John Murray Hale

Thanksgiving Wedding Mr. John M. Hale and Miss Daisy Bixby, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.L. Bixby, were united in marriage a the home of the bride's parents, 1015 East Des Moines street, last Thursday evening at eight o'clock. Rev. C.E. McColley of the Free Baptist church performed the ceremony in the presence of the family and two girl friends of the bride, Miss Mary Thompson of Emmetsburg, and Miss Mary MacLean of this city. The couple have gone to housekeeping in Mr. Hale's home, 1215 East Main street, where they will be home to their many friends after December 15.

Mr. Hale is the efficient mail carrier in the second ward. He is a fine young man and has secured an excellent wife. Congratulations are extended to Mr. and Mrs. Hale. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, December 6, 1905)

John Hale, Mailman for 31 Years, Retires Has Walked 108,624 Miles on Route After 31 years' service on an Estherville mail route, John M. Hale became eligible today on his 63rd birthday for retirement on a government pension. Mr. Hale said today that he was not sure when he would officially be retired but that he believed tomorrow will be his last day in the regular government service.

Mr. Hale received his appointment Dc. 1, 1902, 31 years and three months ago, and since that time he has followed the same route.

Same Families "Several families," he said today, "have lived on my route through all the 31 years of my service here." A.O. Peterson, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and one of those who has had mail service from Mr. Hale for the past 31 years, commented on his retirement saying, "we'll surely miss the whistle that every day has announced the arrival of the mail."

When asked the approximate distance he has walked in covering his route in Estherville, Mr. Hale replied with a barrage of figures which left the astounded reporter in possession of the fact that, in the past 31 years, he has walked an estimated 108,624 miles I covering his regular mail route.

On each of the 292 days that mail is regularly delivered each year, he estimates that he walked an average of 12 miles. This, multiplied by the 9,052 days he has carried the mail in the 31 years shows that Mr. Hale has walked a distance equal to more than four times around the world.

Will Rest Now When asked what he intends to do now that his daily mail carrying task is practically ended, Mr. Hale replied that, as long as the present cold weather lasts he is going to "just rest and be glad I'm not out in it." He is an ardent fisherman and makes much of his own fishing tackle in his basement workshop.

In concluding the interview, Mr. Hale said that he was both glad and sorry to leave the mail route and suggested the reporter quote him as saying farewell to every family on his route. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, February 27, 1934)