Mrs. Florence S. Abbott Dies After Long Illness

Former Postmaster Was Widow Of State National Committeeman Mrs. Florence S. Abbott, Ann Arbor's first woman postmaster and widow of Horatio J. Abbott, long-time Democratic national committeeman from Michigan, died at her home, 2315 Brockman Blvd., at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. She was 66 years old. Mrs. Abbott had been in ill health for several years and resigned last April from the postmaster's position she held here for nearly seven years, because of health reasons. A native of nearby Lenawee county, where she was born Sept. 16, 1877, Mrs. Abbott came to Ann Arbor shortly after she was graduated from Adrian College and had made her home here for 40 years. Appointed In 1936 Her appointment on June 1, 1936, as Ann Arbor postmaster climaxed a campaign on the part of county and state Democratic officials to secure the position for her that had been virtually assured her husband just prior to his death on April 23 of that year. Mr. Abbott had served the city as its postmaster from 1917 until 1924 when he was succeeded by Col. A. C. Pack whose tenure in the position from 1924 until 1936 was the longest single period of service ever recorded by an Ann Arbor postmaster. Mr. Abbott had applied for the position early in 1936 and it was believed that it would be offered him at the time of his death. Announcement that Mrs. Abbott would be given the Ann Arbor postmastership was made by James A. Farley, then postmaster general, in May of 1936 while he was attending a political parley in Grand Rapids. In County Office During her years in the city, Mrs. Abbott had served as register's clerk while her husband acted as register of deeds for the county. She was also active in Democratic party affairs. Mrs. Abbott was a member of the First Methodist church here, also of the Sarah Caswell Angell chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Woman's Club of Ann Arbor, the Phoebe Beal Circle of the King's Daughters, and the Washtenaw Federation of Women's Clubs. She is survived by three sons, Floyd and Herbert, both of Ann Arbor, and Robert, with an Army medical unit believed overseas. Funeral services will be held at the Muehlig chapel and have been tentatively arranged for Thursday afternoon pending communication with the serviceman son who will be contacted by the American Red Cross. Dr. Charles W. Brashares will officiate and burial will be in Washtenong cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel until Thursday noon.