Joseph Columbus LeSage was the second of two sons born to Joseph Achilles LeSage (1838-1892) and his wife Mary Catherine Elizabeth Dovel LeSage (1839-1917). He grew up in Ironton, O. and on the family's farm in Lesage, W.Va. Fiercely proud of his French ancestry, he delighted in recounting the not always noble exploits of his ancestors. His one visit to Paris in the summer of 1895 remained a high point of his life. He preferred the more genteel form of the family name: LeSage instead of Lesage.
On June 30, 1896 Joseph married Anna Hope McCullough of Huntington, W.Va. She was the daughter of the late Julius Welling McCullough (1843-1883), a riverboat captain, and his Louisiana-born wife Mary Ann Page Capps (1853-1933). The couple had one child: Mary Josephine LeSage (b. 1898). For many years the LeSage household always had a resident grandmother, first Joseph's mother until her death in 1917, then Hope's mother until she died in 1933.
In 1892, Joseph took a job as a letter carrier--the beginning of a long and distinguished career with the U.S. Postal Service.
JOSEPH C. LESAGE RETIRES FROM U. S. POSTAL SERVICE
Veteran Government Employe[e] Leaves Position After Forty-two Years
At his own request, Joseph C. Lesage left the post office service today after forty-two years of continuous association which saw him in every capacity from carrier to postmaster.
He was the oldest employe[e] in the office by several years.
Poor health coupled with the desire to spend the remaining years in leisure led to Mr. Lesage's decision to apply for retirement some time ago. This morning papers confirming the application was received by Postmaster Dingess. They were dated as of November 30, last.
Sixty-three years of age, he could have remained in the service until his seventieth birthday had he so desired. While the retirement age for the average postal employe[e] is several years younger he was allowed the extra years because of some time spent as a special clerk. Spanning the years with Mr. Lesage from the time he reached young manhood until the present is to review the most important years in the growth and development of the post office. In the nearly half a century of close association he witnessed expansion of the office from a tiny force of six carriers and clerks to a staff of more than one hundred men and women[,] and saw mail transportation change from slow trains with their uncertain schedules to the most modern carriers, the airplane.
Mr. Lesage's first entry into mail service was made on June 1, 1892, when at the age of twenty-one he became a carrier under the late Postmaster Hamilton M. Adams. In 1905 he was promoted to superintendent of carriers, serving in this position for three years.
In 1908 the late James W. Hughes, father of the late Congressman James A. Hughes, who had just preceded his father as postmaster, appointed the young superintendent to assistant postmaster. He continued in this position under the next two postmasters, Mr. Dingess, who was then serving his first term, and Col. J. H. Long, now president of The Huntington Publishing Co.
When Col. Long's term neared completion Mr. Lesage competed with several other candidates for the office and was successful. On August 1, 1921, he was appointed acting postmaster and on November 15 of the same year his appointment was confirmed.
His term lasted until August 21, 1925, when he again sought the office and although receiving the appointment it was not confirmed and he was succeeded by Carl R. Varnum.
He returned to his work in a lesser executive position until 1929 when Postmaster Varnum made him assistant postmaster. He held this position until 1933 when Postmaster Walter C. Price designated him a special clerk, the classification he held until his retirement.
Mr. Lesage was the only one of Huntington's sixteen postmasters and one of a few hundred men in the country who earned membership in the national Service Postmasters' Association, which is comprised of postal employe[e]s who have risen from the ranks to the position of postmaster.
During his term as chief executive he was active in the organization and for some years served as a director for the state of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.
Born in Ironton, February 2, 1871, he is of direct French descent and from early manhood has always manifested a keen admiration for the customs and language of France, an interest that once took him to that country for a study of its people and history. Throughout Huntington he is recognized as a scholar of the French classics and one thoroughly acquainted with French history.
As a Mason, Mr. Lesage holds the rare and coveted thirty-third degree which was conferred upon him on October 21, 1921.
