898. The postoffice first stood on Main street, but later was moved to a new brick structure at 111 North Broadway, which at that time was the finest building in town.  It was three stories in height and still stands.

Mr. Beidler has lived here continuously since that time, with the exception of fourteen months spent at Lawton in 1903 and 1904.  During the Civil war he saw four years' service as first lieutenant, 106th Illinois infantry, and since that time he has been particularly active in the Grand Army of the Republic, serving in all offices, both in Oklahoma City and in Middletown, Pa., before coming to Oklahoma City.

He is survived by his widow, one daughter, Mrs. F. M. Hughes of 609 West Seventh street, and a son, G. C. Beidler of Rochester, N.Y.  Funeral arrangements have not been announced, pending word from the son.
[Source:  The Oklahoman]

Mrs. Bernice B. Hughes, 84, of 601 NW 7, died Thursday in her home.  Services are pending with Hahn-Cook Street & Draper Funeral Home.  She was born in Middletown, Pa., and came to Oklahoma City in 1889.  Her father was G. A. Biedler, Oklahoma City's first postmaster.  She was a member of the First Methodist Church, Kiwanis Ladies, Hospitality Club, the "89er's", and a charter member of Fidelis chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.  Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Frances B. Cook, 609 NW 7, and a granddaughter, Mrs. R. E. Harpster, 1828 Dorchester Pl. 
[Source: Daily Oklahoman]

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