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Western Expresses Alphabetically
Western Expresses
Garland’s Express – 1854 to 1872
Richard E. Garland started his express in 1854, perhaps with a partner named Dean, to serve mining camps between Oroville and Quincy, California. His routes were expanded in 1864 to include service to Taylorsville and Crescent Mills. In the same year, he purchased J.P. Wharton’s Express serving La Porte and Gibsonville. One reference indicates he bought out Whiting’s Express in 1868. Garland sold out to Wells Fargo in 1872.
Western Expresses
Gibbs Express – 1854 to 1859
William T. Gibbs operated an express in an area around Georgetown, most likely running between Georgetown and Bottle Hill. He connected with Wells Fargo at Georgetown (and later at Placerville). The Western Living Center website notes that Spanish Flat was six miles from Georgetown on the stage road between Placerville and Georgetown.
Western Expresses
Gibbs Express – 1854 to 1859
By Wm T. Gibbs Express PAID from Georgetown to Placerville, with political enclosure datelined Georgetown Nov 6th, 1859 transcribed, in part, below. This cover proves that Gibbs operated well beyond the previously believed end-date of 1855. The act of Aug 31, 1852 required payment of government postage on private conveyance.
A.D. Rock
Western Expresses
Gillpatrick’s Express – Sep, 1874 to Feb, 1878
Isaiah W. Gillpatrick advertised that he would run a daily express service through the use of the Steamer Parthenius. The express provided a service from San Francisco and the river ports of Vallejo, Benicia, Martinez, Black Diamond Landing, Pittsburg Landing, and Antioch. He also connected inland to the coal mining towns of Somersville, Nortonville, and Clayton, CA.
The Antioch Wharf Building, with a sign for Gillpatrick’s Express
Western Expresses
Grays California Express – 1850 to 1851
Very little is known about “Gray’s Cal Express”, other than it operated between San Francisco and Sacramento in the 1850-1851 period. Only five covers are known to survive from this early express: two examples having a manuscript 1.10 (express fee of $1.00 plus 10¢ US postage due), one example with a 2.00 manuscript, and the example below with no rate indicated.
Western Expresses
Greathouse & Slicer – Fall 1855 to 1857
George and Ridgely Greathouse started a pack mule line out of Shasta into Callahan in Aug, 1854. Hugh Slicer was added as a partner in late 1855, at which time the express extended from Yreka to Shasta. They exchanged express material with Wells Fargo at Shasta.
Western Expresses
Greene’s Copper City Express – 1864 to 1865
Thomas Greene formed his express line in 1864 to operate between Shasta and Copper City, California. His office is reported to have been located at Barber & Isman’s Saloon in Copper City.
Western Expresses
Greenhood & Newbauer – 1856 to 1867
Herman Greenhood and Joseph Newbauer started an express operation from a base in Weaverville in late 1856. They purchased W. F. Rowe Express in 1858, connecting with Wells Fargo at Marysville. Greenhood & Newbauer’s banking operation failed in Aug, 1867 taking the express operation with it. Grant I. Taggart’s stage operation between Shasta and Marysville took over the express business.
Western Expresses
Greenhood & Newbauer – 1856 to 1867
By Greenhood & Newbauer, Northern Express, Weaverville, California from Weaverville to Marysville; from Marysville to Sacramento City by Wells Fargo (although no Wells Fargo exchange marking is present…Greenhood & Newbauer did not run into Sacramento, but they did exchange mails with Wells Fargo at Marysville). Enclosed political letter datelined Weaverville, May 28th, 60 transcribed, in part, below indicates that politics were a lot more physical in 1860! The only reported example of this type Greenhood & Newbauer printed frank.
Western Expresses
Green’s Express – 1850 to 1854
E. A. Green operated his express from Nevada City, providing service throughout the South and Middle Forks of the Yuba Rivers.
By Green’s Express to Nevada City; by post office from Nevada City, Cal. Jul 28 integral rate postmark for carriage to Plymouth Hollow Connecticut. The prepaid rate of 6¢ for distances >3000 miles was in effect from Jul 1, 1851 to Apr 1, 1855. One of only six known examples of any Green’s Express cover, two of the others residing in the Wiltsee collection. John William’s California Postmarks indicates a range of dates of use for this Nevada City marking from Feb 20, 1853 to Mar 21, 1855, dating this cover to either 1853 or 1854.
Western Expresses
Gregory’s Express – Apr, 1850 to Nov, 1852
Gregory’s Atlantic & Pacific Express was founded by Joseph W. Gregory initially as an ocean-to-ocean express. His advertisement as “Gregory’s New York Express” of Apr 18, 1850 in Daily Alta California notes that he had secured W.S. Sloan to act as a messenger to New York. By August 1850, Hitchcock is listed as agent in New York City and on Oct 31, 1851, G. E. Clark is listed as an agent in Sacramento. His service eventually expanded within California to Marysville and his ocean service was advertised as the only express on the Nicaragua route. Gregory quietly sold his express business to Wells Fargo & Co. in 1852 and his last advertisement appeared in the Nov 20, 1852 Daily Alta California.
By Gregory’s Express New York & California from Marysville to San Francisco. Folded business letter datelined Marysville Sep 3, 1851 transcribed, in part, below.
Shepard & Combs
PS We would like the widest zink in the market
Western Expresses
Gregory’s Express – Apr, 1850 to Nov, 1852
- Per Gold Hunter, depart San Francisco Mar 22, 1851; arrive Panama May 4
- Probably about six days transit across the isthmus
- Next steamer from Chagres was USMSC Empire City; depart May 24; arrive NY Jun 3, 1851
Western Expresses
Gregory’s Express – Apr, 1850 to Nov, 1852
By Gregory’s Express with PAID from Shasta to San Francisco on 1852 folded letter sheet. Taylor’s Express connected with Gregory’s Express in Sacramento before Taylor gave up the business in April of 1852. Gregory then opened an office in Shasta in the same building in which Taylor had his office before retiring. Business letter enclosed reads in part….I have a claim to work here that may take me five or six weeks (apparently a legal claim, as the letter appears to be between lawyers).
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Gregory’s Express – Apr, 1850 to Nov, 1852

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Gregory & English’s Express – Apr, 1866 to Mar, 1868
Formed in April 1866, this express operated from Nevada City to North Bloomfield, Lake City, Woolsey’s Flat, Moore’s Flat, and Eureka. It connected with Wells Fargo at Nevada City.
These articles (Feb 26, 1867 and Mar 21, 1868) from the Sacramento Daily Union relate the difficulties encountered by Gregory & English’s Express in running their route during the winter months, resorting to carriers on snow shoes.
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