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Western Expresses Alphabetically
Western Expresses
Hall & Allen’s Express – 1858 to 1859
The firm of Hall & Allen were agents of Wells Fargo in Auburn, Dutch Flat, and Todd’s Valley around the period 1858-1859. Hall & Allen functioned as Wells Fargo’s agents in Dutch Flat, but were also allowed to operate their own express, just as Greathouse & Slicer, F. W. Blake, and Frank Rumrill were allowed to do.
By Hall & Allen’s Dutch Flat Express from the mining region around Dutch Flat; connecting with Wells, Fargo & Company in Dutch Flat for delivery to San Francisco. Dutch Flat was east of Nevada City, with the general mining area shown in the map below. One of four known examples from this short-lived express.
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Hammond & Wilson’s Express – 1874
Nelson Hammond had served as a Wells, Fargo & Co. agent in California, and upon the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, relocated to Reno, Nevada, where he entered into the livery stable business with John Wilson. The two men purchased the Pollard & Mitchell stables on Commercial Row in December of 1869. By 1873, they were running a stage line between Reno and Peavine. They established Hammond & Wilson’s Express in 1874, operating between Susanville, California and Reno, Nevada. They connected with Wells Fargo at Reno.
Western Expresses
Harrier’s Express – 1864 to 1865
D. W. Harrier served the mining camps from Nevada City, Moore’s Flat to North Bloomfield. He operated from a base at Nevada City and connected with Wells Fargo there.
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Harrier’s Express – 1864 to 1865
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Harrison’s Susanville & Goose Lake Express – 1872
Harrison operated his California express is Siskiyou County between Susanville and Goose Lake in 1872.
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J. Hawes & Co.’s Express – Dec, 1854 to Sep, 1855
J. Hawes and Co’s San Francisco & New York Express was formed by Joseph Hawes and Charles Lumbard on Dec 13, 1854. They advertised for the Vanderbilt Independent Line steamer Cortes that departed on Mar 25, 1855 (cover below carried on this trip). Their last ad appeared on September 4, 1855.
By Hawes & Co.’s Express S.F. & N.Y. out of the mails from San Francisco to New York with double 6¢ postage paid by four 3¢ 1851 issue adhesives.
- Vanderbilt Line steamer Cortez, depart San Francisco Mar 24, 1855, arrive San Juan del Sur Apr 6
- Two days across Nicaragua to San Juan del Norte
- Vanderbilt Line steamer Northern Light, depart San Juan del Norte Apr 8, arrive NYApr 15, 1855
- N. York Steamship Apr 15 (1855) entered US mails for delivery to Connecticut
Western Expresses
Hawley & Co.’s Express – Jan, 1850 to Nov 11, 1850
T. R. Hawley bought out his partners (D. Weld, Edward W. Tracy and William H. Tiffany) in Weld & Company Express in January, 1850 and formed Hawley & Co.’s Express. This early California express ran between San Francisco and Sacramento with a stop at Benicia. Adams Express acted as Hawley’s agent and expeditor in San Francisco. In Jun, 1850, Hawley purchased Angle & Company, adding John M. Freeman as a partner shortly thereafter. Service was expanded north to Marysville along the Yuba River. Freeman purchased the entire operation from his partner on Nov 11, 1850, changing the name to Freeman’s Express.
Western Expresses
Hawley & Co.’s Express – Jan, 1850 to Nov 11, 1850
Folded business letter datelined Sac City Sept 23 1850 carried by Hawley & C’s Express with From Sacramento to San Francisco.
Gentlm
Referring to yours abt Harris – I do not think you ought to ask me to take after Harris if he is right. Will you do me the favor to notice if the Wm Penn has arrived and aid its Capt in putting things through for a voyage. I shall go down tomorrow morning.