For eighteen years he was secretary of Huntington lodge No. 53 A.F. and A.M., of which he is also past master. He is a past high priest of the grand Royal Arch and past Emminent [sic] Commander of Huntington Commandery No. 9. In 1908 he held the office of Grand High Priests of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of West Virginia.
He was for twelve years district deputy grand master of the eleventh Masonic district, of which Cabell county is a part, and was in 1920 grand lecturer of West Virginia.
Mr. Lesage is married and resides at 449 West Fifth avenue. He is a brother of Dr. I. R. Lesage, Huntington physician.
[Huntington Advertiser (Huntington, W.Va.), January 11, 1935.]
________________________________________
Joe C. LeSage Is Dead At 70
Joseph C. LeSage...of 449 West Fifth avenue, who had served the postal offices in every capacity from carrier to postmaster, died yesterday at 4:45 P.M. at his home.
For nearly half a century, Mr. LeSage was in close association with the postoffice. He was first appointed postmaster on November 15, 1921, succeeding Col. J. H. Long in that capacity. He served until August 21, 1925.
The sixteenth postmaster in the history of Huntington, Mr. LeSage was the only one in the city's history who came up from the ranks, after filling all he subordinate places. He first made his entry into the mail service on June 1, 1892, when at the age of 21, he became a carrier. He was promoted in 1905 to superintendent of carriers, serving in that position for three years.
In 1908, he was appointed to assistant postmaster, holding that position until he competed with several other candidates for the office of postmaster and was successful.
It was during 1925, under Mr. LeSage's administration of the postoffice, that it experienced its banner year up to that time. During that year, the gross receipts approximated $420,000, an increase of $20,000 over 1924, and the all-time high up to that time.
After leaving the executive position in 1925, Mr. LeSage returned to his work in a lesser executive place until 1929 when Postmaster Carl R. Varnhum made him assistant postmaster. He held this position until 1933 when he was designated a special clerk, a classification he held until his retirement.
Mr. LeSage retired from the postal service on January 11, 1935, after completing 42 years of association with it. In his nearly half a century in the service, he witnessed the expansion of the office from a tiny force of six carriers and clerks to a staff of more than 100 men and women and saw mail transportation change from slow trains to the most modern carriers.
He was one of a few hundred men in the United States who earned membership in the National Service Postmasters' Association, which is comprised of postal employe[e]s who have risen from the ranks to the position of postmaster. He served for many years as a director for the state of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.
Born in Ironton, Ohio, Mr. LeSage had been a Huntington resident since 1884. He attended Marshall College and was prominent in Masonry, holding the rare thirty-third degree, which was conferred upon him on October 21, 1921. He was for 18 years secretary of the Huntington Lodge No. 53, A. F. & A. M., of which he also was a past master. He also served as a past high priest of the grand Royal Arch and past Eminent Commander of the Huntington Commandery, No. 9. He was for 12 years district deputy grand master of the eleventh Masonic district of which Cabell county is a part and in 1920 was grand lecturer of the state of West Virginia.
Mr. LeSage is survived by the widow; a daughter, Mrs. R.A. Snow of Raleigh, N.C.; a brother, Dr. A.[sic] R. LeSage of Huntington, and two grandchildren.
The body has been taken to the Klingel Carpenter funeral home where funeral arrangements were incomplete last night.
[Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, W.Va.), June 8, 1941.]
On June 30, 1896 Joseph married Anna Hope McCullough of Huntington, W.Va. She was the daughter of the late Julius Welling McCullough (1843-1883), a riverboat captain, and his Louisiana-born wife Mary Ann Page Capps (1853-1933). The couple had one child: Mary Josephine LeSage (b. 1898). For many years the LeSage household always had a resident grandmother, first Joseph's mother until her death in 1917, then Hope's mother until she died in 1933.
In 1892, Joseph took a job as a letter carrier--the beginning of a long and distinguished career with the U.S. Postal Service.
JOSEPH C. LESAGE RETIRES FROM U. S. POSTAL SERVICE
Veteran Government Employe[e] Leaves Position After Forty-two Years
At his own request, Joseph C. Lesage left the post office service today after forty-two years of continuous association which saw him in every capacity from carrier to postmaster.
