Bruce Campbell Adamson PO Box 1003 Aptos, CA 95001-1003

In the early 1800s Mary (Easton) Sibley, Rufus's daughter, mesmerized the Osage Indians, when she traveled up river with her piano on a raft to Fort Osage. Mary Easton would play beautiful music to the Osage Indians in the wilderness at Fort Osage.

Portrait of Mary Easton Sibley who founded with her husband the first college west of the Mississippi River, Lindenwood College in St. Charles Missouri. The Osage Indian nation simply adored Mary and her beautiful music which then seemed to be from Heaven. Mary was born in 1800 and was a good friend of Susan B. Anthony.

In 1837 Mary and her husband George Sibley saved the abolitionist-publisher Elijah P. Lovejoy's life when an angry mob came to lynch him. They loaned him a horse and Lovejoy escaped from St. Charles.

Elijah Lovejoy was murdered in Alton in November 1837 after his murderers had destroyed three of Lovejoy's printing presses as the publisher of the Alton Observer an abolitionist newspaper. Lovejoy's death was more than just a blow to the fight against slavery: it was simultaneously a blow to the freedom of the press. Lovejoy's murder angered much of the nation and in the 1830s his death "was the shot which rang louder than Fort Sumter."

The brother of Elijah, Owen Lovejoy, became Lincoln's strongest supporter in Congress and abolished slavery in the District of Washington.

Long before the Civil War, in 1805 Rufus Easton made U.S. history as judge of the Louisiana Territory when he gave a decision which temporarily set the Scypion Family Slaves free.

On several occasions Adamson has petitioned the U.S. Postal Stamp Advisory Board to consider Rufus Easton for a U.S. Postage Stamp. They have sent out the same form letter in 2001 as they did in 1985. If you would like to write to the Stamp Advisory Board their address is: 475 L'nFant SW, East Building, room 4477, Washington D.C., 20260. Keep in mind that Adamson has been trying to get Easton on a postage stamp since 1985, yet Adamson learned in 2003 that Easton was already honored in 1982 on a 13 cent U.S. postcard. Sometimes rewards are realized after a long fight.

In 1972 the City of St. Louis changed one of their main thorough fares from Easton Drive to Martin Luther King Highway. It was done without intentionally trying to harm the memory of Rufus Easton. Easton would have had nothing but respect for King and vice-versa. An injustice has been unintentionally served upon Easton, who was unknowingly extremely helpful in the cause to abolish slavery and played an important role in early Postal and American history.

As a retired Postal Employee I went through the zip-code directory for St. Louis and found an estimated 40 streets named after slaveowners and even a park and post office named after the largest slaveowner family "The Chouteau's". In 1987 I wrote to the Mayor and Board of Alderman on suggesting the possibility of renaming another street or renaming a park to Rufus Easton in honor of Easton because of his dedicated service to our country. Just kidding. On Oct. 6, 2004 I visited Dr. Martin Luther King Avenue and found a ghetto. I thought it was truly disrespectful. One will find Edward Jones, Inc.'s stadium where the St. Louis Rams plays their games at the end of King Drive and further on the Martin Luther King Bridge. Apparently the Jones company has the funds to pay for such an honor. After all, no one can take it away from Rufus Easton that he was the man who helped name most of the streets in St. Louis as postmaster. After reading the biographical sketch in this web page, if you agree, please feel free to express your views by signing the online petition!

For Which We Stand; the Life and Papers of Rufus Easton It is odd that the importance of the United States Postal Service should have been so much ignored by those experts who have appointed themselves as historic writers. Throughout the history of the United States there are many individuals who were dedicated and served this great institution and other branches of our government. The U.S. Postal Service is the web that holds this great country together. Next to Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Rufus Easton was one of the most colorful in the Postal history at the dawn of these United States. For Easton was first postmaster of St. Louis while simultaneously judge of the largest territory ever in North America. The Life and Papers of Rufus Easton is a 300 page manuscript containing all of the above chapters sells for $25.00. This book weighs 30 ounces and is on 8 + x 11 format.