table of contents...by robert d. livingston seattle-yukon transportation company la porte,...

1 ' '

RESEARCH JOURNAL OF' EARLY V'\TESTERN M.An:..S

Vol. XLII No. 4 No. 167

Quarterli_ Publication of the WESTERN t:OVER SOCIETY

Unit No. 14 - American Philatelic Society

President's Message From your Editor Secretary's Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Stockton: Gateway to the Southern Mines Part. 2 by Robert D. Livingston

Seattle-Yukon Transportation Company La Porte, California California Postmarks (Through 1935)

by John Williams Merced County

October 1992

1 2 3

5 20 26

32

The cover: Rabbit Town was a post office from September 13, 1855 until it changed its name to La Porte on November 19, 1857. Courtesy of Jann Garvis.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

If you collect Western Express covers, Territorials, Town cancellations, or anything pertaining to the mails of the Old West, you are invited to join the Western Cover Society and enjoy meeting other collectors.

Local groups of members meet more or less regularly to talk, swap and generally share their enthusiasm for Western covers. There is a Dutch treat luncheon meeting in San Francisco almost every Friday in the 12th floor dining room of the Marine's Memorial Club, Sutter and Mason streets, from about 11 am to 1 pm or later. Visitors are always welcome, including non-members. Call Henry Spelman at 415 453-4663 to see if we will be meeting while you are in town.

Patron Membership $30.00 a year Sustaining Membership $20.00 a year Active membership $15.00 a year

Membership dues include subscription to Western Express

Send application with appropriate check to: Western Cover Society Edward Weinberg, Secretary 27 Bridgewater Way Pleasant Hill CA 94523

Please state your collecting interests. You application will be acted upon at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.

Advertising rates, per issue: Full page $55.00; haH page $27.50; quarter page $17.50

Copyright 1992 by the Western Cover Society

Western Express October 1992

President's Message

I cannot opine on the rest of Philately, but one thing is certain, western cover collecting is booming. This is certainly due in large part to several large holdings having come on the market. Last October we saw the Edwards collection, perhaps the preeminent assemblage of express covers in existence, sold through Christies. Connoisseurs were able tq snap up some exceedingly rare and desirable items. Those that were not sold, or sold "to the book," are beginning to show up in the secondary market.

Then in May, Richard Frajola auctioned our long-time member Earl Oakley's collection of California covers. The auction contained no fewer than six San Francisco straight lines, and that seems to have brought several others on the market. For anyone who has ever desired to own one of these venerable postmarks, now is the time to buy. The last Elliott-Lindsay auction saw one go to the book for less than $600!

Also in May, Greg Manning auctioned the remainder of the Marden Ross holdings at the World Columbian show. Again, many high quality items that had not seen the light of day for many years became available.

Now, Richard Frajola has scheduled an October auction of his own Colorado collection -yet another irresistable opportunity to acquire many fine and rare items.

In sum, this is a good time to buy. Recession or not, those who are taking advantage of the opportunities will be glad they did for many years to come.

For those of you who missed the annual breakfast, I announced the action of the Board of Directors in setting up two permanent committees. One is a Publications Committee that will oversee the selection and production of special Society research works. The two in progress are John Williams' California postmark project, currently being serialized in Western Express and one day to be published in bound volumes; the second is a compendium of Wells Fargo Express offices and postal markings. We have ideas for more and are open to suggestions from you, the membership. Write any member of the committee -- Henry Spelman III, Mark Metkin, or Bill Tatham.

The other committee is one on forgeries. It was determined that the society cannot function as a formal expertizer but, in appropriate cases, we are prepared to research and publish articles on forgeries. Once again, we invite your suggestions and submissions. You may write to any member of the Forgeries committee-- Frank Newton, Irv Vogel, Howard Mader and yours truly.

We had 21 members at our Friday lunch at the APS show in Oakland, perhaps a record. It would be nice to have a similar enthusiastic turnout at SESCAL, October 9-11, at the Los Angeles Airport Hyatt hotel. On Saturday, October 10 at 2:00p.m. the Society will sponsor a western cover show-and-tell. Just bring any cover you want to talk or ask about, and that will get you in the door. Check at the Society table for the room assignment. Let's see all you Southern Californios there!

Anson Reinhart

Pagel

Western Express

FROM YOUR EDITOR Alan H. Patera P.O. Box 2093 Lake Grove OR 97035 (503) 635-1379

CALIFORNIA POSTMARK CATALOG

This issue presents Merced County only, but with the January 1993 issue we will resume with two new counties, Kings and Tulare. If you haven't already sent John Williams photocopies of your holdings of these two counties yet, please take the time to do so. ·

Before th.is enormous project is published in book form, it is in the best interests of the Society as well as collectors in general to make it as complete as possible. If you want to have some pure collecting enjoyment, set aside an evening to spend with your covers. H you have not already done so, go through your collection methodically, checking each postmark against the Postmark Catalog as it has been published in Western Express. You'll perhaps be surprised at how many instances you will be able to extend the date range of known postmark types, and you might even locate a postmark type previously unreported.

Then --- and this is impmtant --- set aside those items that extend our knowledge, make photocopies of them, and send them to John Williams. This is the critical step to make those unreported postmarks reported, to get them into the publication stream so that we will have the best information available. It should go without saying that the more individuals that participate in this project, the better the results will be. There's a tremendous amount of material out there that has not been included thusfar. Won't you please help?

WELLS FARGO SURVEY

Have you sent in photocopies of your Wells, Fargo & Co. covers? Bill Tatham is the coordinater for this comprehensive survey. Even if you think your material is common or uninteresting, please copy it and send it to Bill Tatham, 5734 Pickering, Whittier CA 90601, noting color and any dates that may not photocopy well.

The ultimate goal of this project is to prepare a definitive book on the markings of Wells, Fargo & Co. To ensure its success, every one of us needs to cooperate fully.

Western Cover Society Show and Tell at SESCAL

October 1992

The Western Cover Society will conduct a "Show and Tell" at SESCAL at 2:00 in the afternoon on Saturday, October 10. It will be held at one of_the meeting rooms- inquire at the Western Cover Soctety table for the exact location.

Admission will be free, but there will be a requirement that you bring at least one postal history item to show and discuss. It should be a lot of fun -come on and join us!

BACK ISSUES Back issues of Western Express for the past

several years are available from Secretary!freasurer Ed Weinberg. The cost for a single copy is $7.50. Some issues are in shorter supply than others, so if you are lacking any issues it would be wise to secure them now. Older issues may also be available from the Friends of the Western Philatelic Library, P.O. Box 2219, Sunnyvale CA, 94087. Please inquire for availability and price.

.... a few Observations

The Western Cover Society has certainly been a durable organization over the years. Western Express is ready to start its 43rd year with the next issue, and the Society probably has more members now than it ever has. A few members pass away each year, and we inevitably lose a few members each renewal time, as interests change from time to time. But basically, there is always a good solid core - the names have changed over the past 42 years, but the interest and dedication remain.

Western Express has always been the publication organ of the Society. It started off modestly, with only a few pages; it gradually grew larger, until in the 1960s it was a respectable journal of 24 to 48 pages. With the inception of John Williams' "Postmark Catalog", Western Express became a weighty journal indeed, with upwards to 100 pages per issue.

This issue has the fewest pages of any for the past several years, largeley because there is only one county for the Postmark Catalog -- and Merced County runs only 16 pages. To maintain a journal of even the size of the current one, there will have to be new articles, new ideas. It's your Society, your journal. Let us know what you want and what you can provide.

Page2

-- ----- -----

Western Express

Secretary's Report

New Members

#1055

#1056

Oay E. McClain 2147 Washington Ave. Redding CA 96001-0906 Collects: Shasta Co.; R.P.O.s

Dr. Charles E. Test 4430 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis IN 46208 Collects: 19th cent. U.S.; western covers

#1057 James L. Ware 3638 Hyancinth Dr. San Diego CA 92106 Collects: Western covers, San Diego Co.

#1058 Wesley N. Shel1en 1650 Sunflower Dr. Missoula MT 59802 Collects: Montana; U.S. machine & fancy cancels

#1059 Ray Farmer RR#l Heytman Rd. Box 84 Lansing lA 52151 Collects: Allamakee Co. [lA]

#1060 Nina Swanson 26562 Guadiana Mission Viejo CA 92691

#1061 Stephen P. Kaplan P.O. Box 14001 Public Square Station Cleveland OH 44114 Collects: El Dorado Co. CA; Ohio

#1062 Mac Johnson Tanstaafl 529 Willamette St. Eugene OR 97401 Collects: early Western covers, DPO (especially Oregon), plate nos. on commercial covers

#1063 Bob Welsh 10821 Bond Rd. Harrison OH, 45030 Collects: Pony Express covers

Page3

October 1992

Western Cover Society officers

President Vice President Secretary-Treasurer Directors

Past President

Deceased

D. Anson Reinhart Bill Tatham Edward Weinberg Jim Blaine John Drew Howard Mader MarkMetkin Frank Newton Basil Pearce

Henry Spelman III

# 622 Jack R. Chisholm

Address Changes (only the new address is shown)

Elliott-Lindsay Auctions 1624 Seabright Ave. Santa Cruz CA 95062

John C. Olson 4300 S. Semoran Blvd. Orlando FL 32822

Tom Pulley 9850 Gatfield Ave. Trlr 101 Huntington Beach CA 92646-2447

Harold Richow 31552-58 Railroad Canyon Rd. Canyon Lake CA 92587

Gary H. Walston 206 Stanley Ct. Friendswood TX 77546-4544


Western Cover Society Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting, May 2, 1992.

The meeting was held at 2:00 p.m. on May 2, 1992 at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco, California, and was called to o:rder by Anson Reinhart, president of the Society .

. All of the directors of the Society attended: Anson Reinhart, Bill Tatham, Ed Weinberg, Jim Blaine, Frank Newton, Mark Metkin, Howard Mader, John Drew, Basil Pearce and Henry Spelman ill. WCS members lrv Vogel and Clay Wallace also attended.

The minutes of the board meetings of April27, 1991 and October 12, 1991 were approved. Secretary Ed Weinberg gave the following financial report: WCS receipts were $9.066.89

and expenditures were $7,982.71. Income was down approximately $600.00 from 1990; however, our expenses were less than in 1990. The largest portion of the Society income is derived from dues, which was $6,555.00 in 1991, including one $100.00 donation. The fund balances at the end of 1990 was $24,790.07. In addition, we have a receivable from the Salley project of approximately $1,560.00. A payment was received from The Depot on March 30 in the amount of $440.00.

The membership is approximately 330. The board discussed whether to produce a slide show as an educational tool. The idea was

favorably received but requires the effort of a volunteer to accomplish the project. There appears to be no such volunteer at this time. A promotional brochure was also discussyd, and Anson reported that he would prepare a draft.

The editor of Western Express is authorized to trade promotional ads with other appropriate philatelic journals.

Anson is to contact Bob de Violini to determine whether we can do a promotional mailing to APS members.

Anson gave a report on the Society's efforts to seek a tax exemption. He has made an inquiry to the Franchise Tax Board following receipt of a letter from the Secretary of State declining to file our amended article pending "revivor" with the FTB. The FTB has promised a response in two weeks.

The Wells Fargo project is proceeding slowly. Bill Tatham has published a request for members to send copies of their Wells Fargo covers. Henry Spelman is waiting for new equipment before designing the data base. Bill reported that Jack Leutzinger has new material for a full revision and has expressed an interest in cooperating with us in our project.

Henry Spelman moved that the WCS establish a standing publications committee. The motion was adopted unanimously. The initial members of the Publications Committee are: Henry Spelman, Mark Metkin and Bill Tatham. The Well Fargo project will be the first order of business. The Board members also reaffirmed their commitment to John Williams' California post offices project. Completion is expected in 1997.

The Board discussed establishing an expertizing process. It was determined that we do not have the technical resources to act as expertizers but that as a society we are interested in publishing the results of studies of fraudulent items. The Board unanimously agreed to establish a forgeries committee to encourage the publication of articles on forgeries in Western Express. The initial members of the committee are Frank Newton, lrv Vogel, Howard Mader and Anson Reinhart. The committee will ask Jennifer Larson to assist in the capacity of a consultant.

The president will appoint a nominating committee to make nominations for the 1992 election of directors and officers.

Ed Weinberg discussed the declining interest rate on our certificates of deposit. Ed was authorized to determine whether any of our funds should be moved into another short term investment fonn to yield higher interest.

The meeting was adjourned at 3: 15 p.m. submitted by Ed Weinberg

Page4

Western Express

STOCKTON: GATEWAY TO THE SOUTHERN MINES by Robert D. Livingston

Part2

The second major chain of express companies provided the lineage for Wells. Fargo & Co. in the Southern Mines. The earliest years paralleled the experience of Adams & Co. Pioneer expressmen formed a series of firms as their partners changed, giving way to a company with large resources drawn from the east. However, the similarity ended in 1855. Lack of integrity destroyed Adams & Co. and its strongest successor, the Pacific Express Company, sending many of the best employees to Wells Fargo, and leaving the remaining expressmen to form weaker and weaker companies. In contrast, Wells Fargo grew stronger, by 1860s becoming the premier western express.

View of SONORA in May, 1853.

