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Wiltsee Collection panels 51-60

Panel 51

Historic exhibit Panel #51 featuring letter covers. Long descriptions are available as page content. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Willtsee Collection Panel 51

Wells Fargo worked with other express companies to deliver letters. These letters were sent by Estill and Co.’s Express, English and Wells Moore’s Flat, Eureka Express, and Elko and Mountain City Pony Express.

No. 289

Sent to Mr. Henry Meeker in Newark, New Jersey. Estill and Co.’s Express delivered the letter from the emigrant trail in 1850 to Weston, Missouri, where the U.S. mail forwarded it to New Jersey.

No. 290

Sent from Abner W. Dyer to his wife Cynthia in Jefferson City, Missouri. Estill and Co.’s Express delivered the letter from the emigrant trail in 1850 to Weston, Missouri, where the U.S. mail forwarded it to Cynthia. Inside this cover is a letter written from Abner to Cynthia describing his experiences on the emigrant trail to California.

No. 291

Sent to Mr. William Mc Guire in Marysville, California, from Graniteville, after passing through Nevada. Sent by Wells Fargo and English and Wells, Moore’s Flat and Eureka Express in December 1868.

No. 292

Unused cover with frank for English and Wells, Moore’s Flat and Eureka Express with connections at Nevada City and Emigrant Gap.

No. 293

Sent to Miss Bella Barman at 888 Mission Street in San Francisco. Sent by Eureka Express Co. and Wells Fargo.

No. 294

Sent to Miss Kohlberg Strauss and Frohman at 107-109 Post Street, San Francisco, California. Sent from Nevada City by Eureka Express Co. with connections by Wells Fargo.

No. 294a

Cover with frank for Eureka Express Co. with stamp from Wells Fargo at Nevada, California.

No. 295

Unused cover with frank for Wells Fargo and Elko and Mountain City Pony Express, managed by “M. P. Freeman & Co.” Mountain City was a small camp north of Elko, Nevada, and close to the Idaho State Line.

Panel 52

Historic exhibit Panel #52 featuring letter covers. Long descriptions are available as page content. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Willtsee Collection Panel 52

Wells Fargo worked with other express companies to deliver letters. These letters were sent by Everts and Co.’s Express and Everts, Snell and Co.’s Express.

No. 296

Sent to Lyndon Osborn. It was forwarded by Everts and Co.’s Express from Sacramento City, California to Onion Valley for $2. Inside is a letter from Lyndon’s son in Albion, Indiana, dated March 27, 1852.

No. 297

Sent to John D. Worden by Everts and Co.’s Express from Sacramento, California, to Brown Valley for $1.25. Inside are two letters from Elisa Worden in Albion, Michigan, to her husband in California. In the first letter dated August 1, 1852, Elisa pleads for news from John. In the second letter dated March 27, 1853, Elisa writes of her plans to travel to California to reunite with him.

No. 298

Sent to John D. Worden by Everts Sneel and Co.’s Express from Marysville, California to Brown Valley for $1.25. Inside is a letter dated September 26, 1851, from Jane Ann Worden in Albion, Michigan, to her father in California.

No. 299

Sent to John D. Worden by Everts Sneel and Co.’s Express from Marysville, California to Brown Valley for $1.50. Inside are two letters dated September 18, 1853 sent from Albion, Michigan to California from Jane Ann Worden to her father and from Elisa Worden to husband.

No. 300

Sent from Elk River, Iowa, to Marysville, California. This letter was addressed to James H. Haun who was a brother of U.S. Senator H.T. Haun at Marysville. Taken up by Everts and Co.’s Express in Marysville, and delivered to Haun “opposite mouth of Nelson Creek Plumas Co.” Delivery charge $1.00.

No. 301

Sent from Georgetown, Kentucky, on May 10, 1854 to James H. Haun in Marysville, California. Taken up by Everts and Co.’s Express from Marysville and delivered to Haun somewhere in Plumas Co. The delivery charge was $1.25.

Panel 53

Historic exhibit Panel #53 featuring letter covers and an express receipt. Long descriptions are available as page content. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Wiltsee Collection Panel 53

Wells Fargo worked with other express companies to deliver letters. These letters were sent by Everts, Davis and Co.’s Express and Everts, Wilson and Co.’s Express.

No. 302

Sent to James H. Haun from Georgetown, Kentucky, to Marysville, dated June 3, 1855. Taken by Everts Davis and Co.’s Express from Marysville and delivered to Haun “opposite mouth of Nelson’s Creek”.

