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Western Expresses Alphabetically
Western Expresses
Edgar & Burke’s Canyon City Express – Fall 1864
Addison (Ad) Edgar took in A.J. Burke as a partner after Horatio Jones left Jones & Edgar’s Express, changing the name to Edgar & Burke’s Canyon City Express. In late 1864, this express operated from Dalles, Oregon to Canyon City and points in Idaho.
Western Expresses
English’s Express – early 1864
Joseph R. English is thought to have operated English’s Express out of Nevada City between Moore’s Flat, Eureka South, and Emigrant Gap, connecting with Wells Fargo at Nevada City. Around 1864, English combined his express with that of L. H. Wells to form English and Wells Express.
Western Expresses
Estill & Co – June, 1850 to August, 1850
Colonel James M. Estill made a single round-trip on the Oregon-to-California Trail between Weston, Missouri and Pacific Spring, in the Sweetwater River Valley of present day Wyoming. His idea was to promote a transcontinental express service in lieu of the US mail by collecting the mail along the emigrant trail for a fee of 50¢ per letter. Estill reportedly deposited 4000 letters into the US mail system at Weston, Missouri on Aug 16, 1850. Only a handful of Estill Express covers are known to survive, all sent collect 10¢.
By Estills & Co Express from along the overland trail to Weston, Mo. Aug 16 (1850) with their red postmark and red 10 (due) for delivery to Iowa. June 19 – 50 pencil docket on verso probably indicates the dateline of the letter that was once enclosed; Received August 26th 1850 in manuscript on verso reveals rather lengthy ten day delivery from Weston, Missouri to Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Western Expresses
Estill & Co – June, 1850 to August, 1850
Western Expresses
Eureka Express – 1870 to 1893
Eureka Express operated between the north and south forks of the Yuba River from a base at North Bloomfield, serving the Eureka Mining area. They connected with Wells Fargo at Nevada City and North San Juan.
- By Eureka Express Co. PAID in their franked envelope which notes Connecting With Wells, Fargo & Co. Nevada Cal.; exchanged with Wells Fargo Nevada Mar [x] for delivery to San Francisco.
- PAID Eureka Express Co. in their Type 2 franked envelope; exchanged with Wells Fargo Nevada Nov xx for delivery to San Francisco.
- PAID Eureka Express Co. in their Type 3 franked envelope; by post office Nevada City, Cal Oct 2, 1894 to North Bloomfield, Cal.
Western Expresses
Eureka, Rohnerville & Hydesville Express – 1870
The “Business Directory for the Pacific States and Territories for 1878” jointly lists for Hydesville “Bullard & Sweasey” as blacksmiths, and “T. W. Sweasy” (mispelled?) as running a livery stable. These occupations would be consistent with someone who had previously run an express service. No other information has been located on this apparently short-lived express.
By Eureka, Rohnerville & Hydesville Express Bullard & Sweasey Proprietors, to Eureka; entered the mails with Eureka, Cal Oct 1 (1870) postmark for delivery to San Francisco. Williams lists this Eureka postmark as having been used from Apr 24, 1869 to Mar 21, 1871. The Scott #U82 envelope was issued in 1870, dating this cover to 1870. William Sammis’ article in the June, 2000 issue of Western Express provides additional detail.
Western Expresses
Evans & Co.’s Express – 1862 to 1863
Evans & Co.’s Jacksonville & Crescent City Express was apparently operated by Henry Evans and operated in 1862 and 1863. The route was between Crescent City, California and Jacksonville, Oregon as the name would imply.
Dear Cousin Hannibal,
… The Copper excitement is as great here as ever and since they have so much San Francisco has capital and interests centered here all feel very hopeful. There are some of the Co’s that think they have now undoubtedly found the load – The Alta has received some very good offers lately. They received an offer from parties in San Francisco or Sacramento of a hundred thousand dollars for two thirds of the mine the other third to be inaccessible forever but they did not accept…
L. G. Wendell
Western Expresses
The Frank D. Everts Expresses – 1850 to 1862
Frank Darwin Everts operated Everts & Company’s Express from the Central House Ranch, about 12 miles northeast of Marysville. He served the Gibsonville Ridge region and parts of Sierra County north of the North Fork of the Yuba River and south of the North Fork of the Feather River. In September of 1851, the Central House Ranch building was destroyed by fire and all of Everts’ mail listings were lost. The office was moved to the Eli Lester Rabbit Creek House at Rabbit Creek (renamed Rabbit Town and finally La Porte in Oct, 1857). Indications are that he ran a mail listing through the post office at Marysville during this period. In May-June, 1852, he formed a partnership with John Adam Snell and the name of the operation was changed to Everts, Snell & Co. Various other partnerships followed until on Sep 1,1862 the routes and possibly all of the express business were sold to Holland, Morley & Co.