PageS

October 1992


Cover mailed from the East in June 1850 with double rate (80¢) to San Francisco, where the postmark was applied. Claimed by REYNOWs & CO.'S EXPRESS,. whose unframed circle handstamp enclosed a ms. $2.00fee.

REYNOLDS & CO.

Angevine Reynolds, born December 9, 1829, arrived at Mariposa Creek prior to his twentieth birthday. For a short while, he engaged in mining but then turned to expressing in the Southern Mines as one of the pioneers in the area.

Shortly after Alexander Todd expanded his operations by forming Todd & Bryan, Reynolds established his own express. In an advertisement in the Sacramento Transcript on August 19, 1850, Reynolds informed the public that he had "been engaged in the Express business for the past seven months in the southern mines." This would place its inception in January 1850.

As early as April 27, the Times ran an advertisement for "REYNOLDS & CO.'S EXPRESS, running to all the mines south of the Stanislaus river, connecting in Stockton with TODD & BRYAN'S EXPRESS, and through them into San Francisco with ADAMS & CO.'S EXPRESS to all parts of the United States and Europe." It would also forward letters from San Francsico, Stockton, or Sacramento City to the mines. The office in Stockton was with Todd & Bryan and the partners were A. REYNOLDS, A.S. REYNOLDS and J.P.D. WILKINS. The latter preferred his initials in lieu of John Perla Dunklee Wilkins. The 1850 census listed him as an expressman, born in Massachusetts and thirty years of age.

The partners soon decided to provide their own transportation to meet their delivery requirements. They advertised in the Times on May 4, 1850 that their express would "run line of stages to Sonora, leaving Stockton on Monday and Thursday of each week and a line of stages to the mines on the Mercedes [Merced] and Mariposa rivers." Passage could be arranged at the office of Todd & Bryan.

Reynolds & Co.'s new service proved popular, for the Times of July 13 praised "this indefatigable firm" for making "permanent arrangements to run an express carriage to Sonora in twelve hours. They have established sufficient relays of horses on the route to enable them to accomplish the distance easily by daylight. The express will leave Stockton on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Sonora on the alternate days, from which places they will convey parcels, letters and passengers at moderate charges."

The first Sacramento advertisement, in the Transcript on August 19, 1850, called attention to Reynolds & Co.'s Express from Sacramento to Stockton and all parts of the Southern Mines. "The Express will be run in connection with Messenger & Co.'s Sacramento and Stockton stage, leaving Sacramento city on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and Stockton on

Page6


~;;};,>Ill ~I y . I

Cover postmarked NEW BEDFORD, MS [Massachusetts] DEC 24 [1850] with ms. 40 collect rate. Delivered to addressee in Stockton by REYNOWS & CO.'S EXPRESS, shown with matching $2 as express fee.

~·.' 4 ,..

' .. I ~ : / '(• ' .

I ' ,, ' .

' ~ 1 \. .. /

/"'// /

( ~··/

Cover mailed to Stockton with postmark SACRAMENTO CITY, Cal, JAN 10 [1851] with 12 112¢ postal fee. In Stockton, it was claimed and FORWARDED BY REYNOLDS & CO. EXPRESS to addressee whose name was on their list.

Page7

Western Express

Monday, Wednesday and Friday." In Sacramento and San Francisco, it used Still, Conner & Co.'s Periodical Depot, while in Stockton, after five months Reynolds & Co. had its own office.

Advertisements beginning December 1, 1850 in the Times showed "R. & Co., having made arrangements to continue their Express through the ensuing winter, are now prepared to receive orders .for letters at San Francisco, Stockton and Sacramento cities and forward them" to all the mines south of the Stanislaus River. Its connection to San Francisco was through Todd & Co. All three partners' names appeared on the advertisements through February 26, 1851. The next advertisement, on March 1 (but dated February 26), dropped the name of A.S. Reynolds without comment. The business grew: on June 14, the Republican noted that "Large amounts of gold go through their hands to the Atlantic States and Europe from their branch offices in various parts of the mining region."

Another important change took place on June 14, 1851, though only first advertised in the Alta on June 24: "Our connection with Todd & Co. having ceased, we have made arrangements to run a daily express through to San Francisco from Stockton and all parts of the Southern Mines, and vice versa." Shipments eastward of gold dust, letters and packages would continue through Adams & Co. Reynolds & Co. ex-

< I

\- ' . i· . .. . i' ~ •

October 1992

plained: "We have a daily line of stages running between Stockton and Sonora, carrying our Express. Also a Daily Express between Stockton, Double Springs, Mokelumne, Carsons Creek and Angels." Their office in San Francisco was with Joseph W. Gregory, proprietor of GREGORY'S EXPRESS, which was a rival of Adams & Co. on the New York route.

Since Alexander Todd maintained a close alliance with Adams & Co. and served exclusively as their representative in the Southern Mines, it was natural for Reynolds to make a connection with the enterprising Gregory, who had some excellent contacts ·in the Northern Mines. This arrangment enabled Gregory to penetrate the Southern Mines on a gradual basis.

On January 4, 1851, the Journal observed that Gregory "was in town yesterday for the purpose of making arrangements for the establishment of his Express here." One week later, the newspaper acknowledged its indebtedness to Gregory's Atlantic and Pacific Express for files of the latest Atlantic papers. On April 5, the Times claimed that Gregory "is a wonderful man and in every way worthy of public patronage." Notwithstanding such favorable impressions, Ernest A. Wiltsee was of the opinion that Gregory never succeeded in penetrating the Southern Mines. 13

By June 19, 1851, Gregory was advertising

Feb 11 [1851] New York paid by four 10¢ stamps to STOCKTON where oval FORWARDED BY REYNOLDS & CO. EXPRESS applied and sent to SONORA which stamped twice REYNOWS & CO. SONORA EXPRESS in straight lines.

PageS


. ~t ! l ...

c/~ L~~ ~CV'- d._~~~ /-c;:_o/

Folded letter or cover addressed to Governor McDougal at the state capital in Vallejo in 1851. Handstamped REYNOWS & CO.'S EXPRESS STOCKTON & SAN FRANCISCO at MOKELUMNE HILL with ms. PAID and· "deliver." Straight-line GREGORY'S EXPRESS OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO applied with matching NOT PAID in oval, charge for forwarding the letter. Markings are light- see p.l9.

in the Alta his "EXPRESS TO STOCKTON AND THE SOUTHERN MINES DAILY. Also, to Sacramento, Marysville and Nevada, every afternoon at 4 o'clock from this office" in San Francisco. Four days later, he gave notice that his express was "uninterrupted by fire" and that he had made "important reductions in Express rates to every direction" from San Francisco.

Gregory's advertisements in the .A.l1.a continued until August 15, 1852, when, overextended, he began encountering insurmountable difficulties and was losing his better agents to the new-comer Wells, Fargo & Co.14 The following April, he departed from the scene of his earlier triumphs.

REYNOLDS, TODD & CO.

Not long after Reynolds & Co. located its office with Joseph Gregory in June 1851, an important change occurred in its ownership. In an announcement dated October 7, 1851 and printed in the following day's Republican, Alexander Todd not only disclosed that he had disposed of his interest in Todd & Co. to E.W. Colt and L.W. Newell, but also revealed that he would remain in the express business. Todd asked "his many friends" to continue "their kind and liberal patronage" as "it is his intention to continue the Express Business, through

REYNOLDS & CO." The reasons Alexander H. Todd switched to Todd & Co.'s major rival can only be surmised, but increasing encroachment by Adams & Co. probably prompted Todd's move.

On October 11, the Republican published the following Notice of Copartnership: "ANGEVINE REYNOLDS, J.P.D. WILKINS, WM. H. BROWN and A.H. TODD have this day associated themselves together under the name and firm of REYNOLDS, TODD & Co. for the purpose of conducting and continuing the EXPRESS and BANKING BUSINESS in Stockton and the Southern Mines."

A month later, they detailed their arrangements. An advertisement in the Republican of November 12, 1851 offered "a daily line of stages running between Stockton and Sonora, carrying our Express; also, a daily express between Stockton, Moquelumne Hill, Double Springs, Carson's Creek and Angel's Camp; as well as a triweekly Express to Mariposa, Agua Frio and other places of note in Mariposa county. We have safes of our own on board the fastest steamers, for the security of treasure, and feel that we can offer to the public every advantage of a well conducted Express.

In an adjoining Express Notice to MERCHANTS, MINERS AND OTHERS, Reynolds, Todd & Co. claimed: "We have the largest and best Safe enclosed in a Fire Proof Vault now in Stockton and are prepared to

Page9


Cover addressed to party in Carsons Creek handstamped GREGORY'S ATLANTIC & PACIFIC EXPRESS CENTRAL OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO in straight-line and ms. 3.00. PrQbably carried by REYNOWS & CO. Courtesy of Steve Meier.

' I ·~~~~)?~_$?~~~~ ~ ·~t.ltf~ £l{_

·---.. -·~'!:: .. !.•:~~.E:y·.-;~ ... , / .s-I~, ~--· .... o~·m, _ -: -<.. p ~ 1 D ,

·-~~~-;;;·~:- "~A- ~i;vn~, ' '!,,--..._...,. ~, ~

~~- , e~- ·

Cover with two blue double oval handstamps of REYNOLDS & CO.'S EXPRESS STOCKTON SAN FRANCISCO with SONORA in center as originating office and matching PAID accompanied two packages [of dust] to addressee care of F. Argente & Co. [bankers] in San Francisco.

Page 10


~7 ~7~~1

~rr?V Folded cover or letter addressed to Pilsbury Hodgkins, better known as "Chips," in Sonora with ms. ~·per RT&Co's Express." Handstamped REYNOLDS, TODD & CO. SAN FRANCISCO in blue oval with matching NOT PAID in oval. Docketed March 1852 --one month before TODD's EXPRESS acquired the firm. Markings are light- see p.19.

receive Gold Dust and monies on special or general deposit at moderate rates."

The improved service impressed the San Francisco Picayune. It commented on October 20, 1851 that "Reynolds, Todd & Co. are certainly doing up the express business with 'telegraph' dispatch. On Saturday (October 18), they made the trip between Sonora and Stockton in four[teen] hours and a half - a distance of 75 miles. This is pretty good travelling for a mule team in the mountains. The connection of Mr. A.H. Todd with this expres~ seems to have added still greater energy to their already well-perfected arrangements for dispatch."

Business activity for the firm appeared to be running smoothly as the Republican on November 15, 1851 reported that "the shipment of Reynolds, Todd & Co. to the States on the 12th and 13th insts. amounted to the immense sum of $97,767; $82,000 of which came from Sonora." After a little over six months of operation, however, another change would take place.

Perhaps the success led to thoughts of expansion. Just two and one-half months after its formation, on December 22 the Mokelumne Hill Calaveras Chronicle carried Reynolds, Todd & Co.'s advertisement for a "NEW EXPRESS ARRANGEMENT." It announced the establishment of a "daily parcel and letter express from this place to Sacramento, connecting with

Jackson, Sutterville [Sutter Creek], Drytown and intermediate places." A side line went to Volcano.

Extending operations during the winter, however, was not a wise move, especially as Adams & Co. was pressing its advantage of size. After a little over six months of operation, Reynolds, Todd & Co. ceased to exist. In the Republican of April 24, 18_52, the following called attention to the termination:

NOTICE is hereby given that the copartnership heretofore existing between Angevine Reynolds, A.H. Todd, J.P.D. Wilkins and Wm. H. Brown, under the name of Reynolds, Todd & Co., is this day dissolved by mutual consent.

The business will hereafter be conducted by C.A. TODD, under the name of Todd's Express.

Stockton, April 22d, 1852 REYNOLDS, TODD & CO.

The original sales agreement was published in full in Mel Nathan's Franks of Western Expresses, pages 266 and 267. Page, Bacon & Co. represented Reynolds Todd & Co. in the sale to Charles A. Todd. By an assignment dated April 7, the seller turned over its property located in Stockton, Sonora, Moquelumne Hill and

Page 11

Western Express

Mariposa. From the assets, Todd was to pay a sum not exceeding $3,624 to general depositors. Upon completing the transaction by July 1, Todd was to pay $3,889 with interest at 2% per month from Mar~h 12, 1852. If not completed, Todd . was to return the property and any shortage up to the value of approximately $7,500.