Rem truly yours
Sand & Paige
Sac City Sept 23 1850
Western Expresses
Hawley & Co.’s Express – Jan, 1850 to Nov 11, 1850
Folded letter from New York (datelined Feb 14, 1850) carried privately “By Mr Huff” via Panama to San Francisco. Letter mentions Mr. Huff takes the steamer tomorrow, but there is no record of a Feb 15, 1850 steamer departure from NY to Chagres. The writer likely had the date incorrect, such that the waybill would be:
- USMSC Ohio, depart New York Feb 13, 1850, arrive Chagres Mar 9, 1850
- Across the isthmus of Panama via mule and canoe from Mar 9 to Mar 23, 1850
- PMSC Tennessee, depart Panama Mar 23, 1850, arrive San Francisco Apr 14, 1850
- circa Apr 15, 1850 by Hawley & C’s Express from San Francisco to Sacramento City by steamboat
Western Expresses
Hawley & Co.’s Express – Jan, 1850 to Nov 11, 1850
By Hawley & Co.’s Express from San Francisco to Sacramento City on folded business letter datelined San Francisco Oct 14, 1850. Enclosed business letter transcribed, in part, below.
Sep 11, 1850 ad from the Alta California. By the end of November 1849 regular steamboat service connected San Francisco and Sacramento City. Service soon was extended north to Marysville. This major steamboat trunk line was dominated by two primary operators, the People’s Line and the Union Line. Hawley & Co. had exclusive rights to carry express matter on People’s Line while Mumby & Co. used Union Line steamboats.
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Haydon’s Express – 1856
S. C. Haydon, a merchant in Petaluma, established his express to handle mail in Sonoma and Marin County towns north of San Francisco. The text on his printed frank reads: “Between Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Russian River, Heald’s Store, Godwin’s Rancho, Ray’s House, and The Geysers. Also, to Bodega, Tomales and San Rafael, connecting with the ‘Pacific’ (express) at Petaluma.”
Haydon’s Express primary offices in relation to San Francisco
- PAID Haydon’s Express from one of the locations noted on the printed frank to Petaluma in Feb, 1856
- By Pacific Express Petaluma to San Francisco
- Vanderbilt Line steamer Uncle Sam, depart San Francisco Feb 20, 1856, arrive San Juan del Sur Mar 2, 1856
- Three days across Nicaragua to San Juan del Norte
- Vanderbilt line steamer Northern Light, depart San Juan del Norte Mar 5, 1856, arrive New York Mar 13, 1856
- By government mails from New York Mar 16 (1856) to Washington, D.C.
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Haywood Express Company – 1868 to 1869
Little is known about this express company, except for information from the lone surviving cover. From that cover, shown below, we can assume they operated in the East Bay (Hayward, formerly known as Haywood, is in Alameda County) and connected with Pacific Union Express Company, possibly in Oakland. The latter express company operated from Jul 1, 1868 to December 1869 when they were absorbed by Wells Fargo.
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Hervey’s Express – 1858 to 1860
Samuel Hervey’s express ran from Nevada City into the surrounding area. It was most likely a single man feeder line into Nevada City from Red Dog and Dutch Flat.
By Langton’s from Monte Cristo to Nevada City; exchanged with S. Hervey’s Express Nevada, Cal to Little York. Enclosed letter datelined Monte Cristo June 29th/56 transcribed, in part, below. One of only two known examples of Hervey’s Express usages, the other being on a newspaper.
Monte Cristo was WNW of Downieville on the North Fork of the Yuba River. Little York was a mining camp between You Bet and Dutch Flat near the North Fork of the American River.
Western Expresses
Hinckley & Co’s. Express. – 1860 to May 11, 1861
Hinckley & Company’s Express was founded in 1860 by C.S. Hinckley and John Sowers. The express operated among the mining towns, via Denver City and Fort Kearney, to Omaha City, Nebraska Territory. The company was purchased by the Central Overland, California & Pike’s Peak Express Company on May 11, 1861.
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Hinckley & Co’s. Express. – 1860 to May 11, 1861
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J. W. Hoag & Co’s Contra Costa Express – late 1855 to 1858
J. W. Hoag, John Bamber, and Charles Gable purchased the Contra Costa Express from R. T. Lockwood in late 1855, adding W. F. Herre’s Contra Costa Express in 1856. John Bamber bought out his partners sometime around 1858 and began operating as Bamber’s Express.