No. 303

Sent to J. W. Nicholson at Downieville who was County Clerk of Sierra Co. from 1854 to 1855. Forwarded by Everts Davis and Co.’s Express.

No. 304

Sent to Miss Harriet Jones in Sunbury, Delaware County, Ohio. Taken by Everts, Davis and Co. from Plumas County to Marysville, where the letter continued by U.S. mail. The Everts, Davis and Co frank, issued April 1, 1856, is the earliest of its kind.

No. 305

Sent to County Clerk G. H. Tuttle in Downieville, California. Taken by Everts, Davis and Co. Sent in part by Everts, Wilson and Co.’s Express. Sent from La Porte, which changed its name from Rabbit Town in 1857.

Express receipt from Bidwell’s Bar, California, confirming the forwarding of $5 to George Whitman in Sacramento. The receipt lists the route and stations of Everts Davis and Co. and was signed by Everts, Davis and Co agent Henry Kutz.

Panel 54

Historic exhibit Panel #54 featuring letter covers. Long descriptions are available as page content. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Willtsee Collection Panel 54

Wells Fargo worked with other express companies to deliver letters. These letters were sent by Everts, Wilson and Co.’s Express.

No. 306

Sent to C. E. Wood in Massachusetts. Taken by Everts, Wilson and Co. from Plumas County, California to Strawberry Valley, and forwarded on by U.S. mail. Possibly sent in 1858.

No. 307

Sent to Daniel Herr in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Taken by Everts, Wilson and Co. from Plumas County, California, to Strawberry Valley, and forwarded on by U.S. mail. Possibly sent in 1859.

No. 308

Sent to Joseph J. Gray at 88 Battery Street in San Francisco, California. Taken by Everts, Wilson and Co.’s Express from Plumas County to Marysville where it was forwarded by Wells Fargo. Dated March 9, 1860.

No. 309

Sent to Andy Black in Mobile, Alabama. Taken by Everts, Wilson and Co. Express from Plumas County to La Porte, where the letter was forwarded. Dated March 16, 1860.

No. 310

Sent to Kleckner and Brothers in Port Wine, California. Taken by Everts, Wilson and Co.’s Express. Possibly sent in 1860.

No. 311

Sent to Arkansas from Downieville, California. Dated January 28, 1862. Taken in part by Everts, Wilson and Co.’s Express.

No. 312

Sent to P. O. Hundley in Quincy, California. Taken by Everts, Wilson and Co.’s Express. Possibly sent in 1862. Contains a mark for “W. Hawley & Co., Importers & Provisions, Liquors, Boots, Shoes, Clothing, Hardware, &c Commercial Block Marysville.”

No. 313

Sent to William Trimble in Healdsburg, California from Plumas County. Taken by Everts, Wilson and Co.’s Express in 1862, shortly after the express company was bought by Holland, Morley and Co.

Panel 55

Historic exhibit Panel #55 featuring letter covers. Long descriptions are available as page content. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Willtsee Collection Panel 55

Wells Fargo worked with other express companies to deliver letters. These letters were sent by Farley’s Express, Fargo and Co.’s, Ford and Co.’s, Francis and Co.’s, M. Fettis’s Oro Fino Express, Freys Valentine Express, J. F. Forman’s Gallatin, and W. T. Gibb’s Express.

No. 314

Sent to Miss L. J. Whitcomb in Swanzey, New Hampshire. Taken by Farley’s Express from Youngs Hill, California, near Camptonville, and taken to La Porte where the letter was forwarded by U.S. mail.

No. 315

Sent to Ferdinand J. McCann in Downieville, California. Taken by Fargo and Co.’s Feather River Express to Marysville where it was forwarded by Wells Fargo. Annan Fargo owned the Fargo and Co.’s Express and had no relationship to William Fargo of Wells Fargo.

No. 316

Sent to Amos P. Catlin in Sacramento, California. Forwarded from Sacramento to Greenwood by Ford and Co.’s Express. Sent on the steamer Cherokee. Inside is a letter from his family in New York dated December 1851.

No. 317

Sent to Miss Elvira Woods in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Taken by Francis and Co.’s Express to La Porte where the letter continued by U.S. mail. Dated April 30, 1860. The letter likely originated from one of the towns along the Francis and Co.’s Express route: Gibsonville, Nelson’s Creek, Jamison City, and Quincy.

No. 318

Unused cover marked with a frank for M. Fettis’s Oro Fino Express which served Oro Fino in Nez Perce, Idaho.

