Wells Fargo - Staging & Banking in the Old West

OLD WEST LEGENDS

Wells Fargo - Staging & Banking in the

Old West

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Evoking an image of stagecoaches rattling over rutted mountain roads and outlaws hiding in the brush awaiting its arrival was Wells Fargo in the Old West.

The organization began when prosperous New York businessmen, Henry Wells and William Fargo saw great opportunity in the west after gold was discovered. The pair, who had helped to found American Express in 1850, officially created Wells Fargo & Co. on March 18, 1852 with two primary objectives – transportation and banking. In California, where no railroads yet existed, the Wells, Fargo & Co Express, planned to provide stagecoach and wagon services to the many miners flooding to the area, as well as freight services to businesses. Its banking division, Wells, Fargo & Co Bank advertised both financial services and a general forwarding businesses for mail, valuable deliveries and freight.

Stagecoach.

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Within the year Wells Fargo established its first office in San Francisco, soon followed by offices in Sacramento, Monterey and San Diego, and within no time, in most every mining camp in California.

In its earliest days Wells Fargo did not operate its own stagecoaches, rather, they sub-contracted with those already in business. The company; however, staked its reputation on protecting its cargo, and a Wells Fargo “shotgun messenger” sat beside the driver, often protecting a treasure chest under his seat.

Later, Wells Fargo joined with a number of partners to build the largest stagecoach empire in the world.

One of its earliest and most important tasks included the transportation of gold from the Philadelphia mint, a service Wells Fargo retained until a United States Mint was opened in San Francisco in April, 1854. Another important task serviced by Wells Fargo was mail delivery. Though post offices were first established in California in 1848, the public preferred the express companies, as they were cheaper and faster than the U.S. Mail.

By 1855, mining activity had begun to decline in California and several banks failed. However, Wells Fargo remained, soon to become the dominant express and banking organization in the west. At that time, they were the only company making large shipments of gold, and continued to serve miners by delivering mail and supplies.

In 1857, Wells Fargo joined several other express companies to form the Overland Mail Company, which provided for regular twice-a-week mail service between St. Louis and San Francisco.

Nicknamed the “Butterfield Line” after its president, John Butterfield, it ran 2,757 miles through the Southwest via El Paso, Tucson and Los Angeles, before arriving in San Francisco. The trek over deserts and mountains took about 25 days, stopping only to change horses or for passengers to get food.

By the early 1860’s Wells Fargo had a monopoly in California on the express business, sporting some 147 offices. Most of its stagecoaches were Concords, manufactured in Concord, New Hampshire. Each carried fifteen passengers, nine inside and six outside, including the driver and a Wells Fargo messenger, and was drawn by six horses.

Inside each coach was a list of rules for passengers. These included:

Abstinence from liquor is requested, but if you must drink share the bottle. To do otherwise makes you appear selfish and unneighborly.
If ladies are present, gentlemen are urged to forego smoking cigars and pipes as the odor of same is repugnant to the gentler sex. Chewing tobacco is permitted, but spit with the wind, not against it.
Gentlemen must refrain from the use of rough language in the presence of ladies and children.
Buffalo robes are provided for your comfort in cold weather. Hogging robes will not be tolerated and the offender will be made to ride with the driver.
Don't snore loudly while sleeping or use your fellow passenger's shoulder for a pillow; he or she may not understand and friction may result.

Stagecoach Rules.

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Stagecoach Robbery.

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Firearms may be kept on your person for use in emergencies. Do not fire them for pleasure or shoot at wild animals as the sound riles the horses.
In the event of runaway horses remain calm. Leaping from the coach in panic will leave you injured, at the mercy of the elements, hostile Indians and hungry coyotes.
Forbidden topics of conversation are: stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings.
Gents guilty of unchivalrous behavior toward lady passengers will be put off the stage. It's a long walk back. A word to the wise is sufficient.

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