The three partners went various ways after the dissolution of Reynolds, Todd & Co. Angevine Reynolds opened a new road and ferry between Stockton and Sonora, according to the Journal of August 3, 1852. Reynolds' Ferry was forty-one miles from Stockton and ten miles from Sonora. The shorter route supposedly cut off twenty miles from the previous road. Eventually, Angevine Reynolds returned to his earlier home in Mariposa. where he had an interest in a sawmill, published newspapers, and served as County Clerk for fourteen years, dying on December 17, 1888.15

After a year as agent for Todd's Express in Sonora, A.H. Todd moved to San Francisco to become a broker and general commission agent. In advertising, he referred to himself as "the old Pioneer Expressman between San Francisco, Stockton and the Southern Mines." His obituary said that "he was at one time a prominent grain merchant, afterward a stock broker but of late years he has been a real estate agent in Alameda. Misfortune has latterly followed his footsteps, and that, added to a slight attack of paralysis, hastened the end." Alexander Todd, known in the Bay area as "Alec," died on January 27, 1890.16

J.P.D. Wilkins continued residing in Stockton and, for a short time, served as agent for Todd's Express. Employed by the City of Stockton, he attained the position of City Collector. Late on the night of March 25, 1873, while returning home from the court house where he had been working, he stopped at a saloon for a glass of beer and paid for it from a well-filled purse. A short distance away, an assailant attacked him, causing a brain concussion and partial paralysis. Several hours passed before someone found him lying unconcious. J.P.D. Wilkins died on March 28, aged about 53 years. 17

TODD'S EXPRESS

The first advertisement for TODD'S EXPRESS, C.A. TODD, PROPRIETOR, appeared in the Alta on April 25, 1852 -- three days after his purchase of Reynolds, Todd & Co. It advised that C.A. Todd would "run a DAILY EXPRESS to STOCKTON, SONORA,

October 1992

C. A. T ODD, P ropriet or, And Succl'ssor to llrynold..;:, 'l'odd ~· Co.

~~.~....,...._......,...........J""'t. ......... ~--On and after this date, C . A. Todtl win run

A DA ILY EXPRESS, to an{l from S;tn Francisco; ;d~o t () nnd from

Sonora, Columbia, :.'\Tnla·lun111c Hill, A gna Frio, Marii>OS:l, (~uarlilsurg, Double

Springs, nnd nil part::: of tlu:

mtrn~~s:a~l m1n~~, A STAGE LEAVES D.\ILY,

For each of the above nn.mc(l places.

(iOLD DFS'l'. Sl'ECIE, P.ACI\J\GES, &C .• , Itcccivcd :ttHl Forw:mlcd.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~if~ Collected, and all lHJsitw~~ pertaining to an Exprc::;;, promptly attcnd<'d to. .

C. A. 1:odd having rurcha;;ec.l the bu:"tnc~;;, to~cthcr widt the grm( wi!ll)f the late firm of ReYnold~. 'l'odd &. Co., '"ou!rl resp~ctfully solicft a continuance of the patronage h<'rctoforl! so liberallY hc:;towcd upon the ohl linn, nnd tru;;ts by ·f't rict attention to his business to merit the ~:1 r11c.

Q~:E;-1-:Gl.'e T:N ll~O.ct~~QH'~ On tl1c . Lw:c1 Opposite the Steamboat Landing.

Directory ad for TODD'S EXPRESS from the 1..B2.. Stockton Directory.

COLUMBIA, MARIPOSA, AGUA FRIO, QUARTZBURG, DOUBLE SPRINGS, MOKELUMNE HILL and all parts of the Southern Mines." Charles A. Todd's office in San Francisco was with expressman Joseph W. Gregory.

Since the successor firm to Reynolds, Todd & Co. did not have an established reputation, Todd's Express had a distinct advantage in having another Todd associated with the business. Todd had been a respected name in expressing in the Southern Mines since 1849. Newspapers occasionally referred to the newcomer as "Todd & Co." and later, Alexander Todd himself sometimes lumped the two operations together in his attempt to recall events. Even today, confusion exists in identifying the various Todd operations.

Page 12


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/

BF. Moulton's letter to I .F. Hall in Stockton hand-stamped FORWARDED BY TODD'S EXPRESS SAN FRANCISCO in oval and matching NOT PAID in oval. Docketed as received on March 8, 1853.

Being a new owner, or possibly a front for others, C.A. Todd retained several of his predecessors. J.P.D. Wilkins became the resident agent in Stockton and A.H. Todd took charge of the very important Sonora office. Wilkins' name appeared in the Republican of May 26, 1852 advising that "Todd's Express for the Atlantic States and Europe [would leave] by the P.M.S. Steamer Tennessee. Bills of Exchange on Page, Bacon & Co., Rothschilds or any other house the parties may desire furnished. II

It was not until July 13 that the public learned that C.A. Todd had the backing of a family group that apparently positioned itself for control. The Journal advised that Wilkins had withdrawn from the firm. It further stated that Todd's Express "is now fully established under the management of C.A. Todd, whose headquarters will be at San Francisco, where he will be assisted by Mr. W.B. Buffum. The office in Stockton will be under the management of Messrs. Geo. R. Buffum and Charles Willey; in Sonora, under A.H. Todd, G. Leonard, F. Rowell [Leonard F. Rowell] and G.R. Turner; in Mariposa, under Geo. Hume; Mokelumne Hill, under Charles J. Buffum; and in Columbia under W.B. Dangneyar [Daegener]."

George A. Buffum, a '49er, was a prominent Stocktonian and the best known of the three Buffums. He helped draft the city charter, and, in

1850 and 1851, ran the post office out of his general store on the levee. He had brought the pre-fabricated story-and-a-half building with him on the bark EJ.il,a from Salem, Massachusetts. On February 1, 1851, the Times noted Buffum was out of the post office, but he continued his mercantile ventures. Buffum & Co., according to the Times of August 20, 1851, were "by far the most popular and enterprising auctioneers in Stockton."

By the fall of 1852, Gregory's express service was unreliable. Not surprisingly, the Republican of September 4, 1852 made a significant observation: "TODD'S EXPRESS -- We learn that Mr. Todd has removed his express office in San Francisco to the new brick building of Wells, Fargo & Co. His connections are daily becoming more numerous and his already extensive business is daily improving and hence the necessity for the removal of his office. II

Wells, Fargo & Co., an off-shoot of the American Express Company, a major eastern express firm, had only been in San Francisco two months. Officers of the joint stock company, though, were experienced expressmen who saw great possibilities in California in spite of the growing presence of Adams & Co., which had opened an office in San Francisco in 1849. Connecting with Todd's Express in Stockton and the Southern Mines was an important accomplishment as Wells Fargo had already established

Page 13


The state capital had moved to Benicia by February 1853. This cover was addressed to Assemblyman J.W. Mandeville from a constituent in Sonora. Handstamped with tombstone TODD'S EXPRESS OFFICE SONORA.

offices in Sacramento, Marysville and important towns in the Northern Mines.

By early 1853, Charles Todd had further strengthened his relationship with Wells Farg~. On February 14, Henry Wells reported from San Francisco to the directors in New York. Reuben W. Washbm:n's Banking Department, said Wells, had $52,000 in capital funds for purchasing gold dust, and "probably not one dollar in this office." He explained:

"One large part of it is in the hands of Todd's Express, running from our office in this city to the south[ern] mines. Mr. Washburn's arrangement with Todd is this -- He is to furnish them 25000$, or less as they may want, to buy dust at their different offices in the mines from which they bring in all their dust@ $17.35. This is the best dust in the market & for sending home or mixing here, is worth $17.50."

Wells continued, noting risks: "The average am[oun]t of money used by them last month was $19,500 which paid us directly for its use 1-1/2 per cent per month -- [and] Some indirect advantages which I cannot estimate the value of so well, but of the risk of this business I am perfectly aware."

Henry Wells elaborated on why so many small expresses were ephemeral, and how success came to Wells Fargo through its larger capital and integrity: "Todd & Co. (he meant Todd's Express) are young men of character & influence

& are the only Express that run to the southern mines to compete with Adams & Co. Yet they are not men of means & the entire risk of transportation & agents is ours. This I do not like & only await the arrival of the Golden Gate [on February 19] with your agent to change in some way I am yet undetermined how."18 The passenger list did not reveal any recognizable Wells Fargo names. Perhaps the directors did not share Wells' urgency, and the agent was William B. Rochester, who arrived in July to take charge of the Marysville office.

Henry Wells conducted his many ventures ethically, and his next statement was typical: "A Third Express [to Stockton, in addition to Adams & Co. and Todd's Express) will not pay & to run off Todd would not be fair or politic & to retire from so important a field of operation at this time I cannot think of."

Gold buying was very much in the thoughts of Charles A. Todd and his employees. One of these, the agent in Sonora, was pioneer expressman Alexander H. Todd. Western Cover Society member John Drew has in his collection a letter Todd wrote on April 25, 1853, to a neighboring Todd's Express agent, William Daegener in Columbia. Todd insisted that Daegener sell gold dust to a customer for $17.70 per ounce in exchange for coin, adding "I do not wish to offend you or hurt your feelings but my instructions must be followed." He continued, "I am

Page 14


,

1853 cover from a constituent in ·soNORA carried by WELLS FARGO to Assemblyman Mandeville in State Capital at BENICIA.

r-~~ ~u~rtt·· \ . t\ Ui

~ASDY Gncn ~TI)IU::,

'• Calv. Co.

Late 1850s franked WELLS FARGO cover sent by merchant in MOK HILL to supplier in San Francisco. Marking is light- see p.l9. ·

Page 15

Western Express

anxious to have your office make as much money as possible and with all the profits arising from dust bot [~ic] and sold to apply to your monthly acct." Surprisingly, from a business point of view, Todd asserted: "The Columbia offic~ has as yet but paid a small profit and there is a large amt of treasure received & shipped as well as many letters, papers, &c. &c. sent thru your office. Expenses are but trifling and we ought to make some money out of it."

Alex Todd was also a fine recruiter for Todd's Express. For over a year, he had tried to persuade his part-time employee, Pillsbury "Chips" Hodgkins to become a full time expressman. AlthoUgh Chips found them to be "a jolly set of boys," he stated his feeling in his diary on May 6, 1852: "I declined their offer for I rather be a miner." Early the next year, Todd was successful. At his "urgent" request, Chips changed his mind. "I left Sonora for Stockton," he wrote, "where I arrived on the 24th [of March, 1853] about 3 o'clock p.m. & took my place in Todd's Express office." Chips became a legendary mail carrier for Todd and increased his fame through almost forty years service for Wells Fargo.

With the formation of Todd's Express, Charles J. Buffum became agent at Mokelumne Hill, county seat of Calaveras County. He was equally as enterprising as his brother George, but less successful. Charles had lost races for county treasurer in April 1850 and city treasurer a year later. The Alta of August 15, 1853, conveyed the sad news of Buffum's suicide nine days earlier. The report gave no reason for the suicide, but perhaps Alexander Todd provided a hint. In later years, when he jumbled memories of his Todd & Co.'s Express with his employment as agent for Todd's Express in Sonora, Todd related how theft by employees damaged early express operations. He singled out a serious loss Mokelumne Hill.

Perhaps Buffum's action weakened Todd's Express irreparably. Less than a month later, the Alta of September 4, 1853 announced:

EXPRESS NOTICE The undersigned, Proprietor of Todd's

Express, has sold out his entire interest, together with the good will of the same, to Wells, Fargo & Co. and commend them to the favor and patronage of his friends and the public generally.

San Francisco, September 1, 1853 C.A. Todd

October 1992

WELLS, FARGO & CO.

An accompanying advertisement in the September 4 issue of the Alta provided further information:

MR. TODD, having disposed of his interest in the Southern Express to us, we shall run a daily express to and from

San Francisco Columbia Stockton Murphy's Flat Sonora Moquelumne Hill

Connecting with a Daily Express at Stockton for Mount Ophir and Mariposa.

WELLS, FARGO & CO.

On September 3, banker Washburn wrote the Portland Office: "We have just commenced running an Express to the Southern mines and can use to great advantage in the purchase of dust on that route all the money that can be spared from other points. "19 The stage was set for combat between Adams & Co. and Wells, Fargo & Co. to gain dominance over the express business in California and the West. There would be room for only one.

The Sacramento Democratic State Journal recognized the change-over from Todd's Express in this manner on September 5, 1853. "In addition to their former routes and offices, Wells, Fargo & Co. have established an office at Stockton, and their express will hereafter connect with offices in all the principal towns in the southern mines." Five days later, the Republican expressed its indebtedness to Mr. A. Todd of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express." It is evident that Alex Todd stayed on for a short while after serving as C.A. Todd's agent at Sonora.

Todd's replacement was J.M. Vansyckle, who would be very prominent in civic affairs. He became Chief Engineer of the Volunteer Fire Department and, on May 14, 1855, President of the Common Council (Mayor). The Republican of December 29, 1853 recorded that "J.M. Vansyckle, the enterprising agent of Wells, Fargo & Co." had moved the office "to the fire-proof building, formerly known as the Lodge Saloon. A fire-proof vault has been built in it and the office has been very handsomely furnished."

Vansyckle offered an attention getter, according to the Republican on March 29, 1854, when Wells, Fargo & Co. sent "a messenger yesterday to French Camp to intercept the stages from Mariposa and procure their mail- by which enterprise they were enable to distribute a portion

Page 16


View ofWELLS FARGO's STOCKTON OFFICE.

• \~ I '~-' ,

Q/ ~Jt. h--aP.?~-e:<J~ /;.+ ...--, " _)

WElLS FARGO franked cover hands tamped by blue oval at STOCKTON for delivery in SAN FRANCISCO.

Page 17

Western Express

t<~ !l;,'h .... .J: C>'), c: t:.i~ :i

~ WELLS, FARGO&CO'S' . E:XP RESS, If

· ... ~ ,. l -.Tn t · ~.: rn ~ . g

~ ·~,;.>~ ·e·,,.d)'-11. tlCt">"(C'r'""CO

October 1992

v

J-4 'f'• .r ~~·t- .. •, , .r * ... ./-.:

WELLS FARGO sticker applied at STOCKTON on a packet of documents for the State Surveyor General in SACRAMENTO.

of their express matter three hours in advance of all others." Again, the April 4 issue commented: "Our San Francisco exchanges and State's papers which came via Sacramento were delivered to us by Wells, Fargo & Co. last evening, a half an hour in advance of all others; the energetic agents of the firm having dispatched a messenger out on the road to intercept the stages."

