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Western Expresses Alphabetically
Western Expresses
Raum’s Express – 1871 to 1872
This express began in 1870 with Mell Raum and a partner, Lovell, to serve Eureka and White Pine Counties, Nevada. Lovell left and Raum carried on alone until 1872, connecting with the US mails at Schellbourne, Nevada.
Western Expresses
Reynolds & Company – Jan, 1850 to Oct 9, 1851
By un-identified private carrier from Washington, DC to Stockton; Forwarded by Reynolds & Co Express to Jamestown (Tuolumne County) California, with 1.00 pencil notation for $1.00 express fee. Enclosed letter transcribed below:
Dear Charly,
I have just got here – All are well at Somervale – and Old Jim Englishman rejoiced to hear from you by Capt. McGee’s letter – He has always appeared to take great interest in your welfare – It is on the eve of the Session of Congress [the 32nd United States Congress did not meet until Mar 4, 1851], what may be enacted, the Lord only can tell –
You shall hear from me again before long. –
I have rec’d a letter from Edward H. Whitney which gave me great satisfaction. –
This is written in a great hurry & you must excuse its unconnected appearance.
Wm. S.S.A.
To Chas. A. Atkinson, Esq.
California
Western Expresses
Reynolds, Todd & Co. – Oct 9, 1851 to Apr 22, 1852
Reynolds & Company and A. H. Todd & Company combined operations to form an express that ran over the same routes. The partners were Angevine Reynolds, J. P. D. Wilkins, William H. Brown and Alexander H. Todd. It ran from the southern mines to Stockton and Sacramento, connecting with Gregory’s Express (and perhaps Adams & Co in its last few months) in San Francisco. Charles A. Todd, not related to A. H. Todd, purchased this express in April, 1852 and formed a new company called Todd’s Express.
Western Expresses
Reynolds, Todd & Co. – Oct 9, 1851 to Apr 22, 1852
Forwarded by Reynolds Todd & Co Express Stockton to Sonora. Folded letter datelined Mar 29, 1852 transcribed below (spelling and punctuation uncorrected).
Friend Thos
Yours respectfully
James S. Perry
Western Expresses
Rhodes & Lusks Express – 1852 to 1854
James H. Rhodes and Hiram Lusk ran an express service from Sacramento north to Marysville, and from Marysville on to Tehama, Shasta, Weaverville, and as far north as Yreka. They connected with Wells Fargo at Sacramento. Hiram Lusk withdrew from the company in 1854 and the express service continued as Rhodes & Company Express. In July of 1855, James M. Rhodes sold out to Jesse Rhodes and Cornelius S. Whitney. Whitney left the partnership in December 1855, at which time Jesse Rhodes continued alone as Rhodes & Co.s Express until the company ceased to operate in February 1857.
By Rhodes & Lusk’s Express Weaverville with their PAID in oval handstamp to Sacramento; exchanged with Wells Fargo & Cos Express Sacramento to a merchant in San Francisco. Docketing on verso Rec’d March 14/53.
View of Weaverville, Trinity Co., after the Fire, published by Rhodes & Lusk, Shasta. The Weaverville fire occurred in March, 1853.
Western Expresses
Rhodes & Lusks Express –
1852 to 1854
J. A. Marsin Esq
Dear Sir
Annexed please find statement of balance of fare to books, which our agent neglected to collect on the departure of the stage from this place,
One seat to Cottonwood | $22.00 | |
Credit Cash on same | $10.00 | |
Balance | $12.00 |
By forwarding the above amount to our agent, Mr. Kellogg, at Colusa you will much oblige
Your Obdt svts
Mess Bather & Co.
Western Expresses
Rhodes & Company Express –
1854 to Jul, 1855
James H. Rhodes ran an express service from Sacramento north to Marysville and on to Red Bluff, Shasta, Weaverville, and as far north as Yreka. He connected with Wells Fargo at Sacramento. Rhodes partnered with Hiram Lusk from 1852-1854 before going it alone. Cornelius S. Whitney partnered with Jesse Rhodes in Rhodes & Whitney’s Express from Jul to Dec, 1855. Rhodes continued the express under that name until he exited the express business in Feb, 1857
Western Expresses
Rhodes & Whitney’s Express –
Jul, 1855 to Feb, 1857
Jesse Rhodes partnered with Cornelius S. Whitney from July to December, 1855 in Rhodes and Whitney’s Express. The partnership advertised that they ran from Sacramento to Marysville, Shasta, Weaverville, Scott Bar, and Crescent City. From Weaverville they extended as far north as Yreka and had an office in Jacksonville, Oregon. Rhodes & Whitney’s Express connected with G. H. Wines & Co’s Express and later with Pacific Express. Whitney left the partnership in Dec, 1855 but Jesse Rhodes continued under the same name until ceasing operation in Feb, 1857.
Western Expresses
River Express – 1893 to 1901
River Express existed under a variety of proprietors as a freight hauler, storage company, and package forwarder. It operated primarily between Stockton and San Francisco but at times had agents in Alameda, Antioch, Benicia, Berkeley, Napa, Oakland, Petaluma, and Vallejo. They carried letters as an express service from 1893 and 1901, using Whitney as an agent in the east bay towns of Alameda, Berkley and Oakland.
