Western Expresses | B

George S. Becker operated a one-man tri-weekly express between Marysville and French Corral with roughly a dozen stops in between along the Yuba River. Becker connected with Gregory’s Express in Marysville until May 1, 1853 when Gregory ceased operations in California, thereafter connecting with Wells Fargo. The earliest reference to his express is an article in the San Francisco Daily Alta California of May 29, 1852. The last reference to Becker & Co.’s Express is found in the Marysville Herald Apr 10, 1855.

Cornelius Beekman started his express after Adams & Co.’s failure in 1855 from a base at Jacksonville in Oregon Territory. Routes ran to Yreka, Crescent City and Roseburg, Oregon. He connected with Wells Fargo at Yreka and reportedly with Tracy at Jacksonville. From Nov, 1858 to Dec, 1859 William Hoffman, C.C. Beekman’s future father-in-law, ran the express under his name while Beekman was “back east”. Beekman sold out to Wells Fargo in 1863, becoming their agent at Jacksonville.

Berford & Company operated their California express as a partnership of Richard G. Berford, James C. Hackett, and Jeremiah S. Silver. They connected with Todd & Co. for the Southern Mines and with Freemans and Anthony & Co. for the Northern Mines. Berford sold his California express to Wells Fargo & Co. in June, 1854, but continued to operate his trans- oceanic express between New York and San Francisco via Aspinwall and Panama until 1859.

By Berford & Cos Letter & Package Express California red shield handstamp from California to New York. Docketed Rec’d 19 July ’51. Entered the mails with New York Jul 18 5 cts integral rate handstamp to Washington DC. The unpaid rate for distances <3000 miles was 5¢ beginning Jul 1, 1851.

• PMSC California from San Francisco Jun 14, 1851; arrived Panama Jul 1, 1851
• Six days transit across the isthmus via mule and canoe
• Edward Mills Line Brother Jonathan from Chagres Jul 7, 1851; arrived NY Jul 17, 1851

James E. Birch, a stage driver from Rhode Island, formed a stage line bearing his name on August 1, 1849. From his base in Sacramento, Birch’s initial stage line ran to Mormon Island, Coloma, and Sutter’s Mills. In the following years, he added lines to the Northern Mines, to Marysville and Nevada City, and to Stockton. He had business relationships with several express companies, including Angle, Young & Co., McKnight & Co., Bowers Express, and Gregory’s Express.   Birch & Co.’s Express and Stage Lines consolidated with other stage companies on or about Jan 1, 1854 to form the California Stage Company, with Birch as President.

Francis Wheeler Blake was employed by Rhodes & Lusk as their agent in Weaverville late in 1852. In September of 1855, he resigned from Rhodes & Co. and formed F. W. Blake & Co.’s Express, operating between Weaverville and Shasta. While advertising that he connected with both Wells Fargo and Pacific Express at Shasta, he was most closely aligned with the former. Blake purchased Rowe & Co.’s Express in Oct, 1856. His new building in Weaverville was co-occupied with Wells Fargo and by most accounts he was their agent. Wells Fargo closed their agency in Weaverville in Jan, 1859 and transferred their relationship to Greenhood & Newbauer, at which time Blake exited the express business.

John Taylor Bowers, with the help of his brother Herbert and possibly his other brothers, started running small packages, letters, and gold dust between Caldwell’s Upper Crossing (later know as Nevada City) to   Sacramento and on to San Francisco in Aug, 1849. They quickly expanded to serve Grass Valley, Rough & Ready, Washington, and the mines along Poor Man’s Creek and the Yuba River. They advertised as connecting with Freeman in Sacramento and Adams in San Francisco. Freeman purchased Bowers Express in Sep, 1851 to establish a direct business presence in Nevada City.

William A. Brown began his express in August, 1850, from his primary office in Stockton. He connected initially with Todd & Co. and later (April, 1851) with Newell & Co. They, in turn, connected at San Francisco with Adam’s Express for service to the Atlantic States. Brown was murdered on April 2, 1853 by a disgruntled employee, after which Adams & Co. continued to operate the express under his name until January, 1854, after which no further Brown’s Express ads can be found.

Obadiah M. Brown and an individual with the surname “Maguire” were the proprietors of this express. They began as partners in a livery and sale stable. The Mar 17, 1864 Red Bluff Independent announced a semi-weekly express to Copper City, Pittsburg Mining District, with the ad headlined “Pittsburg Express Coach,” showing Brown shown as sole proprietor. However, the advertisement a week later showed Maguire as a partner in the express. Brown & Maguire’s last ad appeared in the July 18, 1864 issue of the Independent, indicating their express might have only lasted four months.

Henry S. Byam ran his express in conjunction with his stage line, referred to in one newspaper ad as “Byam & Co.’s U.S. Mail and Express Line.” His route ran from Sacramento to Volcano, via Live Oak City, Cooks Bar, Michigan Bar, Willow Springs and Fiddletown. Byam’s last ad was in the Volcano Ledger on Feb 23, 1856 but subsequent articles indicate he continuing running his stages through mid-April, 1856.