It was the transportation of gold dust, however, that fully justified Wells Fargo's move into the Southern Mines. The Republican on March 20 reported 1hat "the banking house of Wells, Fargo & Co., in this city, forwarded to their house in San Francisco during the month ending on the 17th inst., six hundred and three thousand seven hundred and forty-five do.llars! This does not look as though the mines had 'gin · out' or that the miners were not getting good returns for their labor." After noting about 400 pounds of gold, the same newspaper on April 5 advised: "Wells Fargo & Co. received yesterday from the mines between ninety and a hundred thousand dollars in gold dust. There never was a time when. so much gold was taken out, as now." Claimed the paper on May 4: "The amount of gold dust sent by Wells, Fargo & Co. through the Stockton office, from the southern mines during the month of April, was one million seventeen thousand one hundred and sixty dollars" or about two tons figured at a purchase price of $17.25 a troy ounce.

The two major express companies - Adams and Wells Fargo -- were poised to grow · even stronger amidst such general prosperity. Then the winter of 1854-1855 produced little rain in the

mining regions, diminishing gold production for lack of water to work the gravel. Out of the depression, a financial crisis developed quite unexpectedly, gripping California with violent force.

It began with the arrival of the steamer Oregon in San Francisco on February 17, 1855 with news that the parent company of Page, Bacon & Co., California's most prominent banking house, had failed in St. Louis. Runs on all banks commenced and Adams requested funds from its country branches to meet the demands. The conniving of its principals in San Francisco, however, doomed the company. The culmination came on February 23.

In Stockton, lamented the Republican of February 24, "all sorts of rumors were afloat as to their [Adams & Co.] solvency and insolvency; and vast speculation advanced as to the prospect of recovering anything. Indeed there was great alarm and excitement. In the meantime, another telegraphic dispatch announced that Wells, Fargo & Co. had suspended. This seemed to be the finishing stroke for the day.... Never have we seen the Wall Street of Stockton so busily thronged .... From the time of the announcement that Wells, Fargo & Co. had suspended, there was a steady stream of money going out of their house until late in the evening. Their gentlemanly agent, Mr. Vansyckle, cashed every check and every certificate of deposit presented to him, and appeared to feel a pride in satisfying his fellow-citizens' demands against the house he represented .... Adams & Co. paid out no money during the day." The next day, Vansyckle showed the newspaper

Page 18

Western Express

a dispatch which stated that "the house would resume business tomorrow." The editor added: "It is with much satisfaction that we make this announcement." All Wells Fargo offices had opened by Tuesday, February 27.

In another column of February 25, the paper praised the agent's initiative shown on February 23: "When a telegraphic dispatch was received by Mr. Vansyckle from Wells, Fargo & Co. directing him to close their branch house in this city for a short time till the excitement should blow over, he refused to obey the order and took the responsibility to throw wide open the doors and invited all the holders of claims aginst the house to present them. The result showed the correctness of his judgment. The run on the

October 1992

house ceased before the sum of sixty thousand dollars had been paid out and everybody went away satisfied."

Little wonder then that the community and, especially, the Republican, held Vansyckle in high esteem. The company gave him added responsibilities. The Republican reported on September 25, 1855: "Our old friend "Milt' has been on a tour of inspection through the Southern Mines, connected with the express business." Promotion to superintendent of Wells Fargo's Express Department on February 24, 1857 brought to a close his term as agent of the Stockton office. From 1858 to 1860, "Milt" ran Wells Fargo's important Portland, Oregon, banking and express office.

TO BE CONTINUED

FOOTNOTES

13.

14. 15. 16. 17.

18.

Ernest A. Wiltsee, "The Joseph W. Gregory's Expresses, 1850-1853," The American Philatelist, 1937, p.6.

Livingston, Robert D. "Marysville, Express Hub," Western Express, October 1990, p. 20. Newell D. Chamberlain, The Call of Gold, Gazette Press, Mariposa, 1936, p. 133. San Francisco Chronicle, January 28, 1890. Stockton San Joaquin Republican, Apil26, 1852; Evenin~ Herald, March 26 and March 29,

1873; Stockton Inde.pendent, March 27 and April3, 1873. Henry Wells, San Francisco, February 14, 1853, to Messrs. Wells, Fargo & Co., in Truly Yours,

Henry Wells, Aur.ora, New York, Wells College Press, 1945, pp. 7-8.

Unless otherwise indicated, illustrations for this article are from the Ernest A. Wiltsee collection. Many of hte markings are very light and do not reproduce well. Some of the lighter markings are shown below:

P. 11

/:'-.....:)"' ~ t .,

I ~ 'I I - . .... :

( /~~' ' / /V ... )I •

0 ;' ... . 1!':'"'·.:·'· / ·-/ ·-··

P.9

P. 15

Page 19


SEATTLE- YUKON TRANSPORTATION COMPANY Submitted by Tim Boardman

"" IBITTLI~YUKOI TRIHIPORTITIOI CO

HEI'D Ol'l'tCES

90~92 COLUMBIA STREET

SE~TT.t:£, WASH.

The but~ tor the Nture b "'""es$'

latlte~tl

Our bo:~ts on the Yukon were operated su~·

tully 4(1riog 1892

SAFELY CHEAPLV

iii Get our Circnlar of P~inter5

We bave the )JQa;_s and facilitie$. . \l,elaa'!leup&ien'iei:llfucfconi,Pitent manageme,nt W~ U've stations on tlie Yukon. We send yott'on ftl'l!t-class bqa~ only. '\le ~rate .the o)'lty independent frei~M line ~d, i! t41t~· any amount of freight . . • ;

The cover isn't a pretty one, a no. 10 envelope, ratty in the upper left comer and badly toned at the right. The postmark is unexceptional -- it's easy enough to distinguish "Seattle" and "Dec 31 I 8 p.m.", but to verify the date as 1897 it is necessary to inspect the backstamp, which clearly shows "Boise & Nampa R.P.O., Tr. 35, Jan. 2, 1898".

The contents of this envelope are fascinating. In addition to the card at the left, the enclosure consists of a four-page brochure with a one-page insert, which details all the gear you will need to outfit your expedition to the Klondike. The Seattle-Yukon Transportation Company stands ready to assist you to reach the Yukon by the route of your choice; and they will be happy to accept your money regardless of your route selection.

The contents are reproduced in their entirety.

Page 20


A. :\I inert~' DeJll\rttnent Store, which enter~ nnb· to .:'\tin~rs' r cqniretn<.>nt-.1\ and cat•t•ic& n. "·hotct§nlc sto~k o r lfanhvare, Groc~ries, ,Blankets~ Cloth in&;. Boots and S h0011, rtubbt•r Gc>o<ts. etr . . in fact even·thin~ u-le<lln a firot-ch>u Ah\Ska Ou~ht. As the ~usincss of the ComJ)any ts

·wlt.h utlnc.r-3 only its undh·ided attention i~ l:'ivcn to tlll' pn.eklnc- tuul ah iJH)inr: of thetr ot-ders.

\..ARQt O R OUtS A SPZ:CIALTY . A£ttAt .. C£S: ANY eANKEft Ofll 8USIII!t&SS MAH tN SCATTLC,

9'u~l/d=~dk CZint(?//<atf9fyy+ C?brJ. U•der the Auspices of THE SEATTLE HARDWARE CO., J. A. BMLLARGEON and LOUCH, AUGUSTI NE & CO.

mQJMl,I!t;m:~~fJ; ®m~~~r~r1ri!!~ 106-8-10 WASHINGTON ST. WEST

(D&XTBR HOKTON J\ArU.;. J\LUCj SEATTLE, \JJ ASH.

SEATTLE-YUKON TRANSPORTATION CO.:

Dear Sirs: At your request we herewith hand you a list of snpplies usually purchased for a complete outfit ; it can be enl arged upon hy the addit ion of items which are very handy to have, although not absolutely necessary:

Groceries For One Man For One Year 400 lhs. flour

:20 " com men I 40 " rolled oats 25 ri ce

100 " be:..n !ii 20 " candles 25 •· dry loall pork so " su6ar, ~ranulatccl S " bakinJ.: powtler

•so " bacon l •888 brand ) 15 " dried hl.-.:f

2 " SO<ln or salerntn· 6 package~ ye:\.~l cakes

20 lhs. salt pepper

~ " nmstar<l :( " ginger 20 " apples, C\·aporat<,\ 20 " peachc•, 20 •· apricot~. 10 · ' 1>cars 10 pitted pln111s 5 rai sim; 5 ' · onion~. cvaporatctl

50 " pota toes. " 25 c()m. (eastern sweet ) <'vrt poratc<l 25 " coffee to " tea

2 <loz. coll<knsc<lmi lk 5 hars tar wap 5 bars la ntHlry soap 1 can matcltt:>. 2 gross 5 lhs. soup n:v,ctabi<'S 3 bottles ja111:11ca Cin~;er

nutter, scalccl. 2-lh cons, optional Tobacco, optional 6 pots extract of beef { 4 o:r..) 1 qt. e,·apomtetl vinegar Total co~l according to quality

Groceries . . $65.00 to $85.00

Clothing For One Man For One Year ESSENTIALS

1 heavy 1\ruckinaw suit. e<.>al nud pnnls I suit fleeced lined duck, coal, vest and

pants I pelt lined leather or duck top co.'ll or

fur coat 2 suits 1\lackinaw o r heavy knit umler-

\\'t;:;,r

2 h~avy IIanne! 0 \'Crshirt.• 1 double sweater I hca,·v cloth or fur cao I woot' scarf or "Dan co" for head and

face co,·ering 1 pair wool mitte ns or glov(.'S 1 pai~ hea,·y German wcks or fell boots 6 to 12 pair heavy knit \\001 socks. 1 pair "Huron" for German socks or

'· l'erf(.-ctions" for fel t lx>ots. 1 pair hip ruhher hoots, crack-proof or

leather soles 1 pai r hc:wy leathe r she<.'S 2 pair heavy Califoruia or Oregon blank·

et s or a fur robe, or a slc:'cping bng. 1 pair o,·cralls a nd Denim jumper

12 colton Bandana hatHlknt'l tiefs 1 pair hnck or horsc-hiJe mille ns or

g lo\·es

VALUABLE EXTRAS I suit oi l cloth iug Heavy Cord u roy clotlling, lined H<:a vy Freeze cloll ting An extra s weater Extra 1\lack inaw pants Extra p:1ir o f 1<.-ather shoes A wide hriuuued plautcrs ' hal A Conlnrov lined leather coa t Extra wooi and cc tlou shirts U uliuc<lleather ~loves for worl,in~ J\losqnito nell in~ and veiling A scwin~ and repai r kit

All such ~oods can he obtained in the g reatest variety and best made, with a view o f compactne!'S, lightness nud comfort. Total cost according to quality-

Clothing .. $5o.oo to $8o.oo

Hardware For Two Men For One Year 2 pair s now shoes r Yukon stove 1 hann bellows 2 Yukon sleds 2 picks 2 ,ho,·el,; 1 pit saw. with tiller and box 1 one .. Juau saw

1 pit .:aw file. I hand S:I W

I rip S!lW

2 haud saw lilt:-s 1 sinJ::le or donble-l>it axe 1 hatchet o r hunter's axe 1 claw hammer I c:tlkiug iron 1 jack plane I draw kui fe 1 brnce and 3 bits 1 sc rew tlrivcr 1 1nng n et 3 ch ise ls 1 butcher knife 1 Emery stone 3 fry pans I coffee pot 3 granite pl:tles 2 " cups 3 knives, forks a nd ~poons 1 ne~t of bucket~ 2 gold pans 1 gold scale 1 compass

25 lbs. wire nails 5 lhs. oakum 5 lbs. pitch 3 lbs. tallow 2 pack straps

Total cost according to qualityHardware $so.oo to $8o.oo

One Word of Advice: During the rush, hotel accommodations, room rents, hoard, etc., is likely to be quite expensi,·e. Your passengers can !>ave money by arranging to arrive here only a day or so previous to the steamers' sailing date. By ordering their outfit bdnre leaving home e \·erything will be packed and ready to be shipped on the vessel they

·select to go by. No delay; no disappointments. Everything we sell we guarantee to be as we represent. Order as soon as convenient !>ending whatever amount of deposit they deem fit. l\loney back if the transaction is not entirely satisfactory. We solicit their correspondence.

Respectfully,

SEATTLE-ALASKA GENERAL SUPPLY CO.

Page21


"FOUR-lEAF ClOVER ROUTE'' WE OPJ.::KA.T I <: THE O N I .V THRO\JGH FKI':IGHT I,INI';.

PASSENCiERS OR FREICiHT OUR BOATS ARE NOW ON THE YUKON.

S. Y. T. REl'ERENCES

Bradstreet 's Agency

S I Y k Dunn'K Agency

~att ~ u on First National Bank, Seattle, Wash. \. \. = Puqet Sound Natluna( Bank, Sea cite, Wash. National Bank of Commerce, Seattle, Wash.