San Francisco Daily Alta California advertisements: Nov 25, 1855 (left) showing the earliest ad for J. W. Hoag & Co.’s newly formed express; and Oct 15, 1858 (right) in which J. W. Hoag advertises for the sale of his express and newspaper business. Interestingly, he asks that inquiries be directed to J. Bamber & Co., who apparently ended up absorbing the business.
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Hoffman & Co.’s Express – Feb, 1850 to Apr, 1851
Hoffman & Co’s express was founded by William M. Hoffman who first advertised a single express messenger returning from San Francisco to New York in Feb, 1850. Apparently he operated briefly carrying mail from Sacramento the mines. In Dec, 1850 he advertised with his brother as merchants in Sacramento selling miner’s supplies. The notice shown below lists over 500 letters remaining at Hoffman & Little’s Express, which can be found at Gregory’s Express office. By May 17, 1851, Hoffman and Little are listed as Gregory’s agents in Nevada City.
Apr 1, 1851 list of letters remaining at Hoffman & Little’s Express to be collected at Gregory & Co. office.
By government mails Quincy, I Nov 28 (Quincy, Illinois Nov 28, 1850) to Sacramento City with 40 (¢) postage due; Forwarded by Hoffman & Co. Express from Sacramento City to the mines. Folded letter mentions difficulty with the mails…we received your letter of September the 15 on the 16th of November…we never received your letter from the Platt River till yesterday…[the referenced letter would have been written in the summer of 1850 as this emigrant would have been crossing the Nebraska plains at that time]
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Hogan & Company’s Express – 1874 to 1876
William Hogan operated from the Nation Hotel in North San Juan and ran his express from Cherokee, to Columbia Hill, Lake City and Humbug. Hogan & Company’s express was a feeder route for Wells Fargo & Company, connecting with them at North San Juan.
Western Expresses
Holladay Overland Mail & Express Co. – 1862 to Nov 1, 1866
Ben Holladay started his overland express from Atchison, Kansas to Placerville, California in 1862. He extended his lines in 1864, going from Salt Lake City, Utah to Walla Walla, Washington, with branches into Idaho, Montana and Colorado. In the spring of 1866, he bought out Butterfield’s Overland Stage and Dispatch Company. Ben Holladay, “the stagecoach king”, sold out his empire to Wells, Fargo & Company on Nov 1, 1866.
By Holladay Overland Mail and Express Company to Omaha; by US post office from Omaha, Neb Jun 28 (1866) to Vermont. This type Omaha postmark is known used from July 29, 1865 to June 21, 1867, being replaced by a device with “Omaha City” in the dial, making this one of the few Holladay franked envelopes that can be documented as used during the period prior to the Nov 1, 1866 sale to Wells, Fargo & Co.
Western Expresses
Holland, Morley & Co.’s Express – Early 1862 to Late 1862
The partnership of Morley & Caulkins dissolved in early 1862, at which time Homer B. Holland and George W. Morley formed their partnership. They purchased R. Francis’ Express in May of 1862, and Everts, Wilson & Company in September of that same year. Their principal offices were located at Marysville. They ran a daily service to Strawberry Valley, Saint Louis, Pine Grove, Howland Flat, Forbestown, Hanson Valley, Bangor, Gibsonville, Whisky Diggings, Port Wine and Poker Flat. They connected with Whiting & Company for a short period of time and, later, with Wells Fargo at Marysville. Morley sold his interest to Sam Wheeler in late 1862 at which time the express became Holland, Wheeler & Company.
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Holland, Morley & Co.’s Express – Early 1862 to Late 1862
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Holland & Wheeler’s Express – Late 1862 to Late 1863
George W. Morley sold his interest of Holland, Morley & Company to Sam Wheeler in late 1862. Holland & Wheeler operated over the same routes between La Porte and Marysville where they connected with Wells Fargo. From La Porte they serviced the Gibsonville Ridge and Feather River mining camps. Sam Wheeler is thought to have left the company in late 1863; Holland may have continued to operate alone.