He was the oldest employe[e] in the office by several years.
Poor health coupled with the desire to spend the remaining years in leisure led to Mr. Lesage's decision to apply for retirement some time ago. This morning papers confirming the application was received by Postmaster Dingess. They were dated as of November 30, last.
Sixty-three years of age, he could have remained in the service until his seventieth birthday had he so desired. While the retirement age for the average postal employe[e] is several years younger he was allowed the extra years because of some time spent as a special clerk. Spanning the years with Mr. Lesage from the time he reached young manhood until the present is to review the most important years in the growth and development of the post office. In the nearly half a century of close association he witnessed expansion of the office from a tiny force of six carriers and clerks to a staff of more than one hundred men and women[,] and saw mail transportation change from slow trains with their uncertain schedules to the most modern carriers, the airplane.
Mr. Lesage's first entry into mail service was made on June 1, 1892, when at the age of twenty-one he became a carrier under the late Postmaster Hamilton M. Adams. In 1905 he was promoted to superintendent of carriers, serving in this position for three years.
In 1908 the late James W. Hughes, father of the late Congressman James A. Hughes, who had just preceded his father as postmaster, appointed the young superintendent to assistant postmaster. He continued in this position under the next two postmasters, Mr. Dingess, who was then serving his first term, and Col. J. H. Long, now president of The Huntington Publishing Co.
When Col. Long's term neared completion Mr. Lesage competed with several other candidates for the office and was successful. On August 1, 1921, he was appointed acting postmaster and on November 15 of the same year his appointment was confirmed.
His term lasted until August 21, 1925, when he again sought the office and although receiving the appointment it was not confirmed and he was succeeded by Carl R. Varnum.
He returned to his work in a lesser executive position until 1929 when Postmaster Varnum made him assistant postmaster. He held this position until 1933 when Postmaster Walter C. Price designated him a special clerk, the classification he held until his retirement.
Mr. Lesage was the only one of Huntington's sixteen postmasters and one of a few hundred men in the country who earned membership in the national Service Postmasters' Association, which is comprised of postal employe[e]s who have risen from the ranks to the position of postmaster.
During his term as chief executive he was active in the organization and for some years served as a director for the state of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.
Born in Ironton, February 2, 1871, he is of direct French descent and from early manhood has always manifested a keen admiration for the customs and language of France, an interest that once took him to that country for a study of its people and history. Throughout Huntington he is recognized as a scholar of the French classics and one thoroughly acquainted with French history.
As a Mason, Mr. Lesage holds the rare and coveted thirty-third degree which was conferred upon him on October 21, 1921.
For eighteen years he was secretary of Huntington lodge No. 53 A.F. and A.M., of which he is also past master. He is a past high priest of the grand Royal Arch and past Emminent [sic] Commander of Huntington Commandery No. 9. In 1908 he held the office of Grand High Priests of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of West Virginia.
He was for twelve years district deputy grand master of the eleventh Masonic district, of which Cabell county is a part, and was in 1920 grand lecturer of West Virginia.
Mr. Lesage is married and resides at 449 West Fifth avenue. He is a brother of Dr. I. R. Lesage, Huntington physician.
[Huntington Advertiser (Huntington, W.Va.), January 11, 1935.]
________________________________________
Joe C. LeSage Is Dead At 70
Joseph C. LeSage...of 449 West Fifth avenue, who had served the postal offices in every capacity from carrier to postmaster, died yesterday at 4:45 P.M. at his home.
For nearly half a century, Mr. LeSage was in close association with the postoffice. He was first appointed postmaster on November 15, 1921, succeeding Col. J. H. Long in that capacity. He served until August 21, 1925.
The sixteenth postmaster in the history of Huntington, Mr. LeSage was the only one in the city's history who came up from the ranks, after filling all he subordinate places. He first made his entry into the mail service on June 1, 1892, when at the age of 21, he became a carrier. He was promoted in 1905 to superintendent of carriers, serving in that position for three years.