(ran sport a ti on Company ~::~~ _z:::::?;~~~B:~~~~~· s~::~~- Wash f -~~~V99W·V-VYYVVVVVVVVVV

----l+•~---

? ? ? ? ? ~o , n . · ~o n on H'" "l OOiccs : • • • • • diVvY \JV'{\;)WVW ~ ~.

90-92 COLU MBIA S TUEET

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

TWO ROUTES AND;COMBINATION ROUTE The value of information which you get free depends upon what interest the giver ~as in getting your business.

If you know what we want of you first, you will then know better how reliable is the information we give.

Our business is the Transportation of Passengers or Freight to Yukon River Points via either of the following

described routes.

We will deliver for you any amount of freight to Dawson City or other points on the Yukon River.

I.

T HE ALL WATER ROUTE. SEATT I . I-: TO DA,VSON CITY V I A S'I'. M ICHAEl.~--- ······· ········ 3 ,9 70 Jtllle~t.

Earliest feasible sailing date from Seattle - - --- - ----- -- ----------- - - ------- -June 7th to roth, r898 Earliest possible da te of arrival at Dawson CitY-- - - -- -- - ------------- - - ---J uly 2oth to 25th, 1898

Owing to the fact that t he ice in Bering Sea, at the mouth of the Yukon River, does not break up before June 15th to 25th, s teamboats do not leave Seattle on this rou te before J une 7th to roth (if the owners know anything about the country they are going into).

The yoyage from Seattle to St. Michael-2,700 miles- is across the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. Requires from J 1 to 15 days. At St. Michael you are transferred to r iver s teamer (a delay of a few days may' arise here until ·(he arriYal of the r iver boats) .

The trip up the Yukon from St. Michael to Dawson requires from q to 20 days, and is a pleasant river trip. You arrive at Dawson, therefore, about July 2oth to 25th.

Beware of companies having boats only ou paper.

OUR IJOATS ARE NOW ON THE YUKON RIVER.

Having been built during season of 1897 by an experienced Ynkon R iver naYigator (who is now in personal charge of same), they arc better adapted to the requirements than any boats there, and can render better and safer service.

OuR l' IRST noAT will leave Seattle about June 7th to 1oth, reaching Dawson about July 2oth to 2sth .

Fr.re to Dawson (or other Yukon River points), including rso pounds of baggage, meals and bert h------ ---·-- $300 Freigllt $10 per roo lbs. by weight or measuremcnt,- ship's option. (Two cubic feet by weasureiUent equal to

roo lbs. weight.) Average weight of one year's outfit is 15oo lbs., at )\to per 100---··--- ------ --------- - ISO

Total ------ ·-------.--·---------·------- - -------- . _________ -----· __ ______ ____ ------ ____ _ $4so These rates may be advanced.

No limit as to amount of freight you can ship.

Page22


If you intend going it will pay you to secure transportat ion in advance. Our carrying capacity has its limits. We cannot guarantee a continuance of these rates, but expect an advance. As we refund if you don't go, you cannot lose anything and you may save considerable. Last season many could not get transportation at all. Next spring many will also be disappointed. Already cons iderable space bas been spok en for.

For ticket reservat ion or freig ht contract call on, write or wire; any of the General Agents of the Great Northern Railway Company, or A . L. HAWLEY,

GeneraL A~ssenger aud Freight Ageul

P . 0. Box 73· OFFICES: 90-92 Columbia S treet, comer Post Street.

SEATTLE-Yuxo:-. TRANsPORTATION CoMPANY,

Seattle, \Vashington.

COLO FACTS ABOUT THE COUNTRY.

Winter begins October ISt to 15th. Sometimes it is 6o below zero; average about like the climate of northern Michigan or Minnesota. E ig hteen hours of night and six hours of daylight during the midwinter season. You burn candles. If you are your own cook you don't h ave bread l ike you r mother makes. \\' hen you want to come home just wait t ill next summer.

WINTER DIGGINGS- Discoveries last year developed ground that could be mined whil~ it was frozen. The pay dirt being accumulated on the bank during the winter and washed out during the spring and summer.

The Klondike district mines are all winter diggings.

WARM FACTS AI30UT TI1E COUNT~Y.

Wages are from '$10 to $ IS per day, and plenty of work. Summer begins in May nnd lasts until October. Sometimes it is Ss in the shade. Excellent climate.

You can grow hardy vegetabks in the summer. Dayiight 2-J. hours. Gold is found on :1t least so different rivers and creeks, and it is not all found yet. The Sllllllller of I S97 more than zoo claims were reported being worth from one hundred thousand to five hundred thousand each. The surveyor of the territory for the GoYernment o f Canada says there is gold on all of the streams feed ing into the Yu kon from beadw::tters to the mouth.

SU:rvrMER DIGGINGS-Are found in some portions of the country, and can he worked onl y during the summer months; i. e., Stewart River Bars, Forty Mile, Circle City and Birch Creek. (You can earn enough in the summer to keep you a year, "they say.")

HINTS.

\Ve pull your freight! You go on any boat you l ike! A point for you to cons ider ' Do you select a railroad that is built and is in successful operation or one that is proposed or is being built,

to travel on or ship freight over? Are you going yoursdf or will you ship your freight (upon which you so much depend) on bo:tt~ th at are

proposed or are being built or on boats actually in succesf(ul operation on t!te Yukon ? Our boats \YCre built and successfully operated on the Yukon during the summer of 1897. Do ybu see

tbe point? Isn't thisjact the best k ind of a guarantl'e? Our carrying capacity is limited. \\·e cannot serve a ll who are g-oing. First come first served. Don't

complain if you delay aud find rates advanced, or arc told that we cannot t:-~kc your fr<.:ight at any p rice. Where this information ·came from there is more of Yalue. Our ~tanager is on the Yukon this wint<.:r,

gathering pointe1·s. Our station agents at Da\\'SOn, 111unook, Circle City and S t. Michaels are gettiug pointers. W hen you secure transportation of us \\·e give you detailed inform::ttiou about the trails and the country-\Vhere to pro:>pect, - How to g<:t there. A "Four Leaf Clo,·er Route'' pocket piece which wilt be a passport at all times with our river agenb, for inside information. ·

Our rates are reasonable. We are in the business permanent!)•. \Ve can offer special inducements to merchants and others goiug into business. \Vrite to us of your "schemes" and we will g ive you honest a<h·ice as to their merits, as we confine ourselves to the transportation business.

AS TO SUPPLIES- We have asked three of our leading and oldest firms to furnish us rel iable data. We g ive it to you exactly as it comes to us. You can depend on it. \ l..'e will , as a matte r of accommodation, place orders; you can as well send directly to th ese firms . They will deal fairly with you. Get the best of everything. If copy of their letter is not with this, send to us for it. It \\'ill pay you.

SEATTLE-YUKON TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, Corner Columbia aud Post Streets, Seattle, Washington.

FOUR-LEAF CLOVER ROUTE" Patent Combined TOBOGGAN-BOAT is just out- promises to be just what is needed.· Send to us for Circular.

Page23


We will keep the same insured for your beneht, and hold the same at any of our stations on the river which you may select, until you can call for it.

The cost of freighting the entire distance, including the insurance, will be less than packing the 28 miles over the Dyea t rail a lone.

We are negotiating for preference rights. of del ivery of freight over the divide for our passengers; and also for boats to be delivered at the Lakes at reasonable rates. These are things we cannot guarantee, but we will secure best adYantage obtainable.

All of the old-time Yukoners are adopting this plan. It was impossible to do this in former years, as· there was no freight line. We are the only Company having boats on the river that will carry freight. (Some companies having boats on paper may offer to do so.)

ESTIMAT E OF THE EXPENSE ON THIS PLAN.

Fare to Dyea, including berth, meals, baggage ancl f1·cight (not exceeding soo ponn<ls) . ••..••••. ------ - - - - $so oo Packing 400 p011111ls (average outfit), 2SC·-- - ---- ----------------------- ----- ------ .; _____ ______ _______ 100 oo

One-nnarter cost of boat ·--- •• - •. - -.---- .... - - - --- ------------ •.•••. ---------· ---- •• -------- ---- ------ 37 so (Pou r qr five mtu cnn g() iu ouc hont w ilh l h is li10itcd mhounl oC fl \: ig-ht.) F reight ,·ia St !llic hncls on balance o f provisiou~ aud oullit, includiug insurance and storage. 1 100 pounds

at f.Io per hunc.lrccl .••. ----- ----- -- -- -- ----- -------·------ -·--- ---- - ------ ----· ---------- --- ------- I to oo Provisions used e n route ---- ------- ----- - --- ---- -··--·-- - -------- --- - - - ---- ------------ -------------- 2S oo

Total. ---· --.----- . --- ----- - .• ----------.- - · ---- ---- --- .------ ---- ------------------- f.322 so (At least half time will be saved as compared with other routes.~

About half what it would cost by the regular Land and \Vater Route. You get there quicker, safer, and in better shape for business.

About two-thirds what it would cost via the All \:Vater Route, and you have all summer for prospecting, instead of the last half.

Time is everything to those Yukon-bound We advise starting in February or March, so as to have time and be on the trai l early. April or May

will, however, be early enough to start to enable you to get in at beginning of prospecting season. PROSPECTING SEASON--Begins June 1st and ends September 30th, r20 days in all. During this

time you must.not on ly do your prospecting but you must establish winter camp. If you don't want to lo~e half the season the first yenr, RO via our Com hi nation Route, do your prosprct-

inR. locate your win ter camp nnd then C!lll for your freight.

PARTIES WITH EXPERIENCED OUIDES. This is another advantage which we offer you, which cannot be secured elsewhere. Twice a month (or oftener) we will be s tarting . from Seattle OYer this route, parties in charge of men who

haYe been O\'er the ])yen trail who will act as guides, g iv ing the benefit of their experience to the passengers from the time t hey arr ive in Seattle till they have crossed O\'er the pass and down the Yukon River beyond all perplexing points.

No passenger can go with these guides carrying 1110re than soo pounds of freight, as it is our object ;.o get these parties through with the greatest dispatch nne\ minimum of labor and discomfort.

Any additional frei ght that the passengers desire to take can be sent around via our ri\·er boats. This service will be of inestimable valu~: to parties 'vishing to make quick, safe and comfortable pas~agc .

Au additional fare of $25 will be charged in these parties. (In securing correct outfits and seeing that same arc properly p:-.ckcd, the additional fare can easily be sa,·ed.)

Special application and arrangements niust he 111ade to join these parties at least a mouth in ::idv:mce of sailing dates.

HOW ANO WHEN TO S ECURE TRANSPO~Ti\TI ON AND FRErGHT RESERVATI ON.

By depositing :;;:;o you can have ticket reserved via either of the Land and \.Vater Routes. Balance to be paid on delivery of ticket.

By depositing f75 you can have three·fourths ton freight space via St. Michaels reserved. .Balance to be paid when freight is delivered to us

Terms for Passage Reservations via All Water Route will be quoted on application . If you decide uot to go and notify us 30 days before sailing date, your money will be promptly rejimded.

Page24


II.

THE LAND AND WATER ROUTE. SEATTLE TO JJA 'VSON CITV ----------- ----·--· ·-··----------------- --------- :c,64z Miles .

Earliest feasible starting date from Seattle--- ------- ------ - - ---- -------- ---- - - February 1st, I 898 Earliest probable arrival date at Dawson - ---- - ---------- -- ---------------- ----~-May 15th, 1898 Be~inning Fehruary xst, x8g8, the trip C~ln be made over this route with safety and comfort. Taking a steamboat from Seattle, tbe trip to Dyea or Skaguay (only four miles apart) is made in from

three to four days. · At present several companies are propositig the construction of cable tramways and railroads part of the

way over the pass. \Ve think at least one of these tramways will succeed, but you would by far better go prepared to pack your supplies over or hire it done.

Indians charge from 25 to 40c per pound for packing o\·er the di\· ide. If the tram}vay is in operation it may not cost over 25c per pound. No single package weighi ng- O\·er 100 pounds should be taken. Lumber cannot be packed over. Indians won't carry it at any price. From February to April you go over the snow ou sleds.

Time required to get O\'er the pass will depend on amount of freight you have to pack over,-from three to eight weeks. Some delay is caused by storms on the divide; there is very li ttle danger of serious accident.

The onl_y way to proceed from head of naYigation to the Gold Fields is in small boats. Most prospectors carry tools and build their own boats There is plenty of timber. Lumber is whip

sawed out, taking from two to three weeks. Boats, if purchased, cost from $rso to $400 each . Frotu February Ist our boats 'viii leave Seattle for Dyea every week, or oftener.

ESTIMATED COST OF TRIP.

Fare to Dyea- l'irst class, including meals, berth, baggage, frei~ht and lighterage. average---------- ------ -- $ 55 Packing 1500 pounds at 25c (It may cost twice that. It is worth that amount t.o do it yourself.}-------------- 375 Boat (average cost per wan) -- --------.--------- - --- - ------ -------------- -------------- ----------·--- ---- 150

Total.--- ---- -- - --------- ·------ ---- ---- --- -· ---- ---- ---- -- - -.- .• ---- ------ ------ ----- -- -- f.sSo Provisions consuu><ed whi lc en route ____ . ___ ---- ---- _ -- __ ---- ------ ------ -- -- _____ --- ---. __ -- ---- __ - --- _ _ _ _ so

Total·-------------------------------------·----------------· -- -- ----- --- - --- ---- - ------ $630

It is impossible to foretell the costs after leaving the boat at Dyea. Above estimate is low rather than otherwise.

