Wells Fargo & Company Express
Wells Fargo & Company Express was the express and banking company organized by Henry Wells and William Fargo on March 18, 1852, to serve Gold Rush California by buying gold, selling bank drafts, and delivering gold, mail, and valuables.
What happened and why it matters
Wells Fargo built one of the first express networks to span the American West, combining delivery with financial services in a way that resembles carriers today offering insured shipping and payment collection. In Gold Rush California it bought gold dust, sold paper drafts payable in the East, and shipped gold and valuables by stagecoach, steamer, and later rail. By the end of the Gold Rush it was the dominant express and banking organization in the West. Its business rested on accountability for what it carried, the same promise behind declared value coverage, signature service, and proof of delivery today.
People
Related events
Sources
- Wells Fargo (1852-1998) en.wikipedia.org
- Wells Fargo britannica.com