In 1908, he was appointed to assistant postmaster, holding that position until he competed with several other candidates for the office of postmaster and was successful.
It was during 1925, under Mr. LeSage's administration of the postoffice, that it experienced its banner year up to that time. During that year, the gross receipts approximated $420,000, an increase of $20,000 over 1924, and the all-time high up to that time.
After leaving the executive position in 1925, Mr. LeSage returned to his work in a lesser executive place until 1929 when Postmaster Carl R. Varnhum made him assistant postmaster. He held this position until 1933 when he was designated a special clerk, a classification he held until his retirement.
Mr. LeSage retired from the postal service on January 11, 1935, after completing 42 years of association with it. In his nearly half a century in the service, he witnessed the expansion of the office from a tiny force of six carriers and clerks to a staff of more than 100 men and women and saw mail transportation change from slow trains to the most modern carriers.
He was one of a few hundred men in the United States who earned membership in the National Service Postmasters' Association, which is comprised of postal employe[e]s who have risen from the ranks to the position of postmaster. He served for many years as a director for the state of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.
Born in Ironton, Ohio, Mr. LeSage had been a Huntington resident since 1884. He attended Marshall College and was prominent in Masonry, holding the rare thirty-third degree, which was conferred upon him on October 21, 1921. He was for 18 years secretary of the Huntington Lodge No. 53, A. F. & A. M., of which he also was a past master. He also served as a past high priest of the grand Royal Arch and past Eminent Commander of the Huntington Commandery, No. 9. He was for 12 years district deputy grand master of the eleventh Masonic district of which Cabell county is a part and in 1920 was grand lecturer of the state of West Virginia.
Mr. LeSage is survived by the widow; a daughter, Mrs. R.A. Snow of Raleigh, N.C.; a brother, Dr. A.[sic] R. LeSage of Huntington, and two grandchildren.
The body has been taken to the Klingel Carpenter funeral home where funeral arrangements were incomplete last night.
[Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, W.Va.), June 8, 1941.]
Joseph Columbus LeSage was the second of two sons born to Joseph Achilles LeSage (1838-1892) and his wife Mary Catherine Elizabeth Dovel LeSage (1839-1917). He grew up in Ironton, O. and on the family's farm in Lesage, W.Va. Fiercely proud of his French ancestry, he delighted in recounting the not always noble exploits of his ancestors. His one visit to Paris in the summer of 1895 remained a high point of his life. He preferred the more genteel form of the family name: LeSage instead of Lesage.
On June 30, 1896 Joseph married Anna Hope McCullough of Huntington, W.Va. She was the daughter of the late Julius Welling McCullough (1843-1883), a riverboat captain, and his Louisiana-born wife Mary Ann Page Capps (1853-1933). The couple had one child: Mary Josephine LeSage (b. 1898). For many years the LeSage household always had a resident grandmother, first Joseph's mother until her death in 1917, then Hope's mother until she died in 1933.
In 1892, Joseph took a job as a letter carrier--the beginning of a long and distinguished career with the U.S. Postal Service.
JOSEPH C. LESAGE RETIRES FROM U. S. POSTAL SERVICE
Veteran Government Employe[e] Leaves Position After Forty-two Years
At his own request, Joseph C. Lesage left the post office service today after forty-two years of continuous association which saw him in every capacity from carrier to postmaster.
He was the oldest employe[e] in the office by several years.
Poor health coupled with the desire to spend the remaining years in leisure led to Mr. Lesage's decision to apply for retirement some time ago. This morning papers confirming the application was received by Postmaster Dingess. They were dated as of November 30, last.
Sixty-three years of age, he could have remained in the service until his seventieth birthday had he so desired. While the retirement age for the average postal employe[e] is several years younger he was allowed the extra years because of some time spent as a special clerk. Spanning the years with Mr. Lesage from the time he reached young manhood until the present is to review the most important years in the growth and development of the post office. In the nearly half a century of close association he witnessed expansion of the office from a tiny force of six carriers and clerks to a staff of more than one hundred men and women[,] and saw mail transportation change from slow trains with their uncertain schedules to the most modern carriers, the airplane.
