John James Altman: First Postmaster at Vox

John James Altman (1846-1905)
John James Altman (1846-1905) was the son of William Samuel Altman and Rachel Goud. As a young man he served in the Civil War in Company B, 3rd Palmetto Battalion, Lt. Artillery, and also in Abner's Battery of Sharpshooters.

In 1891, he became the first Postmaster of the Vox Community. The name Vox was coined by Altman from the Latin phrase vox populi, meaning "voice of the people." The Vox Post Office entered service on August 25, 1891. The old post office building was located on Vox Highway at the intersection of Vox Highway and Durant Cemetery Road.

Greg Parker recounted the following as told to him by Drucilla McCrea, granddaughter of Druscilla Thompson, wife of John Altman: "The post office was at Vox Highway and Durant Cemetery Road. It was also a general store. Pa John had the upstairs above the post office fashioned into a general store. The house on Vox Highway before Whispering Pines Road on the right was also Pa John Altman's. The Taylor family lived in Pa John's house - that's why its now called the Taylor farm. On the sharp curve as soon as you turn on Whispering Pines off Vox Highway on the left hand side Pa John had a grits mill and profits were distributed among the widows of the Vox Community to relieve the burdens of being widowed."  

The Vox Post Office as it appeared in the 1980s

Bob Eaddy and "Pa John" Altman
Drucilla Thompson's grandson Corenthia Altman recounted this information to Mrs. Drucilla McCrea.   John James Altman had retired by 1903, as noted by the County Record on October 29, 1903:  "Mr. E. F. Prosser is the new post-master at Vox. Mr. J. J. Altman, who has held this position for a number of years, resigned some time ago."

On July 1, 1908, Z. H. McDaniel began a 22 mile route from Vox, driving a horse and buggy. He worked the route until transferring to Hemingway in 1917. Service at Vox continued until July 31, 1917.  The building sat abandoned for many years and was torn down in the 1980s.


John James Altman and his second wife, Druscilla Thompson Altman

John James Altman married twice, first to Zilphia Ham Stone (1848-1879) and after her death to Drucilla Thompson (1862-1935).

Children with Zilphia Stone:
Frances Elizabeth Altman Eaddy (1867-1947)
Viola Victoria Altman Hanna (1870-1966)
John Briley Altman (1873-1941)
Carrie Mettierue Altman (1876-1891)
Susan Eulalia Altman Stone (1878-1961)

Children with Drucilla Thompson:
Otwell Wood Altman (1881-1947)
Charles Haskel Altman (1884-1939)
John Henry Altman (1887-1949)
Rachel Elizabeth Altman Thompson Altman (1890-1930)
Josie Olee Altman Tanner (1893-1970)
John James Altman, Jr. (1894-1949)
Dallie M. Altman Evans Powell (1898-1970)
Warren Bryan Altman (1899-1959)

Information compiled by Josh Dukes

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