No. 319

Unused cover marked with a frank for Frey’s Valentine Express which operated in San Francisco, California. William A. Frey is marked as the “New England Valentine Company” company agent at 404 Kearny Street.

No. 320

Sent to Mrs. J. M. Knight in Puller Springs, Montana. Taken by J. F. Forman’s Gallatin Express which operated in Montana from Virginia to Sterling, Gallatin City, and Bozeman.

No. 321

Sent to Brooks, Clark and Co. in Folsom, California. Taken by W. T. Gibb’s Express and Wells Fargo. W. T. Gibb’s Express operated from Georgetown to Spanish Flat and Kelsey’s to Placerville. Inside is a letter dated February 28, 1859 from Charles B. Kulin.

Panel 56

Historic exhibit Panel #56 featuring letter covers. Long descriptions are available as page content. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Willtsee Collection Panel 56

Wells Fargo worked with other express companies to deliver letters. These letters were sent by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

No. 322

Sent to merchants Ellis and Crosby in San Francisco, California. Taken from Foster’s Bar to San Francisco by Freeman and Co.’s Express. Dated December 2, 1850. John M. Freeman started Freeman and Co.’s Express, and later sold out to Adams and Co., becoming their agent in Panama. He returned to San Francisco and reorganized Freeman and Co.’s Express, gradually building it into a nationwide express company. Freeman and Co.’s Express became part of Wells Fargo in 1859.

No. 323

Sent to Albert Dibblee in the care of Ellis and Crosby at Sansome Street in San Francisco, California. Taken from Sacramento to San Francisco by Freeman and Co.’s Express. Inside is a letter dated January 21, 1851.

No. 324

Sent to Ellis and Crosby in San Francisco, California. Taken from Sacramento to San Francisco by Freeman and Co.’s Express. Inside is a letter dated April 8, 1851.

No. 325

Sent to Waneu and Co. at Tehama Block in Sacramento, California. Taken from San Francisco to Sacramento by Freeman and Co.’s Express. Possibly dated April 9, 1851.

No. 326

Sent to Isaac H. Archer at 84 Battery Street in San Francisco, California. Taken from New York or Brooklyn to California by Freeman and Co.’s Express. Possibly sent before June 1852.

No. 327

Sent to U.S. Consul Robert H. Belden in Mazatlán, Mexico. Taken from New York to Mexico by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

No. 328

Sent to bankers Fitz and Ralston in San Francisco, California. Taken from Diamond Springs to San Francisco by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

No. 329

Sent to Flint, Peabody and Co. in San Francisco, California. Taken from Melbourne, Australia, to San Francisco by Freeman and Co.’s Express. Inside contains a circular dated January 10, 1855 concerning the business partnership between Flint, Peabody and Co. and Cobb and Bowles in Melbourne.

Panel 57

Historic exhibit Panel #57 featuring letter covers and a shipping receipt. Long descriptions are available as page content. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Willtsee Collection Panel 57

Wells Fargo worked with other express companies to deliver letters. These letters were sent by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

No. 330

Sent to J. P. Teller at the Corner of Front and Commercial Streets in San Francisco, California. Taken by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

No. 331

Sent to George J. Nichols in Athens, New York. Taken from San Francisco to New York by Freeman and Co.’s Express and forwarded there by U.S. mail.

No. 332

Sent to Caroline Mathieson in Elgin, Michigan. Taken in part by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

No. 333

Sent to W. W. Tinnin and Co. in Weaverville, California. Delivered by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

No. 334

Sent from Sacramento to Fritz and Ralston in San Francisco, California. Delivered by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

No. 335

Sent from Coulterville to San Francisco, California. Delivered by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

Freeman and Co.’s Express shipping receipt for one package valued at $5 from New York to San Francisco, California on March 4, 1857. For Daniel Gibb and Co. in San Francisco.

Panel 58

Historic exhibit Panel #58 featuring letter covers. Long descriptions are available as page content. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Willtsee Collection Panel 58

Wells Fargo worked with other express companies to deliver letters. These letters were sent by Freeman and Co.’s, Gillpatrick and Co.’s, Gray’s Express, and Gilbert and Hedges Express.

No. 336

Sent to James F. Reed in Santa Cruz, California. Taken by Wells Fargo which purchased Freeman and Co.’s Express in 1859.

