Source: 1857-58 Milwaukee City Directory Erving, Burdick & Co. 205 and 207 East Water Street
J. R. Sharpstein, Post Master James B. Dunlap, Chief Clerk
In 1843, Josiah A. Noonan, a Whig, was elected postmaster. Postmaster Noonan preferred the spelling "Milwaukee," and changed all date stamps to reflect his preference. Noonan lost the office to Juneau in 1849, and with a Democrat back in charge the name reverted to "Milwaukie". Two successive postmasters retained that spelling, but Noonan regained the office in 1853 and once again the name was changed to "Milwaukee" on the date stamps.
1857 saw another change, as Noonan was defeated by Democrat J. R. Sharpstein. Although Sharpstein held office for only one year, he succeeded in changing the date stamps back to "Milwaukie" once again. The change stayed in effect until the end of 1861. Meanwhile, in 1860, the new Republican party, successor to the Whigs, had soundly defeated the Democrats in most areas of the city's political arena. In 1862, the name was changed for the last time. Through use by exclusively Republican postmasters over several decades, Milwaukee has become the accepted, "non-partisan" spelling used today.