Mr. Lesage's first entry into mail service was made on June 1, 1892, when at the age of twenty-one he became a carrier under the late Postmaster Hamilton M. Adams. In 1905 he was promoted to superintendent of carriers, serving in this position for three years.
In 1908 the late James W. Hughes, father of the late Congressman James A. Hughes, who had just preceded his father as postmaster, appointed the young superintendent to assistant postmaster. He continued in this position under the next two postmasters, Mr. Dingess, who was then serving his first term, and Col. J. H. Long, now president of The Huntington Publishing Co.
When Col. Long's term neared completion Mr. Lesage competed with several other candidates for the office and was successful. On August 1, 1921, he was appointed acting postmaster and on November 15 of the same year his appointment was confirmed.
His term lasted until August 21, 1925, when he again sought the office and although receiving the appointment it was not confirmed and he was succeeded by Carl R. Varnum.
He returned to his work in a lesser executive position until 1929 when Postmaster Varnum made him assistant postmaster. He held this position until 1933 when Postmaster Walter C. Price designated him a special clerk, the classification he held until his retirement.
Mr. Lesage was the only one of Huntington's sixteen postmasters and one of a few hundred men in the country who earned membership in the national Service Postmasters' Association, which is comprised of postal employe[e]s who have risen from the ranks to the position of postmaster.
During his term as chief executive he was active in the organization and for some years served as a director for the state of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.
Born in Ironton, February 2, 1871, he is of direct French descent and from early manhood has always manifested a keen admiration for the customs and language of France, an interest that once took him to that country for a study of its people and history. Throughout Huntington he is recognized as a scholar of the French classics and one thoroughly acquainted with French history.
As a Mason, Mr. Lesage holds the rare and coveted thirty-third degree which was conferred upon him on October 21, 1921.
For eighteen years he was secretary of Huntington lodge No. 53 A.F. and A.M., of which he is also past master. He is a past high priest of the grand Royal Arch and past Emminent [sic] Commander of Huntington Commandery No. 9. In 1908 he held the office of Grand High Priests of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of West Virginia.
He was for twelve years district deputy grand master of the eleventh Masonic district, of which Cabell county is a part, and was in 1920 grand lecturer of West Virginia.
Mr. Lesage is married and resides at 449 West Fifth avenue. He is a brother of Dr. I. R. Lesage, Huntington physician.
[Huntington Advertiser (Huntington, W.Va.), January 11, 1935.]
________________________________________
Joe C. LeSage Is Dead At 70
Joseph C. LeSage...of 449 West Fifth avenue, who had served the postal offices in every capacity from carrier to postmaster, died yesterday at 4:45 P.M. at his home.
For nearly half a century, Mr. LeSage was in close association with the postoffice. He was first appointed postmaster on November 15, 1921, succeeding Col. J. H. Long in that capacity. He served until August 21, 1925.
The sixteenth postmaster in the history of Huntington, Mr. LeSage was the only one in the city's history who came up from the ranks, after filling all he subordinate places. He first made his entry into the mail service on June 1, 1892, when at the age of 21, he became a carrier. He was promoted in 1905 to superintendent of carriers, serving in that position for three years.
In 1908, he was appointed to assistant postmaster, holding that position until he competed with several other candidates for the office of postmaster and was successful.
It was during 1925, under Mr. LeSage's administration of the postoffice, that it experienced its banner year up to that time. During that year, the gross receipts approximated $420,000, an increase of $20,000 over 1924, and the all-time high up to that time.
After leaving the executive position in 1925, Mr. LeSage returned to his work in a lesser executive place until 1929 when Postmaster Carl R. Varnhum made him assistant postmaster. He held this position until 1933 when he was designated a special clerk, a classification he held until his retirement.
Mr. LeSage retired from the postal service on January 11, 1935, after completing 42 years of association with it. In his nearly half a century in the service, he witnessed the expansion of the office from a tiny force of six carriers and clerks to a staff of more than 100 men and women and saw mail transportation change from slow trains to the most modern carriers.