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Hopkinson’s Express – 1862 to 1864 and 1865 to 1867
Emerson Bennett Hopkinson purchased a route that ran from Nevada City into the Dutch Flat area with service to Little York, Red Dog (or Chalk Bluff), You Bet, and Walloupa. In late 1864, he sold the route to J. A. Stone, who turned the route back to Hopkinson in February, 1865. Hopkinson connected with Wells Fargo at Nevada City and Dutch Flat.
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Horn’s Tri-Weekly Express – 1874 to 1877
Dave Horn began operating an express in the 1874 between Fort Jones and Yreka, serving the mining area along the Scott River in northern California and connecting with Wells Fargo at both Yreka and Fort Jones. Horn sold out to F.L. Tickner in early 1877.
Western Expresses
Hunter & Company – Mar, 1851 to Jun, 1854
Alexander Hunter began his express business with an ad in the Sacramento Transcript on Mar 27, 1851. In April, he was listed as connecting with Palmer’s Express. By May, he had expanded his service out of Sacramento to both Placerville and Mormon Island, servicing most of the mining camps and river bars on the American River. Hunter connected with Gregory’s, and then later with Adams & Company. In 1854, facing increasing competition, he first sold offices to Adams and then, in June 1854, he sold his entire remaining operation to Wells Fargo & Co., becoming their agent in Placerville beginning July, 1854.
New Bedford Ms May 20 (1851) with 40 (due)to Sacramento City; Adv’d at Sacramento City; by Hunter & Cos Express from Sacramento to Greenwood, with Hunter’s manuscript notations Greenwood and 1.70 ($1.30 express fee, plus 40¢ due). The rate for mail (either prepaid or due) to the Pacific Coast was 40¢ prior to July 1, 1851.
Western Expresses
Hunter & Company – Mar, 1851 to Jun, 1854
Fairfield, Ct. Oct 24 (1851) with 10 (due) to Sacramento City; by Hunter & Cos Express from Sacramento to Murderer’s Bar, with Hunter’s manuscript notation 1.35 ($1.25 express fee, plus 10¢ due) and M.Bar. The collect rate for distances over 3000 miles was reduced from 40¢ to 10¢ effective Jul 1, 1851.
Western Expresses
Hunter & Company – Mar, 1851 to Jun, 1854
Independence, Mo. Mar 13 with 10 (due) Via New York to Nevada City; by Hunter & Cos Express Yankee Jim’s to Yankee Jim’s. The collect rate for distances over 3000 miles was reduced from 40¢ to 10¢ effective Jul 1, 1851. The only known example of this Hunter’s Yankee Jim’s marking.
Yankee Jim’s in 1857
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Hunter & Company – Mar, 1851 to Jun, 1854
By government mails from Boston 23 Feb 6 cts (1852) with their matching PAID to San Francisco; forwarded to Mormon Island with Fd 5 (due) notation; by Hunter & Co’s Express Mormon Island endorsed and delivered to Murderer’s Bar with notations Murd Bar and 1.25 (express rate due). The prepaid rate for distances >3000 miles was 6¢ from Jul 1, 1851 to Apr 1, 1855.
Murderer’s Bar, from Harper’s Weekly
Western Expresses
Hunter & Company – Mar, 1851 to Jun, 1854
Avon, Me March 8 (1852) with Free E.M. Towle, P.M. to Sacramento City; Forwarded by Hunter & Cos Express Auburn from Sacramento “Received at Secret Diggings Ravine May 5th, 1852 D. Towle”, with Hunter’s manuscript notation New Castle 1.25 (express fee). One of only three known examples of this Hunter’s Auburn marking.
Western Expresses
Hunter & Company – Mar, 1851 to Jun, 1854
Western Expresses Alphabetically