As Americans moved west into new lands being opened to settlement, their encounters with the Federal Government were both positive and negative. The land claim process involved the Land Office, an often unpleasant and costly experience. The other encounter was with the United States Postal Service, which could be both pleasant (news from home) and frustrating (no nearby office to provide service). These were the experiences of the first settlers of Missouri Territory. This book describes the process of establishing postal service in Territorial Missouri, 1804 to 1821. Postal routes, new post offices, service problems, and postmasters serving these establishing offices are described. This book is the first of its kind for the region that became the State of Missouri.