Frank D. Everts had numerous business partners during his time in the express business:
Everts & Co.
Everts, Snell & Co.
F. D. Everts & Co.
Sold to Adams/Reclaimed
Everts (after Adams)
Everts, Davis & Co.
Everts, Hannon, Wilson & Co.
Everts, Wilson & Co.
1850 – Jun, 1852
Jun, 1852 – Jan 25, 1854
Jan 25, 1854 – Feb, 1855
Feb, 1855 – Mar, 1855
Mar, 1855 – May 10, 1855
May 10, 1855 – Aug, 1856
Aug, 1856 – a few weeks
Sep, 1856 – 1862
Western Expresses
Everts & Co. Express – 1850 to Jun, 1852
Forwarded by Everts & Co’s Express from Nelson Creek to Marysville; by post office to San Francisco with Marysville Cal Aug 26 (1851) postmark and 5 rate marking. Enclosed letter from semi-literate writer datelined Nelsons Krick the 10th of August, 1851, transcribed below (sic).
Dear Sir,
I got the opportunity to find your direktion of Mr. Turner from his claim and I am now keep the Ameriken Ranch. I cam here bi Land and are in good Helt. I wish you wod send me few word and if you have any thing to imploi at and wath you are doing, you can depende on me now as you have don before. Do not forget to give me your direktion and some interesting news for me and I schall be with you as soon as Posible, Send one letter to Sacramento and one to Nelsons Krick
Better yours
Obedient servent [servant] M. Rudolph Lundblad [?]
Western Expresses
Everts & Co. Express – 1850 to Jun, 1852
Unclear origin. Very light pencil notation Sept 26, 1851 would indicate that the PAID marking with “6” manuscript prepays the rate in effect Jul 1, 1851 for distances >3000 miles, leading one to believe an east coast origin. Forwarded by Everts & Cos Express from Sacramento to the mines in Brownsville with pencil notation $1.50 express rate and Bl, Everts’ directive for Brownsville.
Western Expresses
Everts, Snell & Company – Jun, 1852 to Jan 25, 1854
Columbus Ohio Oct 14 (1852) with PAID 6 rate marking to Sacramento; by Evert Snell & Cos. Feather River to Spanish Flat with Everts Snell’s S.F.and 1.50 express directive and rate notations in pencil. The Evert (error spelling) Snell handstamp was used into March 1853, when it was replaced with the corrected Everts Snell marking.
Western Expresses
Everts, Snell & Company – Jun, 1852 to Jan 25, 1854
Auburn N.Y. Aug 3 (1853) with Paid 6 in circle indicating prepayment of postage to Sacramento City; by Everts Snell & Cos Express Feather Riverwith pencil 6c GD 1.50 indicating $1.50 express fee due by addressee at Gibsonville Diggings. Pencil docketing Rec’d Gibsonville Sept 26th 1853 dates this cover. Gibsonville was on a ridge between the South Fork of the Feather River and the North Fork of the Yuba River.
Western Expresses
Everts, Snell & Company – Jun, 1852 to Jan 25, 1854
By Everts, Snell & Co Express Gibsonville. to Marysville; entered the mails with red Marysville Cal. Mar 31 (1854) postmark and blue grid cancels tying two 3. 1851 issue adhesives to Terre Haute, Indiana. Gibsonville March 20th, 1854 heading on miner’s letter transcribed, in part, below. The unique example of this marking.
