E. Wells Fargo Express:

(by E.L. Horton)

The Wells Fargo and Company Express was incorporated in 1852. William Frederick Hamden said to his friend, James W. Hale, "I want to make a mark in the world." Mr. Hale replied, "Why don't you run errands between New York and Boston?" Carrying small pieces of valuable freight that people don't like to entrust to unknown agents."

Equipped with a modest carpet bag, he approached bankers, brokers, business men and volunteered to carry valuable letters, greenbacks, jewelry, heirlooms, and etc. It was from this humble beginning that the great Wells Fargo Company emerged.

There was an urgent need of such service for the great Railway Express today has over 50,000 employees instead of a single messenger as the Hamden's express began. (1930s)

The Wells Fargo Company Express Line between Fort Seward and Fort Totten crossed Foster county north and southwest of the James River almost paralleling the Old Stage Coach Trail, leaving Jamestown west of the Jim River and east of Pipestem passing about two miles east of Buchanan, two miles east of New Port (Melville) seven miles east of Carrington and passing into Eddy county.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 395