He was one of a few hundred men in the United States who earned membership in the National Service Postmasters' Association, which is comprised of postal employe[e]s who have risen from the ranks to the position of postmaster. He served for many years as a director for the state of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.
Born in Ironton, Ohio, Mr. LeSage had been a Huntington resident since 1884. He attended Marshall College and was prominent in Masonry, holding the rare thirty-third degree, which was conferred upon him on October 21, 1921. He was for 18 years secretary of the Huntington Lodge No. 53, A. F. & A. M., of which he also was a past master. He also served as a past high priest of the grand Royal Arch and past Eminent Commander of the Huntington Commandery, No. 9. He was for 12 years district deputy grand master of the eleventh Masonic district of which Cabell county is a part and in 1920 was grand lecturer of the state of West Virginia.
Mr. LeSage is survived by the widow; a daughter, Mrs. R.A. Snow of Raleigh, N.C.; a brother, Dr. A.[sic] R. LeSage of Huntington, and two grandchildren.
The body has been taken to the Klingel Carpenter funeral home where funeral arrangements were incomplete last night.
[Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, W.Va.), June 8, 1941.]
On June 30, 1896 Joseph married Anna Hope McCullough of Huntington, W.Va. She was the daughter of the late Julius Welling McCullough (1843-1883), a riverboat captain, and his Louisiana-born wife Mary Ann Page Capps (1853-1933). The couple had one child: Mary Josephine LeSage (b. 1898). For many years the LeSage household always had a resident grandmother, first Joseph's mother until her death in 1917, then Hope's mother until she died in 1933.
In 1892, Joseph took a job as a letter carrier--the beginning of a long and distinguished career with the U.S. Postal Service.
JOSEPH C. LESAGE RETIRES FROM U. S. POSTAL SERVICE
Veteran Government Employe[e] Leaves Position After Forty-two Years
At his own request, Joseph C. Lesage left the post office service today after forty-two years of continuous association which saw him in every capacity from carrier to postmaster.
He was the oldest employe[e] in the office by several years.
Poor health coupled with the desire to spend the remaining years in leisure led to Mr. Lesage's decision to apply for retirement some time ago. This morning papers confirming the application was received by Postmaster Dingess. They were dated as of November 30, last.
Sixty-three years of age, he could have remained in the service until his seventieth birthday had he so desired. While the retirement age for the average postal employe[e] is several years younger he was allowed the extra years because of some time spent as a special clerk. Spanning the years with Mr. Lesage from the time he reached young manhood until the present is to review the most important years in the growth and development of the post office. In the nearly half a century of close association he witnessed expansion of the office from a tiny force of six carriers and clerks to a staff of more than one hundred men and women[,] and saw mail transportation change from slow trains with their uncertain schedules to the most modern carriers, the airplane.
Mr. Lesage's first entry into mail service was made on June 1, 1892, when at the age of twenty-one he became a carrier under the late Postmaster Hamilton M. Adams. In 1905 he was promoted to superintendent of carriers, serving in this position for three years.
In 1908 the late James W. Hughes, father of the late Congressman James A. Hughes, who had just preceded his father as postmaster, appointed the young superintendent to assistant postmaster. He continued in this position under the next two postmasters, Mr. Dingess, who was then serving his first term, and Col. J. H. Long, now president of The Huntington Publishing Co.
When Col. Long's term neared completion Mr. Lesage competed with several other candidates for the office and was successful. On August 1, 1921, he was appointed acting postmaster and on November 15 of the same year his appointment was confirmed.
His term lasted until August 21, 1925, when he again sought the office and although receiving the appointment it was not confirmed and he was succeeded by Carl R. Varnum.
He returned to his work in a lesser executive position until 1929 when Postmaster Varnum made him assistant postmaster. He held this position until 1933 when Postmaster Walter C. Price designated him a special clerk, the classification he held until his retirement.
