Early History

The faithful guard dogs who kept us safe

Over the years, many four-legged friends have served as protectors of Wells Fargo and its employees.
A snowy landscape with small wood buildings in the background. A team of dogs stands ready as a man loads items onto a sled.
Featured photo caption: In Alaska in 1913, a Wells Fargo dog sled team transported gold 428 miles by trail from Iditarod to Tanana. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives.

From Wells Fargo’s earliest days, dogs were the devoted companions and protectors of many employees. In the mid-1850s, agent John Q. Jackson shipped several hundred pounds of gold each month from Wells Fargo’s office in Auburn, California, to various locations. The responsibility and risk of handling large amounts of gold weighed heavily on Jackson’s mind, but the enterprising Wells Fargo agent quickly found a solution: A large dog joined the office staff. In a letter to his family back in Virginia, Jackson described the 128-pound canine as “a friend, counselor, and safeguard” and “a very intelligent and noble fellow devoted to his business who takes as much interest in the office, seemingly, as anyone connected with the establishment.”

Tiger

Not far from Jackson’s office, agent Thomas Hotchkiss owned a large dog named Tiger, who faithfully guarded Wells Fargo’s office safe in Iowa Hill, California. On February 12, 1857, a fire burned through the town, and although Hotchkiss twice pulled “Old Tig” from the building, the loyal dog returned to his post and passed away. The local newspaper, Placer Herald, mourned him as a faithful guard, “ever true to the duties of his master.”

The steadfast loyalty of Tig and many other dogs endeared them to workers everywhere, and their contributions became a part of Wells Fargo’s history. In fact, an alert dog guarding a safe or treasure box became a universal symbol of security throughout the express transportation business, utilized by Wells Fargo and several of its competitors. Dogs sometimes even rode as “helpers” aboard wagons or trains and became beloved mascots of many Wells Fargo offices.

Several other dogs are remembered for their contributions to Wells Fargo.

Boozer

A white dog sits facing left, wearing a black metal studded collar. Image link will enlarge image.
Boozer, who traveled with Wells Fargo’s messengers on trains from coast to coast in the 1910s. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives

Boozer wandered into the Wells Fargo Polk Street Depot in Chicago as a puppy, suffering from a broken leg. After being nursed back to health by Wells Fargo employees, Boozer became a celebrity. The terrier accompanied the company’s messengers on trains from coast to coast in the 1910s, but seemed most at home with his human friends in the Windy City.

Bum

Wells Fargo used to transport dogs for customers. One adventurous little Scottish terrier started his career with Wells Fargo after escaping from his crate during shipment. He reappeared in a few weeks, but his owner no longer wanted him, so employees adopted him and named him Bum. He continued his freewheeling lifestyle, traveling by train to company offices throughout the U.S. and Mexico in the 1910s.

Teddy

A long haired, shaggy dog sits upon a wagon flat bed. A factory building is in the background. Caption below reads: This is Teddy-at your service. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Messenger featured Teddy in its March 1916 edition. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives

Teddy, a stray poodle, helped foil a burglary in progress at the Wells Fargo office in San Mateo, California, in 1916. As a reward, he was adopted as an official Wells Fargo employee — with a new collar and license to prove it.

Jack

A historic photocard of a boxer puppy perched upon a Wells Fargo & Co. treasure box. Handwritten across the top is the name “Jack”. Image link will enlarge image.
Jack the Dog, Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives

The most famous Wells Fargo dog of all was named Jack, who still appears on Wells Fargo products and internal videos. At San Francisco’s Midwinter Fair in 1894, Wells Fargo employee Lew Bay posed his puppy on a Wells Fargo treasure box.

This portrait of Jack became a popular fair souvenir and a reminder of all of Wells Fargo’s faithful companion canines. Perched atop a Wells Fargo treasure box, Jack reminded people of Wells Fargo’s vigilance in attending to customer security.

An illustration of a child hugging a dog who is resting in a shipping crate. Reads: The Fargo man took awful good care of you, didn’t he doggie. Image link will enlarge image. A small Chihuahua sits facing left while perched upon a Wells Fargo & Co.’s Express shipping trunk. Reads: Mascot of, Wells, Fargo & Co.’s Office City of Mexico. Image link will enlarge image.
An illustration from Wells Fargo Messenger in May 1916; Irish, pictured here in 1899, became the mascot of Wells Fargo's office in Mexico City for many dog years. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives
An illustration of a serious looking guard dog perched upon a Wells, Fargo & Co Express box. The room is full of packages and behind the dog to the left is written “Alert and Faithful”. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo's 1883 directory of offices and agents showed an “alert and faithful” dog guarding a Wells Fargo treasure box, safe, and customer parcels. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives
Two men in suits stand an entrance. A border collie sits at attention beside them. The sidewalk out front is constructed of wood and a sign in the window next to the Wells Fargo office reads: Dry Goods & Clothing. Image link will enlarge image.
A border collie co-worker at Wells Fargo's office in Fort Bragg, California, in 1904. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives
A large white dog sits perched upon a Wells, Fargo & Co. box which is sitting atop a Wells Fargo & Co flatbed wagon. Image link will enlarge image.
Rowdy on duty in Lordsburg, New Mexico, in 1904. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives
A street scene with three men and a woman standing beside a Wells, Fargo wagon being pulled by one white horse. Sitting in the driver’s seat is a small dark dog. Image link will enlarge image.
A canine co-pilot rides in this Wells Fargo wagon in Alamogordo, New Mexico, in 1907. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives
A street scene with a fully loaded Wells Fargo wagon on the left and three men standing to the right in front of a smaller buggy. One man in overalls holds a large hound dog with a leash. Image link will enlarge image.
Both horses and hounds accompanied Wells Fargo wagons in Oakland, California, in 1906. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives

Marianne Babal

Marianne Babal is a Corporate Historian for Wells Fargo.

Tags

Explore more stories

Back to top