Fargo, William George

▪ American businessman

born May 20, 1818, Pompey, N.Y., U.S.

died Aug. 3, 1881, Buffalo, N.Y.

      pioneer American businessman, one of the founders of Wells, Fargo & Company.

      Fargo began his long association with Henry Wells (Wells, Henry) (q.v.) when he served as an agent for Livingston, Wells, and Pomeroy's Express in 1843. The following year, together with Wells and Daniel Dunning, he founded Wells and Company, the first express company to operate west of Buffalo, N.Y. When that company was merged with Livingston, Wells, and Pomeroy's Express and Butterfield, Wasson, and Company in 1850, Fargo became secretary and Wells president of the new American Express Company (q.v.).

      In 1852 the two men founded Wells, Fargo & Company (Wells Fargo) (q.v.) to serve the growing West. When Wells retired in 1868, Fargo became president of the American Express Company, a post he held until his death.

      Fargo served two terms (1862–66) as mayor of Buffalo but was defeated as a candidate for the New York Senate (1871).

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