No. 337

Sent from storekeeper Louis Trabuco in Bear Valley, California to Scalmanini and Frapolli in San Francisco. Delivered by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

No. 338

Sent from New York to Thomas N. Robinson at the telegraph office in St. John, New Brunswick. Taken in part by Freeman and Co.’s Express.

No. 339

Unused cover with frank for Gilpatrick and Co.’s Express, located at 422 Sacramento Street, San Francisco. Possibly made in 1874.

No. 340

Sent to Mrs. Lucy Goldman in San Francisco, California. Sent care of David Dwyer from the mountains by Gray’s Express to Placerville, and forwarded to San Francisco by Wells Fargo.

No. 341

Sent to Mrs. Lucy Goldman in San Francisco, California. Sent care of David Dwyer from the mountains by Gray’s Express to Virginia City, Nevada, and forwarded to San Francisco by Wells Fargo.

No. 342

Sent to the U.S. District Attorney in Los Angeles, California. Taken by Gilbert and Hedges Express from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Panel 59

Historic exhibit Panel #59 featuring letter covers and a photograph. Long descriptions are available as page content. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Willtsee Collection Panel 59

Wells Fargo worked with other express companies to deliver letters. These letters were sent by Greathouse and Slicer’s Express and Green’s Express.

No. 343

Sent to Tandler and Co. at the Custom House Block in San Francisco, California. Sent with a package of $212.25 in coin. Taken from Yreka by Greathouse and Slicer’s Express, and forwarded by Wells Fargo from Sonora to San Francisco.

No. 344

Sent to Tandler and Co. in San Francisco, California. Taken from Yreka by Greathouse and Slicer’s Express, and forwarded by Wells Fargo to San Francisco.

No. 345

Sent to A. M. Rosborough in Shasta, California. Taken from Yreka by Greathouse and Slicer’s Express. Although this letter was sent in a pre-paid Wells Fargo envelope, it was not delivered by Wells Fargo since Greathouse and Slicer’s Express ran from Yreka to Shasta.

No. 346

Sent to Mrs. Elizabeth Jones in Grass Valley, California. Sent by U.S. mail from Burlington, Iowa, and taken to Grass Valley by Green’s Express. Possibly sent in 1855. Green’s Express started in 1850 as a one man delivery route by Jerry A. Green from Nevada City to surrounding camps. He later extended service to Grass Valley.

No. 347

Sent to John R. Mc Henry at the U.S. Hotel in Nevada City, California. Inside is a letter dated June 25, 1854. Taken by Green’s Express from Clinton (later Moore’s Flat) to Nevada City.

Photograph of Haggerty’s Store in Moore’s Flat, California, 1930s. This brick store is the sole remaining vestige of the once flourishing mining town of Moore’s Flat, Nevada County. Known as Clinton until 1857, Moore’s Flat had a population of 1500. It possessed several streets and many stores. The Zellerbach family started here as storekeepers and bankers.

Panel 60

Historic exhibit Panel #60 featuring letter covers. Long descriptions are available as page content. Image link will enlarge image.
Wells Fargo Willtsee Collection Panel 60

Wells Fargo worked with other express companies to deliver letters. These letters were sent by Gregory’s Express.

No. 348

Sent by Gregory’s Express from Sacramento, California, to Brittan and Southworth in San Francisco. Possibly sent May 11, 1851. Joseph W. Gregory created one of the largest gold rush expresses by connecting small local expresses and offering international service. After expanding too quickly, Gregory’s Express ended in 1853.

No. 349

Sent by Gregory’s Express from San Francisco, California, to James L. L. P. Warren in Sacramento.

No. 350

Sent by Gregory’s Express from Marysville, California, to merchant Charles W. Crosby in San Francisco. Inside is a letter dated August 12, 1851 from Jones and Co. in Marysville about a recent shipment of onions.

No. 351

Sent by Gregory’s Express care of Bullitt and Patrick from Sacramento, California, to A. Miller in San Francisco. Inside is a letter dated October 7, 1851 from W. N. Bullitt about a recent business offer from H. B. H.

No. 352

Sent by Gregory’s Express from Shasta, California, to Flint, Peabody and Co. in San Francisco. Inside is a letter dated February 17, 1852 from George Patch in Colusa.

No. 353

Sent by Gregory’s Express to merchant L. D. P. Tiller in San Francisco, California.

No. 353A

Sent by Gregory’s Express to Robert R. Carrington, pursuer of the steamboat New Orleans. Although originally sent to San Francisco, it was redirected to Sydney, Australia, and received July 20, 1853.

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