…Father says that some of my letters are not post paid, I am sure I sent the money for the Postage – when I had no stamps…about a week ago a man got his leg broke by some dirt falling upon him whilst mining and two others (each) got their legs broke today, each one in different drifts, I should think so many accidents would make people more careful…here we cannot take a rocker and go out and make something every day as we could down on Feather River. I think I shall quit mining before long and go to Teaming or something else unless I have better luck than I have had lately…today a man had his leg amputated, he had got it broken about a month ago and the doctor bound it too tight and it mortified…Amory K. Blinn
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F. D. Everts & Co. – Jan 25, 1854 to Feb, 1855
Western Expresses
F. D. Everts & Co. – Jan 25, 1854 to Feb, 1855
By Adams & Co. San Francisco Nov 9 (1854) to Marysville; exchanged with Everts & Co. for delivery to Bidwell’s Bar with their Everts & Cos. Express Marysville Connecting with Adams & Co. handstamp known used in 1854-1855 (with “Connecting with Adams & Co.” removed after Adams & Co.’s failure on Feb 23, 1855). Express rate collect 25 (¢) at upper right.
Adams route to Marysville in blue and Everts & Co’s route to Bidwell’s Bar in red
Western Expresses
Everts/Adams – Feb, 1855 to Mar, 1855
Georgetown/Ky (early 1855) with two 3¢ 1851 adhesives prepaying 6¢ postage to Marysville; by Everts & Cos Express Marysville Connecting with Adams & Co with initial express fee of Coll 25¢ changed to Coll 100¢ upon redirection to “Opposite Mouth Nelson Creek, Plumas Co”. Nelson Creek flows into the Middle Fork of the Feather River, near Quincy. Prepaid rate of 6¢ in effect Jul 1, 1851 to Apr 1, 1855 when it was increased to 10¢.
Georgetown/Ky Apr 12 (1855) with pair of 3¢ 1851 adhesives pen cancelled; however, the prepaid rate for distances >3000 miles changed from 6¢ to 10¢ on Apr 1, 1855. Apparently, the postmaster at Georgetown realized this after Apr 12, held the letter in his office until the sender returned on Apr 14, collected an additional 4¢, marked it PAID 4, and sent it on to Marysville. From Marysville by Everts & Cos Express Marysville Connecting with (“Adams & Co” removed) for delivery “opposite mouth of Nelson Creek”.
Western Expresses
Everts/Adams – Feb, 1855 to Mar, 1855
By Everts & Co.’s Express Gibsonville (“Connecting with Adams & Co.” removed) to Marysville; by post office with Marysville, Cal. Apr 14 PAID by Stamps to New York. Underpaid use of 6¢ rate, as the >3000 mile rate had increased to 10¢ effective Apr 1, 1855. Enclosed letter datelined Gibsonville, March the 27th, 1855 transcribed, in part, below.
…I sent Cyrus a draft on Adams & Co. New York for fifty dollars and about one week after they failed in this state, but I don’t see any account of their failing in the Atlantic States so I shall live in hopes that he will get that till I hear to the contrary…Horatio T. C. Waters
Western Expresses
Everts/Adams – Feb, 1855 to Mar, 1855
By Everts & Cos. Express Forbestown Connecting with (“Adams” removed) & Co. to Marysville; exchanged with Pacific Express Co, Marysville Jan 29 (1856) to Sacramento. Docket at left Rec’d Sacramento Jan 30, 1856, well after Everts/Adams, and Everts return to sole operation, and into the Everts, Davis, & Co. period which began May 10, 1855. Letter datelined New York Flat transcribed, in part, below.
Guy F. Seely
Western Expresses
Everts, Davis & Cos. Express – May 10, 1855 to Aug, 1856
F. D. Everts & Co. changed to Everts, Davis & Co. in May, 1855 and used Rabbit Creek or Rabbit Town (name changed to LaPorte in Oct, 1857) as their center of operations. The partners in this business were Frank D. Everts, Henry C. Everts, G. O. Davis, James St. Clair Wilson, and M. W. Hannon. During this period, the express served the Gibsonville Ridge region and the area north of the North Fork of the Yuba River and south of the North Fork of the Feather River. They connected at first with Pacific Express in Marysville and later, it is believed, with Wells Fargo.