You run some risk of losing your outfit in the trip down the river. Up to this t ime this has been accepted as the best plan of reaching the Gold Fields. You arrive there at

the beginning of the prospecting season, or from 50 to 6o days earlier than by the all water route.

We are quite indifferent about which route you select or what you take. Some of the following may be your purposes and aims in goiug t o the Yukon River:

T 'O P ROSPECT FOR. GOI.D. TO UUV A GOI.U CI.AIM. TO 'VOH.K ON EXISTING CI.AIM!f. 'I'() C'~O INTO BUSINESS.

TO 00 AN'!..-I'HIN(~ THAT TUH.:SS t;p IN 'VHICH THERE JS :tiONEV.

\Ve are r ight then in assuming that you want to reach there: FmsT-Safely. S~;co:-;o -At earliest possible date. Tuu~n-Comfortably. FotTRTII-Cheaply; but not so cheaply :~s to spend a half year on the road.

Bear in mind what you have read of aboye routes and plans. Consider the following ad\'iCe and sugge~tions:

Ill.

OUR COMBINATION PLAN. Quh.·k. (. .. cl1ufortaht c . Cheat•·

GO FROM SEATTLE via Dye a or Skaguay any time between the first of February and the first of J une, taking with yon from 300 to 400 pounds of provisions and supplies, according to the time of starting, which will be sufficient to last you until you go into winter quarters.

With this light pack you can make a quick, comfortable and cheap trip to the Gold Fields. You will avoid the danger of losing your winter's supplies iu the trip down the river. You will avoid the necessity- of carrying with you yom eutire year's supply wl;erever you go to prospect,

or caching it, and running the risk of its being stolen. Before you leave Seattle, purchase the remaiuder of your year's supply and outfit, and deposit the same

in OUR BRICK \VAREHOUSE , to be shipped to Dawson or other points, by our ocean and river boats, and delivered to you during July, August and September.

Page25


LA PORTE, CALIFORNIA by Alan H. Patera

. . - ·• \"~ . -·

La Porte in 1858. The sketch shows Everts, Wilson & Co.'s Banking House on the right. Courtesy of ]ann Garvis.

Gibsonville Ridge is the major divide between the Feather and Yuba river drainages. There is no documentation of the gold discovery on Gibsonville Ridge, but accounts have trickled down that Rabbit Creek was worked as early as 1851. At this time prospectors were searching all the streams and tributaries for some sign of gold, and finding it in a number of places. In 1852 freight teams could work their way up this divide to a point about two miles below the location of La Porte. At the head of team navigation was the Lexington House, where goods were transferred to pack animals for the more remote camps. The route was known as the Jamison route.

La Porte had been placed in Alturas Township in Sierra County when that county was formed in 1852. The residents felt remote from the county government at Downieville, and many

wanted a county of their own. The northern boundary of Sierra County was the subject of much conversation and deliberation for many years, until in 1868 a parcel that included La Porte was transferred to Plumas County - not that this did much to resolve the remoteness of La Porte from the county seat, as Quincy was actually further away from La Porte than Downieville, by way of a road that today is still gravel and closed by winter snows.

Eli S. Lester built the first building on the site of La Porte in April 1852, commencing storekeeping at his Rabbit Creek House. It seemed like a good site, since half a dozen companies were making encouraging finds on both branches of Rabbit Creek. That first winter perhaps 100 miners endured the heavy snows in rudimentary shelters near their claims.

Page26

Western Express

Gibsonville

Mortimer Cook erected another store in 1853, and by 1854 the Rabbit Creek settlement was becoming a real town. In acknowledgment that the mining prospects were strong, express offices were opened by Everts, Davis & Co. and Wells, Fargo & Co. during 1854.

In 1855, when a post office was authorized for Rabbit Town, La Porte was a flourishing town with hotels and restaurants, a brewery, bowling alleys, and of course numerous saloons.

October 1992

Map showing La Porte and vicinity and the relationship to Marysville.

Expressman Frank Everts connected with Adams & Co. at Marysville, and thus he served as the Rabbit Town agent for Adams & Co., at the time a major banking concern in California. When Adams & Co. failed in 1855, Everts was instructed to forward the assets he had on hand to San Francisco. Instead, he paid out all specie to those who had deposited with the office, earning him the respect and admiration of the miners and businessmen of that region. Prior to the failure of

Cover carried by Everts, Davis & Co's Express from Saint Louis to "Rabbit Creek" [later La Porte]. Courtesy of Margo Crete.

Page27

Western Express

EVERTS, DAVIS & CO.'S . EXPRESS.

. PRINCIPAL OFFICES: Maeya....Ule, Rabbit Creek. GtbsonviJle, St.

Loula, and Nebon Creek. - ADATLYEXPl!.ESSWILLBt:DTSPATCHED fu"5'l!ap!J':trom each oftbe above Offieea to tbe·following

places: · . Porbatowu, H&DIOnville, Bidwell'• Bat, Columbua Houae, American Bouse, Lexington House, Warren Hill, Spanish Flat, Chandlerville, Pine Grove, Loo:-Bar, Wyandott, Enterprise and. Onion Valley; and · •

A WEEKLY EXP:RE88 to the following placet: Secret ·Diggings, Warren Hill, Spanioh Flat, Oregon Gulch,

Chandlerville, Pine Grove, Poker ;Flat, Canyon Creek, Nelaon Creek, Independence: Bar, Foot Man'& Creek, Jamiaon Creek, Jamiaon City, Hopkin• Creek, Eureka Mills, Bealer' Digginga, :Efuabethtowa., Whisky Diggings, American Valley, City of Beven~y·aix, Port 'Wine, Spanish R anch, Ha.rri•on'a Digging• and Thompaon 's Flat.

ou:n Tl!.EASUl!.E EXPRESS will alwaya be accompanied by faithful Mtaaengen.

COLLECTIONS, ORDERS, etc., anended to wltb promptnest and fidelity.

WELLS, FUGO & Co.'e Bight and Time E-.:ebang• on tbe Atlantic States and Europe furnished. .

ALL COMMJSSIO.NS pertaining to an Exprut and Forwarding Business promptly attended to.

SIGHT CHECKS draWD on Marynille, Sacramento and Ban Ftanclaco.

oel8 EVERTS, DAVTB & CO.

This advertisement for Everts, Davis & Co.'s Express appeared in the California Chronicle of August 3, 1856. Courtesy of John Drew.

Adams & Co., Everts was arranging to sell his express to them, but he retrieved his· company when Adams withdrew from the scene.

The future of La Porte seemed so bright that in 1856 the first brick building in Sierra County was erected, the store of H.C. Brown. Another brick building was erected by John Conly for use as a banking house. The California

October 1992

Stage Company was running a semi-weekly stage line, 12 to 16 hours from Marysville. Fueling the growth of the town, several tunnels were run by mining companies with spectacular success. La Porte had become a real mining town, even boasting a newspaper, the Mountain Messenger.

The name "Rabbit Town" was a sore point, however, as the name was used derisively. Accordingly the area residents gathered and resolved to change the name to La Porte. The Post Office Department made the change on November 19, 1857. The home town of Frank Everts was La Porte, Indiana, and presumably the town obtained its name from this source.

The Mails In the earliest days of mining along Rabbit

Creek there was a lack of U.S. mail service, and communications were facilitated by expressmen. The earliest and most important of these was Frank Everts, who was in operation as Everts & Co. in the summer of 1851 with a hand stamp he applied to the letters he carried. As the mining activities expanded so did the express business; Frank Everts was joined by his brother Henry, and in 1853 the business was enlarged from by taking in J .A. Snell as a partner to become Everts, Snell & Co. In the next several years many changes took place, as the express company became "Everts, Davis & Co." in 1855, "Everts, Hannon, Wilson & Co." in 1856, and "Everts,Wilson & Co." in 1857. The concern

Everts Wilson & Co. with ten cent rate to Virginia, postmarked September 3, 1858 at La Porte. Courtesy of Margo Crete.

Page28


The La Porte Express Co. operated for only a few months in 1865. Courtesy of John Drew.

. -::-:--...-..---~ ----· -· -1- .. · .: . - \j - . ' . ' $.:.,_ 4 ":·

. ·--... -... .. .

·· .. .. . I•

! .

fl':,

... - ~-- ... ·- .......... ·---Robert Francis operated Francis & Co.'s Express between La Porte and Quincy in the early 1860s. Courtesy of John Drew.

Page29

Western Express

operated under this name until 1862, when it was sold to become "Holland, Morley & Co.". This company went through name changes to "Holland, · Wheeler & Co.", "Wheeler & Co.", "Wheeler, Rutherford & Co.", and finally "Rutherford & Co.", after which it was no more.

Everts as not without competition in the express business to La Porte. Rumrill & Co. and Copley & Co. were small expresses that operated briefly in the mid-1850s. Robert Francis carried mail on his back from La Porte to Quincy, on foot in the summer and on skis in the winter. In 1862 he joined with James S. Rump and formed Francis & Co.'s Express, which operated for two years before. he sold out to N.O. Pauley. The LaPorte Express Company operated for only a few months in 1865, connecting the miners on Gibsonville Ridge to La Porte and Marysville. In the end, however, they were all succeeded by Wells, Fargo & Co. Wells Fargo may have opened a La Porte office as early as 1854, and maintained an office there until 1904.

In 1855 the Post Office Department recognized the need for postal service on Gibsonville Ridge with the establishment of three post offices. The first to be authorized was at Saint Louis in January. Gibsonville, six miles northeast of La Porte, had a post office authorized in June, and on September 13, 1855 the a post office was authorized for Rabbit Town, with Eli Lester as postmaster. Table Rock and Port Wine had post offices established within a few years. Curiously, when the county boundary was adjusted to place La Porte into Plumas County, the other mining camps remained in Sierra County.

In 1855 the mails for Rabbit Town and the other camps on the ridge were transported on horseback by Francis Cayot. By 1858 La Porte was served by a daily mail from Marysville, as well as the U.S. Mail and Passenger Train leaving La Porte for Quincy every morning at 6 a.m. However, the roads of the region were rudimentary and often nearly impassable in the winter months. The trip to Marysville could consume two or three days. On November 19, 1857 the post office name was officially changed to La Porte.

In 1863 postal route 14826 gave once a week service between La Porte and Downieville. The Mountain Messenger reported that 1,000 letters per month were dispatched from the La Porte post office. During the winter season it was impractical to run stages between La Porte and

October 1992

Quincy. In 1869 the mail between these places was subcontracted to William Knowles, who conducted a "Snow Shoe" Express between the two points. The Town

La Porte reached its zenith in population in the late 1850s, with 1,000 to 1,500 inhabitants in the area. In the census of 1860 it tallied .995 people. La Porte was wept by fire in 1869, burning most of the business district on both sides of Main Street, and again in 1871. But again it rebuilt, and even boasted an 1870 census population of 640. It maintained a steady population through the 1870s; and reported 633 inhabitants in the census of 1880.

When the easy pickings from small mining companies withered, they turned to hydraulic mining to wrest still more gold from the ground, until this practice was ended in 1883 by Act of the California Legislature. The end of hydraulic mining signaled the end of large scale mining in the La Porte area and the town began to decline, after producing an estimated $90,000,000 in gold. By the census of 1890 the population had dropped to 458. Thereafter La Porte has not been reported separately, but when the township in which it was located could enumerate only 82 residents in the 1940 census, the township was dissolved.

DOPE IS B:mG-.

THIRD ANND At Itt fiN~ .... OF THE·--

ALTURAS SlOW SHOE CLDR ____ .... __ ___ LA PORTl PLIJM!S COUNTY. CAL. FOUR DAYS' RACING

COMMEHCIHC ON MONDAY. FEBRUARY TWENTY·SECONO. 1865.

81X llt/NDIII£8 DOLlARS 1111 PUIIISIES.

COUA f[5't CAt. l r ORHI A. STAT! 0 1VI $10N o r

PAAICS AHO RECRE.AfiON. SACRAMENTO

Ad for the 1869 skiing competition at La Porte. At the time, skis were popularly known as "snow shoes." Courtesy of John Drew.

Page 30

Most of the buildings of La Porte have disappeared. In 1861 the town sustained a disastrous fire, with 90% of the settlement destroyed. A serious fire in 1864 destroyed a number of business buildings. At that time La Porte still had made no provision for water for flre protection. There were fires in 1869 and 1871 that levelled large sections of the town, ·and each time it rebuilt. In 1905, when La Porte had a population of about 300, a flre leveled most of the town, and this time not much was rebuilt.

Early La Porte is fondly remembered by ski enthusiasts as one of the areas where skiing first gained popularity. The first "Snow Shoe Races" were held in 1867, with participants from all the mountain mining camps of the area. Even the famous "Snowshoe Thompson" travelled to La Porte to attend the 3rd annual competition in 1869. Downhill ski competitions were held annually through 1911.

The oldest building remaining in town was the large store, operated by Truman Gould in 1967. Gould's Store furnished groceries, hardware and drugstore items, and gasoline to the remaining residents of Gibsonville Ridge, who numbered 15 in the winter but considerably more in the summer. It was also the location of the La Porte rural branch post office. The building was destroyed by an explosion and fire on Christmas eve of 1967.

