AMERICAN EXPRESS STOCK CERTIFICATE
SIGNED BY WELLS AND FARGO
HENRY WELLS (1806-1878). Wells started in the express business as an agent for Harnden's Express, running from New York to Albany. He went on to start his own firm, Wells & Company, which ran a route from Buffalo to Detroit, the first express company to venture west of Buffalo. As a young man, William G. Fargo served as a messenger with Wells & Company, and eventually became Wells' partner. In 1850, Wells & Company joined with two other express companies to form the American Express Company with Wells serving as its president from 1850 to 1868. American Express covered the eastern sector of the United States; Wells, Fargo & Company, formed in 1852, covered the western sector.
WILLIAM FARGO (1818-1881). Fargo started in the express business at age thirteen with a thirty mile mail route. Sometime later, William Fargo served as a messenger with Wells & Company, the first express company to venture west of Buffalo. Fargo became a partner in Wells & Company and, in 1850, they joined with two other express companies to form the American Express Company which covered the eastern sector of the United States; Wells, Fargo & Company, formed in 1852, covered the western sector.
Signed stock certificate. 1pg. 12” x 8”. April 15, 1863. New York. An American Express Company stock certificate signed “Henry Wells” as President, “Wm G Fargo” as Secretary and “Alex Holland” as Treasurer. It certified that John H. Barklage of New York owned one share. There is light toning and a couple of rubber stamp markings, but the signatures are dark and uncancelled.