Western Expresses
Everts, Davis & Cos. Express – May 10, 1855 to Aug, 1856
By Everts, Davis & Cos. Express Nelson Creek to Marysville; by post office from Marysville, Cal. Paid by Stamps Sep 5 (1855) to Montrose, Pa. (missing 10¢ 1851 issue adhesive). Enclosed letter datelined Mountain House No.2 Aug 1st, 1855 transcribed below:
Dear Brother & Sister,
You may be surprised to hear that we are in California, but such is the case. We are keeping the mountain house No.2 90 miles from Marysville. We have been here 5 weeks came down on horseback (eight hundred miles). Marcus rode by himself on a little Indian pony, the trip just suited him. We were 5 weeks coming down had no sickness. I have not time to tell you much about our journey nor anything else. McCoy’s folks are well they had sold out before we got here and will start back for Iowa in a few weeks. They sold for seven thousand dollars. I do not know how much they made while on the ranch. You must excuse this short letter for I really have not time. Do not forget your mountaineer friends. Write quick. Our love to all. Yours in great haste.
Mary, Philander and Marcus
Horace, Augusta, Children, & friends in general
PS direct your letters to Marysville, California
McCoy’s folks will come and see you if they can
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Everts, Davis & Cos. Express – May 10, 1855 to Aug, 1856
Western Expresses
Everts, Hannon & Wilson & Co. – Aug, 1856 to Sep, 1856
By Everts, Hannon, Wilson & Co. Daily Express franked envelope with Everts, Davis & Cos. Express St. Louis Aug 11 (1856) to Yuba City. One of the few Everts, Hannon, Wilson & Co. franks that can be proven used during the period of that partnership’s existence.
Everts, Wilson & Co’s Express office in St. Louis, California (ca1857)
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Everts, Wilson & Co. Daily Express – Sep, 1856 to 1862
Frank Darwin Everts, James St. Clair Wilson and most likely Frank’s brother, Henry, formed Everts, Wilson & Co. They operated daily from Rabbit Town (which became La Porte in Oct, 1857) and served the Gibsonville Ridge region and parts of Sierra County north of the North Fork of the Yuba River and south of the North Fork of the Feather River. Indications are that they ran to Marysville and connecting with Pacific Express until 1857 and with Wells Fargo thereafter. There are also indications that Everts, Wilson & Co. connected with Whiting & Company at Quincy. Its principal offices were at Marysville, Rabbit Town or La Porte, Gibsonville, Saint Louis and Nelson Creek. On Sep 1,1862 the routes and possibly all of the express business were sold to Holland, Morley & Company.
By Adams & Co. Express San Francisco California Free in their printed envelope; exchanged with Newell & Co.’s Express San Francisco for delivery to “Moqulumne Hill”. Newell & Co. advertised that they connected with Adams & Co. in San Francisco. They operated from Oct 22, 1851 until selling out to Adams in July, 1853.Click edit button to change this text.
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Everts, Wilson & Co. Daily Express – Sep, 1856 to 1862
Western Expresses
Everts, Wilson & Co. Daily Express – Sep, 1856 to 1862
PAID Everts Wilson & Co. Daily Express. in their franked envelope to Marysville; exchanged with Wells Fargo & Co May 24 Marysville to Nevada, California. Manuscript notation Received Nevada May 24 from Langtons Express properly sealed Rufus Shoemerke Clk. No indication of carriage by Langtons. Double 3¢ rate as the enclosure was a deposition. Likely 1858 or 1859 usage.
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Everts, Wilson & Co. Daily Express – Sep, 1856 to 1862
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Everts, Wilson & Co. Daily Express – Sep, 1856 to 1862
Western Expresses
Everts, Wilson & Co. Daily Express – Sep, 1856 to 1862
Western Expresses
Everts, Wilson & Co. Daily Express – Sep, 1856 to 1862
Western Expresses
Everts, Wilson & Co. Daily Express – Sep, 1856 to 1862
PAID. Everts, Wilson & Co.’s Daily Express. to LaPorte; by Holland, Morley & Co’s Express La Porte, Cal. to Marysville; by Wells Fargo & Co.’s Express from Marysville to San Francisco. A rare type of Everts, Wilson printed frank, used very late in the Everts Wilson period, or after the sale to Holland, Morley & Co. as a leftover printed frank. Likely late 1862 usage.
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