On October 31, 19 57, after 102 years of operation, La Porte lost its post office, as the facility was converted into a Rural Branch. La Porte had long outlived its rivals in the area: Saint Louis operated from 1855 to 1915, Gibsonville from 1855 to 1910, Table Rock 1857-1922, and Port Wine, 1861!1918. In 1970 the number of letters dispatched from La Porte was 850 - less than it was 107 years earlier.

Sources

POSTMASTER COMPENSATION

Rabbit Town {Sierra Co.}

1857 $390.32 [$423.94 net proceeds] {Sierra Co.} 1859 no returns

La Porte 1859 $754.61 ($1467.95 net proceeds) {Sierra Co.} 1861 936.67 ($1510.82 balance due U.S.) 1863 654.00 ($2163.17 balance due U.S.) 1865 501.04 ($71.43 balance due U.S.)[partia1] 1867 480.00 ($172.86 balance due U.S.) 1869 580.00 ($27.91 balance due U.S.) 1871 340.00 1873 280.00 1875 254.79 1877 230.83 1879 258.71 1881 249.63 1883 274.01 1885 229.21 1887 278.25 1889 293.40 1891 295.56 1893 357.39 1895 358.10 1897 384.32 1899 366.91 1901 425.90 1903 374.41 1905 467.36

Crete, Margo. Communication on August 23, 1992. Gould, Helen Weaver. La Porte Scrapbook. La Porte. 1972. La Pone Union, scattered issues 1868-69. Livingston, Robert. "Marysville as an Express Hub, Part 3: Gibsonville Ridge Expresses", Western Express Vol. 41, no. 2, April1991. Official Register of the United States [Postmaster Compensation], 1855-1905.

Page 31


CALIFORNIA POSTMARKS (through 1935) MERCED COUNTY by John Williams

887 Litchfield Ave. For January: Tulare and Kings counties Sebastopol CA 95472

Telephone (707) 823-7102

TOWN/N~BER POSTMARK EARLIEST LATEST VALUE KILLER NOTES

ALADDIN ( 8 JUL 1914 - 31 JUL 1919) MER- 5 1C 31.5 20L 15 JAN 15 3 4B-9

ALEXANDRIA ( 4 OCT 1869 - 12 OCT 1871) NO POSTMARKS RECORDED

AMSTERDAM ( 27 MAR 1895 - 31 JUL 1895) (16 NOV 1900 - 31 JAN 1906) ( 11 JUL 1906 - 15 MAR 1910) (24 APR 1912 - 30 JUN 1925)

MER- 30 1C 32.0 161 17 DEC 12 13 MAY 18 2 4B-9 MER- 35 1C 31.5 141 12 JU1 24 2 4B-9

ATHLONE ( 3 MAY 1881 - 15 SEP 1901) (20 NOV 1901 - 15 JUN 1905) ( 1 MAY 1906 - 30 NOV 1909) ( 2 JUL 1914 - 15 OCT 1937)

MER- 40 3C 29.0 22 SEP 81 4 28.0 18.5 61

MER- 50 1C 34.5 23L 9 JUL 87 3 MER- 55 1C 27.0 llL 30 MAY 93 17 FEB 94 3 MER- 60 1C 27.5 131 1 NOV 94 3 MER- 65 1C 27.5 151 19 JAN 98 2

·MER- 75 1C 30.5 18L 10 SEP 07 15 SEP 35 2 DOANE TY 3(1) NOTE 1 MER- 85 1C 32.0 20L 18 DEC 14 6 FEB 17 2 4B- 9

ATWATER ( 10 MAY 1880 - OPEN) MER- 95 M/S 28 FEB 82 4 MER- 100 1C 31.0 15L 19 AUG 87 14 APR 89 3 MER- 105 2C '34.0 15 APR 91 11 DEC 92 3

32.5 101 MER- 110 1C 32.5 151 5 MAY'95 3 MER- 120 1C 27.0 131 23 MAY 06 7 OCT 07 2 MER- · 125 1C 31.0 181 25 DEC 09 2 4B-1 MER- 130 1C 28.5 151 8 NOV 15 2 E1-40 MER- 135 1C 29.0 121 16 DEC 22 3 DEC 30 2 EL- 41 MER- 140 1C 22.5 51 30 NOV 28 31 DEC 35 2 AMERICAN (FLAG)

BALLICO (23 AUG 1924 - OPEN) MER- 150 1C 32.0 201 9 SEP 34 1 4B-9'

BEAR CREEK ( 11 SEP 1871 - 5 MAR 1872) NO POSTMARKS RECORDED

Page 32

Western Express

MER- 50

MER- 75

HER- 105

HER- 130

HER- 30

..<_0LO~ --r FEB ~

1'"7 1894

CA\.- ·

HER- 55

HER- 85

~'J'JA~~ "'< 1) MAY 5 1895

MER- 110

HER- 135

Page33

HER- 60

-<._~A'/'('

~ MAY -5> 23

\906

CA\.-·

MER- 120

MER- 140

October 1992

HER- 40

MER- . 65

~A/~ A_ 1J ~ APR "'

10 · 1889

HER- 100

25 \909

HER- 150


MERCED COUNTY

TOWN/NUMBER POST~RK EARLIEST LATEST VALUE KILLER NOTES

BONANZA (14 JUL 1906 - 31 DEC 1914) MER- 165 1C 31.0 19L 14 SEP 07 30 JAN 12 2 DOANE TY 3(1)

BRICKVILLE( 2 .JUN 1870-17 NOV 1871) NO POSTMARKS RECORDED

CENTRAL POINT ( 10 JUL 1876 - 31 JAN 1890) MER- 175 M/S 14 APR 78 4 MER- 180 2C 28.5 14 JUL 79 14 APR 82 3

27 . 5 12L MER- 185 1C 27.5 5L 27 OCT 88 19 FEB 89 3

CHARLESTON ( 15 APR 1878 - 20 NOV 1884) WAS WYRUCK . NO POSTMARKS RECORDED

CHESTER (12 FEB 1880 - 10 NOV 1886) NO POSTMARKS RECORDED

CLEVELAND ( 6 MAR 1905 - 30 APR 1912) WAS IN SAN BENITO COUNTY. MER- 200 1C 28.0 7L 16 MAR 05 4 FEB 11 3 DOANE TY 2(2)

COLONY CENTER (27 FEB 1905 - 31 JUL 1906) PO MOVED AND NCT DOS PALOS. MER- 205 1C 29.0 12L 12 MAY 05 1 OCT 06 2 DOANE TY 2(1) NOTE 2

CRESSEY/CRESSY ( 1 MAY 1882 - 13 DEC 1883) P 0 MOVED FROM LIVINGSTON. CRESSEY SPELLING. (10 DEC 1909 - 19 MAR 1912) CRESSY SPELLING . ( 2 MAR 1912 - OPEN) CRESSEY SPELLING.

MER- 220 1C 31.5 16L 14 APR 10 25 JAN 12 2 4B-1 MER- 225 1C 32 . 0 20L 11 MAR 13 23 NOV 14 2 4B-9 MER- 230 1C 32.5 20L 8 APR 16 9 DEC 16 2 4B-9 MER- 240 1C 31.0 20L 27 SEP 26 3 DEC 31 1 4B-9

DELHI ( 1 FEB 1912 - 31 JAN 1918) (19 FEB 1921 - OPEN)

MER- 250 1C 29.5 20L 11 DEC 16 2 EL-41 MER- 255 1C 31.5 20L 8 JAN 17 2 4B-9 MER- 260 1C 31.5 17L 4 MAR 22 9 SEP 22 2 4B-9 MER- 265 1C 28 . 5 17L 11 AUG 27 4 DEC 30 1 EL-41

DOS PALOS/DOSPALOS (27 OCT 1891 - 8 JUN 1906) P 0 MOVED AND NCT SOUTH DOS PALOS. (31 JUL 1906 - OPEN) TWO WORD SPELLING. WAS COLONY CENTER.

MER- 275 1C 27.5 10L 13 JAN 92 16 MAY 93 3 MER- 280 1C 27.5 12L 1 MAY 95 19 AUG 97 3 MER- 285 1C 28.0 13L 28 AUG 98 21 SEP 02 2 MER- 290 RFD 23X15 10L 17 DEC 00 5 JUN 05 2 TY 1(1) MER- 300 1C 31.0 18L 25 MAR 07 . 12 JUL 07 2 DOANE TY 3(1) MER- 305 1C 29.0 14L 27 DEC 09 2 EL-41

Page 34

Western Express

MER- 165

MER- 200

MER- 230

MER- 260

MER- 285

MER- 180

MER- 205

HER- 240

HER- 265

R. 1=". o. DOS PALOS,

DEC 17 1900 CAL.

MER- 290

Page35

October 1992

HER- 185

HER- 220

MER- 250 MER- 255

HER- 275 MER- 280

MER- 300 MER- 305


MERCED COUNTY

TOWN/ NUMBER POSTMARK EARLIEST LATEST VALUE KILLER NOTES

DOS PALOS/DOSPALOS CONT. MER- 315 1C 29.5 11L 4 MAR 21 2 EL-41 MER- 325 1C 24.0 6L 13 NOV 31 14 FEB 35 1 AMERICAN(FLAG)

DOVER (18 APR 1870 - 19 MAY 1874) NO POSTMARKS RECORDED

ELGIN ( 16 NOV 1896 - 6 SEP 1900) MER- 335 1C 27.5 16L 15 JAN 98 5 APR 00 4

ELNI00(18 JUN 1920- OPEN) MER- 345 1C 32.0 19L 16 JUN 26 2 4B-9 MER- 355 1C 30.5 11 SEP 31 1 4B-7

FORLORN HOPE (19 APR 1855 - 29 JAN 1859) TRANSFERRED FROM MARIPOSA CO WHEN MERCED CO CR (25 APR 1860 - 14 FEB 1861)-RE-ESTABLISHE.D AS HOPETON.

MER- 360 2C 32.5 16 NOV 57* 5 30.5 8L

GENEVA ( 17 NOV 1896 - 31 DEC 1897) (15 JUL 1898 - 18 JAN 1911) NCT PLANADA.

MER- 370 1C 26.0 14L 10 MAR 99 3 MER- 380 1C . 31.0 22L 10 MAR 08 8 FEB 10 2 4B-2

GUSTINE (17 MAY 1907 - OPEN) MER- 385 1C 31.5 20L 13 JUL 09 10 APR 10 2 4B-1 MER- 390 1C 29.5 17L 12 SEP 12 18 NOV 30 2 EL-41

GWIN (19 APR 1855 - 28 JAN 1864) TRANSFERRED FROM MARIPOSA CO WHEN MERCED CREATED. NO POSTMARKS RECORDED

HILMAR ( 10 MAY 1920 - OPEN) MER- 410 1C 31.5 19L 19 NOV 30 MER- 415 1C 33.5 16L 4 JAN 34

HOPETON ( 2 OCT 1866 - 31 MAY 1894) (23 JUN 1911 - 31 JAN 1914)

MER- 425 1C 23.5 9L 10 AUG 71* MER- 430 M/S 16 SEP 77 MER- 435 1C 32.0 19L 23 JAN 12

INGOMAR (28 FEB 1890 - 31 JAN 1921) MER- 445 1C 27.5 14L 16 JUL 92 MER- 450 1C 27.5 15L 5 DEC 01 MER- 460 1C 28.5 15L 14 APR 08 MER- 465 1C 31.5 19L 8 APR 13

1 16 DEC 34 1

22 NOV 72* 4 9 SEP 84 4

3

11 MAR 96 3 15 SEP 02 2

5 JUL 10 2 6 JAN 15 2

Page 36

4B-9 4B-9

4B-9

EL-41 4B-9


MER- 315 MER- 325 MER- 335 MER - 345

MER - 355 MER- 360 MER- 370 MER- 380

MER - 385 MER - 390 MER - 410 MER- 415

MER- 445 MER- 450 MER- 435

MER - 460 MER- 465

Page 37


MERCED COUNTY

TOWN/ NUMBER POSTMARK EARLIEST LATEST VALUE KILLER NOTES

IRWIN ( 8 FEB 1911 - 31 JAN 1958) MER- 475 1C 31.0 21L 23 DEC 11 20 DEC 12 2 4B-1 MER- 480 1C 31.5 20L 26 JUN 14 2 4B-2 MER- 485 lC 32.0 21L 9 SEP 16 7 FEB 17 2 4B-9 MER- 495 1C 31.5 15L 30 DEC 30 1 4B- 9

LAMBERT ( 10 JUN 1872 - 19 MAY 1874) NO POSTMARKS RECORDED

LEGRAND ( 11 NOV 1896 - OPEN) MER- sos· 1C 26.5 13L 7 MAR 98 3 MER- 510 1C 28.0 12L 28 JAN 00 12 FEB 02 2 MER- 520 1C 30 . 5 20L 19 JUN OS 22 MAR 13 2 DOANE TY 3(5) MER- 525 1C 28.5 15L 8 FEB 14 15 SEP 18 2 EL-40 MER- 535 1C 29 . 5 17L 25 JUN 26 2 EL-41 MER- 540 1C 22.5 10L 17 OCT 30 2 APR 35 1 IELFIELD 2A MER- 545 1C 33.0 17L 10 SEP 33 25 OCT 35 1 4B:..9

LIVINGSTON ( 3 JAN 1873 - 1 MAY 1882) p 0 MOVED AND NCT CRESSY. (13 DEC 1883 - OPEN)

MER- 565 1C 23.5 8L 14 FEB 88* 3 MER- 570 lC 25.0 9L 3 JUL 93 3 MER- 575 2C 29.0 2 MAR 94 3 NOTE 3

18.5 7L MER- 580 lC 27 . 0 12L 8JUN 96 21 JUL 96 3 MER- 585 1C 28.5 13L 11 AUG 99 3 DEC 07 2 MER- 600 lC 29.5 9L 7 OCT 27 5 DEC 30 1 EL-41 MER- 605 lC 23.0 4L 26 JUL 29 30 NOV 35 2 AMERICAN(FLAG)

Page38

Western Express

'0-w'-v ' JUN J

26 A.M. 1914-

MER- 475 MER- 480

MER- 510

MER- 540

MER- 570 MER- 575

MER- 600

0w'lf.l ' FEB '

7 A.M. 1917

MER- 485

c ~'v.· MER- 520

HER- 545

MER- 580

MER- 605

Page 39

October 1992

MER- 495

HER- 525

MER- 565 .......