Western Expresses
Robinson’s (W. H.) Express –
1852 to 1854
W. H. Robinson reportedly ran an express service between Sacramento and Murphy’s Camp; however, he may have acted more as a local delivery to the Sacramento City area. His operation is listed in the Sacramento City Directory of 1854. Robinson apparently had a relationship with Rhodes & Lusk’s Express, based on a Jul 1, 1852 correspondence indicating that Robinson was billing Rhodes & Lusk $22.95 for commission and postage fees for handling forty letters. From this, we can assume that Robinson was charging 50¢ per letter, with the remainder most likely for added postage. This is one of the rare cases where a monetary relationship is documented between express companies.
By post office from Caledonia Me June 18/52 due 10 to Sacramento City; delivered by W. H. Robinson Express Agent Sacramento. The unpaid rate for distances greater than 3000 miles was 10¢ effective Jul 1, 1851. Exceptionally clear strike of this handstamp express marking. Folded letter datelined June 12, 1852 transcribed, in part, below.
Western Expresses
Rockfellow & Co.’s Express –
May, 1863 to Oct, 1863
Rockfellow & Co.’s Express ran from Walla Walla, Washington to the John Day Country in Oregon and on to the Boise Basin in Idaho following Wells, Fargo’s withdrawal from the route on May 17, 1863. Later, when Indian troubles subsided and production of bullion greatly increased, Wells, Fargo purchased Rockfellow’s Express on Oct 17, 1863.
By Rockfellow & Co.’s Express PAID 75¢. from either the John Day mines or the Boise Basin to Walla Walla, Washington; by Wells Fargo & Co. Walla Walla Sep 2 to San Francisco. One of only about five known examples of this type printed frank and about 12 total surviving Rockfellow covers.
William H. Rockfellow stands closest to the wheel in this early photo.
Western Expresses
Rowe & Company –
1854 to 1855
Edwin A. Rowe formed Rowe & Company’s Express which operated between Shasta and Weaverville, connecting with Pacific Express in both those locations. A different Rowe (W. H.) ran another express from 1856-1858.
By Rockfellow & Co.’s Express PAID 75¢. from either the John Day mines or the Boise Basin to Walla Walla, Washington; by Wells Fargo & Co. Walla Walla Sep 2 to San Francisco. One of only about five known examples of this type printed frank and about 12 total surviving Rockfellow covers.
Weaverville in 1856
Western Expresses
Rumrill & Company –
Aug, 1853 to Apr, 1855
Frank Rumrill began in the express business as Gregory’s agent in Marysville from March, 1851 to Oct 1, 1852 when he switched his allegiance to Wells Fargo and became their agent in Marysville. Ten months later, Wells Fargo enfranchised Rumrill to branch out on his own, beginning his own express in August, 1853 with its headquarters in Downieville. He bought out Beck’s Express on Jul 1 1854, which extended his line north from Downieville into the Gibsonville Ridge area. Rumrill sold out to Wells, Fargo & Co. in April, 1855.
By post office Franklin Mills O. Mar 6 (1854) with 10 (collect) via New York and Panama to Marysville; by F. Rumrill & Co. Northern Express Connecting with Wells Fargo & Co. for delivery. As this cover is addressed to Frank Rumrill, he probably picked it up in Marysville. Enclosed letter datelined Franklin (Ohio) March 6, 1854 transcribed, in part below. The collect rate for distances over 3000 miles was reduced from 40¢ to 10¢ effective Jul 1, 1851.
Henrietta
Western Expresses
Rumrill & Company –
Aug, 1853 to Apr, 1855
Western Expresses
Rumrill & Company –
Aug, 1853 to Apr, 1855
By F. Rumrill & Co’s Express Downieville likely to Marysville, where it was exchanged with Wells Fargo. It is not clear how the letter was then conveyed on to Ohio, as no postal markings are evident. Enclosed letter, transcribed in part below, datelined Downieville Dec 5, 1854 from Frank Rumrill to his girlfriend, Henrietta Stewart.
My Dear Henrietta
Yours of Oct 3, is just received…Am sorry I cannot set a certain time for my return home, but will assure you that just so soon as I can arrange my business I will leave. The prospects are brighter now than ever before, and I have sanguine hopes of being able to get off soon…My health is now good, although my lungs are still slightly affected…
Ever your
Frank
Western Expresses
Rundell & Jones – 1863
George Rundell and Horatio Jones formed a partnership in 1863 for an express operation between The Dallas, Oregon and the gold fields in the John Day and Canyon City mining area or Oregon. In October of the same year, Jones formed a partnership with Addison Edgar which began operation over the route and replaced Rundell & Jones Express.
Western Expresses
Rutherford & Co.’s Express –
Dec, 1866 to [Aug, 1867]
R. H. Rutherford continued to operate an express after the breakup of Wheeler, Rutherford & Company. He pushed his express operation into Plumas County to reach the North Fork of the Feather River. It is likely he moved his base of operations from Marysville to Oroville, connecting withWells Fargo at that point.
Item from the Marysville Daily Appeal of Dec 19, 1866 indicating dissolution of Wheeler, Rutherford & Co. effective Dec 1, 1866.
Western Expresses Alphabetically