THOMAS PERKINS CHENEY. 333
from the seat of war, Mr. Cheney was In starting the Bay State Monthly,
engaged in recuperating his shattered in January of the current year, Mr.
constitution. Cheney very kindly contributed to the
In March, 1864, Mr. Cheney ac- writer an article, on the Railway Mail
cepted the office of assistant, under Service, which enlightened the public,
Hon. Nehemiah G. Ordway, sergeant- and was very widely and favorably re-
at-arms of the United States House of ceived.
Representatives. For five years he His resignation from the mail service held this position, gaining extensive was reluctantly accepted by the P. O. acquaintances and coming in contact Department, as it was admitted on all with the political leaders from every sides that the perfection of the Rail- section of the country. While hold- way Mail Service in New England is ing this office, he was on duty not more largely due to his efforts and only at the capital during the sessions services than to those of any other of Congress, but attended many com- living man. He has received hun- mittees on various tours of investiga- dreds of highly complimentary no- tion, tices and letters from his late associ- In June, 1864, as an alternate, he ates and superiors in office, which attended the Baltimore convention show that his good services are greatly which nominated Abraham Lincoln appreciated by those who fully knew for his second term. The next year, the distinguished character of them, and the year after, 1S65 and 1866, he His mail Division stood at the head of was a member of the New Hampshire all others in the country, and his own House of Representatives, where he efforts brought it there. He was of- did efficient service on business com- fered and declined the position of mittees. In 1868, he was a member general superintendent of the United of the Republican National Convention States Railway Mail Service, at a salary at Chicago, which unanimously nomi- of ;^3,50oand ;^5 per day for travelling nated U. S. Grant for President. expenses, with head-quarters in Wash- In July, 1869, upon the organiza- ingto"- The condition of his health, tion of the Railway Mail Service, Mr. t^^e largely to disease contracted in Cheney was appointed Superintendent ^he army, compelled him to decline of the New England Division. In the position. He was, with one ex- this office he served over fifteen years, ception, the oldest superintendent in resigning July 31, of the present year, the Railway Mail Service, and served .1884. In this office his executive "^^der nine Postmasters-general, re- ability and organizing powers have ceiving the hearty commendation of been strikingly displayed. To him in each one. He is proudly entitled to a large measure is due the very effi- the credit of bringing the New Eng- cient, although intricate, workings of land service up to its present high the department for at least the New standard of competency and excel- England states ; and it is an open lence.
secret that this department is the Mr. Cheney was appointed, in
model from which the others copy. 1884, to succeed Colonel E. L. Whit-
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