Western Expresses | P

Russell G. Noyes and other employees of Adams & Company formed the Pacific Express Company, following Adams’ failure in Feb, 1855, with most of Adams’ offices quickly becoming Pacific Express offices. They continued to try to compete with Wells Fargo, even though they lacked the funds and leadership of their rival. As a result, they failed after about two years, despite the established field locations. Several members of the failed Pacific Express quickly re-formed into Alta Express.

Pacific Union Express Company was incorporated in California Dec 18, 1867 with stockholders A. K. Grim and Lawrence W. Coe appointed as managers for the express on the West Coast with A. K. Tilton in New York. When service commenced on Jun 1, 1868, it was announced to include express matter and letters by every steamer via Panama and similar service to Hawaii, China and Japan. The company was set up “on the Wells, Fargo plan” to compete with them. Service to Nevada and Arizona was begun in 1869. On Dec 1, 1869 the company discontinued operations and its business transferred to Wells, Fargo & Co.

Charles S. Palmer founded Palmer & Co.’s Express in New York on Mar 7, 1850, initially as something of a forwarder. By Oct, 1850, Palmer branched out from San Francisco to Sacramento, Marysville, and Nicholaus. In late April, 1851, Joseph H. Mumby and Henry Reed left Palmer & Co.’s Express and formed Mumby & Co.’s Express, effectively ending Palmer’s California operation. Thereafter, Palmer focused on shipping passengers and freight to California. Even that ended in the Spring of 1852.

This short-lived express ran between the mining district of Panamint, Inyo County, California through the Cajon Pass to San Bernardino, a distance of about 200 miles.

Nicholas O. Pauly and G. H. Norman (Nohrman) formed Pauly & Nohrman’s Express in Apr, 1864 to serve the mining camps along Gibsonville Ridge. They connected at Gibsonville with Whiting & Co.’s Express. Nohrman left the partnership sometime in Aug, 1865, as Pauly began advertising for a replacement partner. Pauly continued as sole proprietor after Nohrman’s departure, even though he did not advertise as such until Feb 3, 1866.

Nicholas Oscar Pauly was involved in three express operations: N. Pauly & Co.’s Weekly Express from Jul, 1864 to late Sep, 1864, partnering with George H. Nohrman (Norman) in Pauly & Norman’s Weekly Express from Apr, 1864 to Aug, 1865, and finally in Pauly’s Weekly Express from Sep, 1865 to Jul, 1866. All these expresses served the Gibsonville Ridge area, connecting with Whiting & Co.’s Express at Gibsonville.

Robert J. Penman was the proprietor of R. Penman’s Express, which first advertised in Oct, 1869 (Quincy Feather River Bulletin). Penman operated in and around Jamison City, Johnsville, Mohawk, and Eureka Mills, connecting with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Truckee. He continued advertising his express until at least May, 1872 (Quincy Feather River Bulletin); thereafter mention is only made of his “stage line.” Obviously, he continued his letter express, as evidenced by the cover below, with enclosed datelined Nov 17, 1874.

This short-lived express operated from San Francisco to the Half Moon Bay area and south to Pescadero, CA. They began advertising Jun 25, 1865 in the Alta California, although they may have been operating earlier. Their ad noted “there is connected with the Line a Letter and Package Express.” They are thought to have operated into 1866 and might have acted as a forwarder for Wells, Fargo & Co.

Using coastal steamers, Charles M. Peterson ran an express service between San Francisco and La Paz, Mexico. He established an office in Henry Payot’s Book Store in San Francisco. Peterson may also have operated a pony/mule service between the cities of Cape San Lucas and La Paz in Mexico.

There were two Philip’s Expresses: the first was operated by Henry Philip from 1856 to late summer, 1860; the second (Philip’s Omega Express) by Henry’s younger brother, Jeremiah G. Philip, from late summer 1860, to Sep, 1862. The two known covers with manuscript Philip’s markings are from the first period, while the single known printed frank is from the second. The route of both extended from Nevada City to Alpha, Washington and Omega. They connected with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Nevada City. Jeremiah Philip sold out his express to J. S. Dewey in Sep, 1862.

Nothing definitive has been discovered regarding this express. All three known covers (including the partial cover on this page) are either to or from Georgetown, in El Dorado County. One has a Philadelphia postmark dated Nov 6, 1858, one a 3¢ 1857 issue perforated adhesive, and the partial cover had a 10¢ imperforate adhesive (prior to 1857). It is quite likely that this express operated between Placerville (near the South Fork of the American River) and Georgetown (on the Middle Fork of the American River), serving the mining camps in between and those along the Middle Fork. The “Pioneer Line of Stages” advertised in the Georgetown News from Oct 19, 1854 to Mar 22, 1855, noting that they ran “from Placerville to Georgetown, via Chili Bar, Kelsey, American and Spanish Flats.” No mention is made of any express carriage, however. Thus, it is speculative that this could have been the “Pioneer Express.”

The transcontinental Pony Express was the result of a vision by William Russell, Alexander Majors, and William Waddell to institute a ten-day private mail service between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California. Their goal was to demonstrate a viable Central Route (versus the southern Butterfield route) in order to gain government mail contracts. The Pony Express demonstrated the capability to carry mail via the Central Route; however, it was a business failure with the partners incurring large losses.

Charles W. Prindle purchased Crooks’ Express in Oct, 1859, serving the same general area from a base at Yreka, providing service to the mines in the mountains west of Yreka and along the Klamath and Scott Rivers. Prindle’s connected with Wells, Fargo & Co. at Yreka. Beginning in Nov, 1861, Prindle’s Express also connected with Chase’s Express at Indian Creek instead of coming to Yreka on the downward leg of his route. Connection to Wells, Fargo & Co. ended in Jul, 1862, when Prindle purchased George W. Chase’s Express and began running over their former route from Yreka to Deadwood, McAdams Creek, Indian Creek and vicinity. Six months later, in Jan, 1863, Prindle sold the expansion route to Nelson Chase. He sold the remainder of his express to H. C. Tickner in May, 1866, thereafter retiring.