MER- 585


MERCED COUNTY

TOWN/NUMBER POSTMARK EARLIEST LATEST VALUE KILLER NOTES

LOS BANOS ( 10 NOV 1873 - OPEN) MER- 615 1C 24.0 7L 23 DEC 74 7 SEP 76 4 MER- 620 1C 24.0 8L 27 DEC 77 4 MER- 625 2C 30.0 23 AUG 83 13 SEP 84 3

28.5 13L MER- 630 2C 32.0 25 APR 86 31 MAR 87 3

30.0 14L MER- 635 1C 29.0 3L 5 APR 91 4 OCT 92 3 T&C MER- 64.0 1C 27.5 llL 25 MAY 93 3 MER- 645 1C 27.5 14L 15 DEC 96 22 FEB 02 2 MER- 650 1C 29.0 llL 26 OCT 04 20 MAY 08 2 EL-41 MER- 660 1C 29.5 16L 23 APR 15 9 OCT 17 2 EL-41 MER- 665 1C 28.0 13L 12 JUN 18 28 SEP 18 2 EL-41 MER- 680 1C 25.0 101 25 NOV 30 1 EL-51 MER- 685 1C 20.5 SL 31 JUL 34 1 UNIVERSAL

MERCED ( 20 DEC 1870 - 4 MAR 1872) ( 5 MAR 1872 - OPEN) WAS BEAR CREEK.

MER- 700 M/S 18 MAY 72 30 MAY 72 4 MER- 705 1C 24.5 101 14 JUL 75 4 MER- 710 1C 25.5 9L 5 MAY 78 5 NOV 80 3 MER- 715 1C 26.0 121 17 MAR 83* 21 MAR 84 3 MER- 720 1C 26.0 llL 5 JAN 85* 3 MAR 86* 3 MER- 725 1C 26.0 12L 28 NOV 87 8 DEC 87 3 MER- 730 1C 26.5 131 31 JUL 88 14 JAN 92 3 MER- 735 1C 27.0 13L 18 JUL 92 22 NOV 97 2 MER- 740 1RT 45.5X29 13L13 APR 99 2

Page40

Western Express

MER- 615

MER- 635

MER- 660

MER - 705

MER- 725

MER- 620

0'BAJv () 0

MAY lP 25

1893

MER- 640

MER- 665

MER- 710

MER- 730

MER- 625

MER- 645

MER- 715

MER - 735

Page41

. October 1992

MER- 630

HER- 650

HER- 685

MER- 720

REGISTERED APR 13 1899

MERCED,- GAL.

MER- 740


MERCED COUNTY


MERCED CONT . MER- 745 1C 27 . 5 13L 27 JAN 00 21 AUG 00 2 MER- 750 1C 29 . 0 13L 16 MAY 03 2 EL- 41 MER- 755 1C 29.0 15L 7 MAY 04 5 NOV 04 2 EL-41 MER- 760 1C 25.5 13L 16 SEP 05 25 JUL 10 2 EL- 51 MER- 765 1C 22 . 0 12L 19 NOV 10 4 OCT 19 2 AMERI CAN(FLAG) MER- 775 1C 20.0 7L 24 NOV 23 2 NOV 24 2 UNIVERSAL SLOGAN &WL MER- 785 1C 25.0 llL 4 DEC 30 1 EL- 51 MER- 790 1C 20 . 5 8L 2 DEC 31 2 NOV 32 1 UNIVERSAL SLOGAN &WL

MERCED FALLS ( 4 SEP 1856 - 31 DEC 1957) MER - 800 RMLS 29.5 SL 27 MAR 61 5 MER- 805 M/S 10 JAN 72 9 NOV 81 3 MER- 810 1C 31.5 14L 23 APR 86 4 MER- 820 1C 27 . 0 6L 7 FEB 92 3 MER- 825 1C 27.0 4L 18 FEB 99 5 APR 03 3 MER- 830 1C 28.0 llL 25 OCT 04 12 NOV OS 2 DOANE TY 1(4) MER- 835 1C 30.5 14L 3 MAR 07 2 4B- 2 MER- 840 1C 31.5 13L 8 JAN 12 27 MAY 16 2 4B- 9 MER- 855 1C 29.5 llL 12 APR 32 31 JAN 33 1 EL- 41

ORTIGALITO ( 14 MAR .1876 - 17 JUL 1877) . ( 16 JAN 1879 - 1 FEB 1881)

MER- 865 1C 25.0 9L 1 APR 77* 4 MER- 870 2C 30 . 5 7 JAN 80 4

29 . 5 llL

Page42

Western Express

MER- 745

HER - 765

0~0 ;::--<1

I.JJf<- OCT < ::E 25 ~ A.M. ~

1904

«, R C (' ~ MAY<)

\6 6PM 1903 C A\- .

MER- 750

MER- 775

MER- 810

HER- 835

MER- 865

October 1992

MER- 760 MER- 755

MER- 820 HER- 825

MER- 840 HER- 855

MER- 87 0

Page 43


MERCED COUNTY


PLAINSBERG/PLAINSBURG ( 6 JUL 18.69 - 15 DEC 1907) MER- 875 M/S 25 AUG 70 5 APR 71 4 MER- 880 1C 23.0 8L 13 OCT 78* 30 DEC 79* 3 MER- 885 1C 27.5 8L 18 FEB 80 8 NOV 82 3 T&C

MER- 890 1C 27.5 10L 5 NOV 85 3 MER- 895 1C 26.5 8L 5 NOV 91 13 JUL 96 2 MER- 900 1C 27.5 10L 17 MAY 01 2

PLANADA (18 JAN 1911 - OPEN) WAS GENEVA. MER- 905 1C 30.5 17L 29 JUL 12 2 4B-1 MER- 9.10 1C 31.5 18L 19 FEB 17 2 4B-9 MER- 920 1C 31.5 16L 7 AUG 29 5 DEC 30 1 4B- 9 MER- 925 1C 30.5 22 SEP 34 17 MAY 35 1 4B-7

SAN LUIS RANCH (21 JUN 1871 - 26 MAY 1876) (20 DEC 1889 - 15 AUG 1890)

MER- 935 RMLS 21.5 4L 16 JAN 72* 28 APR 74 4

SNELLING ( 16 SEP 1870 - OPEN) WAS SNELLING'S RANCH. MER- 945 1C 24.0 10L 17 FEB 72* 3 MER- 955 1C 25.5 7L 16 JUN 76* 14 AUG 78* 3 MER- 965 1C 25.0 7L 14 NOV 84* 3 MER- 970 2C 29.0 17 OCT 88 3 OCT 90 3

27.5 13L MER- 975 2C 29.5 11 DEC 93 3

28.0 15L MER- 980 2C 29.5 4 MAY 97 3

28.0 14L MER- 990 1C 30.5 20L 21 AUG 07 19 MAY 10 2 4B-1 MER- 995 1C 31.0 19L 31 AUG 10 18 MAY 16 2 4B-9 MER-1000 1C 29.5 16L 12 MAY 17 2 EL-41 MER-1010 1C 32.0 17L 22 OCT 30 18 MAY 32 1 4B-9

Page44

Western Express

MER- 880

MER- 900

MER- 925

MER- 965

11 AM

\907

MER- 990

MER- 885

MER- 905

<0\J IS ...y ;(JAN~ <:{ \:.9 C)

.J> ~

C A\.-· MER- 935

MER- 970

MER- 995

Page45

MER- 890

MER - 910

MER- 945

MER- 975

MER- 1000

October 1992

MER- 895

A.M. 1929

CAL\<(. HER- 920

MER- 955

~~LL/N 0 OCT C!

22 P.M.

1930 C:AL\"Y · MER-10 10

Western Express

MERCED COUNTY

TOWN/ NUMBER POSTMARK EARLIEST LATEST VALUE KILLER

SNELLING'S RANCH (19 APR 1855 - 13 FEB 1861) WAS MARIPOSA COUNTY. ( 5 JUL 1861 - 16 SEP 1870) NCT SNELLING.

MER-1020 40V 35.0X24.5 19 DEC -55* 26 JUL 61 5 34 . 0X23.5 22.0X12.5 2l.OX11.5 3L

MER-1025 M/S 24 FEB 56* 23 JAN 62 4

SOUTH DOS PALOS ( 8 JUN 1906 - OPEN) P 0 MOVED FROM DOS PALOS. MER-1030 1C 29.5 8L 17 AUG 07 26 DEC 07 MER-1035 1C 32.0 10L 16 FEB 16 25 SEP 16 MER-1Q45 1C 29.0 5L 4 NOV 30 5 JAN 31 MER-1050 1C 31.5 7L 21 DEC 31 16 JUL 35

STAYTONVILLE (28 MAY 1877 - 16 JUL 1878) NO POSTMARKS RECORDED

STEVINSON (24 APR 1907 - OPEN) MER-1060 1C 30.5 18L 10 MAY 08 MER-1065 1C 31.5 17L 22 SEP 13 MER-1080 1C 31.5 16L 19 NOV 30 MER-1085 1C 32.5 17L 29 JUN 34

STURGEON ( 2 JUN 1884 - 15 NOV 1890) MER-1095 S3C 30.5 27 JUL 85

28.5 18.5 12L

UNION ( 29 SEP 1864 - 28 SEP 1876) (20 MAY 1878 - 31 DEC 1896)

29 JUN 08 15 DEC 14

28 JAN 89

2 2 1 1

2 2 1 1

4

MER-1100 M/S 11 APR 66 MER-1105 1C 26.5 12L 4 FEB 94

28 DEC 94 3 4

VOLTA (19 APR 1890 - 31 MAY 1959) TO RURAL STA OF LOS MER-1115 1C 27.0 15L 9 FEB 91 21 AUG 94 3 MER-1120 2C 33.0 5 MAR 94 12 JUN 94 3

31.5 19L MER-1125 1C 27.0 16L 2 MAR 97 2 MER-1130 1C 28.0 17L 9 AUG 03 2 MER-1140 1C 27.5 10L 9 JUN 06 7 FEB 11 2 MER-1145 1C 32.0 18L 16 FEB 16 3 MAR 17 2 MER-1155 1C 32.0 20L 10 SEP 34 1

WINTON (13 AUG 1912 - OPEN) P 0 MOVED FROM YAM. MER-1165 1C 32 . 0 22L 13 APR 14 26 SEP 16 2 MER-1180 1C 29 .5 13L 31 DEC 30 1

WYRUCK ( 8 MAY 1876 - 15 APR 1878) NCT CHARLESTON. NO POSTMARKS RECORDED

EL-41 4B-9 EL-41 4B-9

4B-6 4B-1 4B-9 4B-9

BANOS.

DOANE 4B-9 4B-9

4B-9 EL-41

YAM (15 FEB 1911 - 13 AUG 1912) P 0 MOVED AND NCT WINTON." MER-1195 1C 31.0 20L 25 JUL 11 14 MAR 12 3 4B-9

Page46

October 1992

NOTES

NOTE 4

T&C

TY 2(3)


MER-1020 HER-1030 HER-1045

MER-1050 HER-1060 MER-1065 HER-1080

* MER-1105 MER-1115

MER-1085 MER-1095

0 L ';>'

JAN 24

P.M. 1917

MER-1120 MER-1125 MER - 1130 MER -1140 HER-1145

HER-1155 HER-1165 MER-1180 MER-1195

Page47


MERCED COUNTY

TOWN/NUMBER POST~ EARLIEST LATEST VALUE KILLER NOTES

* AN ASTERISK FOLLOWING A DATE INDICATES IT WAS ESTIMATED.

NOTE

NOTE NOTE NOTE

1 - MER- 75 - EVIDENTLY THE OLD DOANE DEVICE WAS RESURRECTED AROUND 1930 AND USED UNTIL THE POST OFFICE CLOSED IN 1937 .

2 - MER- 205 - USED AFTER THE OFFICIAL CLOSING DATE. 3 - MER- 575 - USED AS A SENDING DEVICE. 4 - MER-1025 - MANUSCRIPT CANCELS READ "SNELLING" OR "SNELLINGS".

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Page48

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