Mr. Lesage was the only one of Huntington's sixteen postmasters and one of a few hundred men in the country who earned membership in the national Service Postmasters' Association, which is comprised of postal employe[e]s who have risen from the ranks to the position of postmaster.
During his term as chief executive he was active in the organization and for some years served as a director for the state of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.
Born in Ironton, February 2, 1871, he is of direct French descent and from early manhood has always manifested a keen admiration for the customs and language of France, an interest that once took him to that country for a study of its people and history. Throughout Huntington he is recognized as a scholar of the French classics and one thoroughly acquainted with French history.
As a Mason, Mr. Lesage holds the rare and coveted thirty-third degree which was conferred upon him on October 21, 1921.
For eighteen years he was secretary of Huntington lodge No. 53 A.F. and A.M., of which he is also past master. He is a past high priest of the grand Royal Arch and past Emminent [sic] Commander of Huntington Commandery No. 9. In 1908 he held the office of Grand High Priests of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of West Virginia.
He was for twelve years district deputy grand master of the eleventh Masonic district, of which Cabell county is a part, and was in 1920 grand lecturer of West Virginia.
Mr. Lesage is married and resides at 449 West Fifth avenue. He is a brother of Dr. I. R. Lesage, Huntington physician.
[Huntington Advertiser (Huntington, W.Va.), January 11, 1935.]
________________________________________
Joe C. LeSage Is Dead At 70
Joseph C. LeSage...of 449 West Fifth avenue, who had served the postal offices in every capacity from carrier to postmaster, died yesterday at 4:45 P.M. at his home.
For nearly half a century, Mr. LeSage was in close association with the postoffice. He was first appointed postmaster on November 15, 1921, succeeding Col. J. H. Long in that capacity. He served until August 21, 1925.
The sixteenth postmaster in the history of Huntington, Mr. LeSage was the only one in the city's history who came up from the ranks, after filling all he subordinate places. He first made his entry into the mail service on June 1, 1892, when at the age of 21, he became a carrier. He was promoted in 1905 to superintendent of carriers, serving in that position for three years.
In 1908, he was appointed to assistant postmaster, holding that position until he competed with several other candidates for the office of postmaster and was successful.
It was during 1925, under Mr. LeSage's administration of the postoffice, that it experienced its banner year up to that time. During that year, the gross receipts approximated $420,000, an increase of $20,000 over 1924, and the all-time high up to that time.
After leaving the executive position in 1925, Mr. LeSage returned to his work in a lesser executive place until 1929 when Postmaster Carl R. Varnhum made him assistant postmaster. He held this position until 1933 when he was designated a special clerk, a classification he held until his retirement.
Mr. LeSage retired from the postal service on January 11, 1935, after completing 42 years of association with it. In his nearly half a century in the service, he witnessed the expansion of the office from a tiny force of six carriers and clerks to a staff of more than 100 men and women and saw mail transportation change from slow trains to the most modern carriers.
He was one of a few hundred men in the United States who earned membership in the National Service Postmasters' Association, which is comprised of postal employe[e]s who have risen from the ranks to the position of postmaster. He served for many years as a director for the state of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.
Born in Ironton, Ohio, Mr. LeSage had been a Huntington resident since 1884. He attended Marshall College and was prominent in Masonry, holding the rare thirty-third degree, which was conferred upon him on October 21, 1921. He was for 18 years secretary of the Huntington Lodge No. 53, A. F. & A. M., of which he also was a past master. He also served as a past high priest of the grand Royal Arch and past Eminent Commander of the Huntington Commandery, No. 9. He was for 12 years district deputy grand master of the eleventh Masonic district of which Cabell county is a part and in 1920 was grand lecturer of the state of West Virginia.
Mr. LeSage is survived by the widow; a daughter, Mrs. R.A. Snow of Raleigh, N.C.; a brother, Dr. A.[sic] R. LeSage of Huntington, and two grandchildren.
The body has been taken to the Klingel Carpenter funeral home where funeral arrangements were incomplete last night.
[Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, W.Va.), June 8, 1941.]
Family Members
Siblings
