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Program
NYS Historic
Subject
People
Location
Hamlet of Watervale, Watervale Road, Pompey, NY
Lat/Long
42.94582, -75.98044
Grant Recipient
Town of Pompey Historical Society
Historic Marker

WILLIAM G FARGO

 

Inscription

WILLIAM G FARGO
BORN IN HAMLET/WATERVALE,
1818, PARTNER IN WELLS, FARGO
EXPRESS CO., CEO-AMERICAN
EXP[RESS CO., MAYOR-BUFFALO,
NY, 1862-1866.  DIED 1881.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION

William George Fargo (1818-1881) was born in Pompey, the eldest of twelve children. An expressman (one who is responsible to pack, manage and ensure delivery of cargo) since the age of 13, Fargo met fellow expressman Henry Wells in 1841 and the two became partners. They co-founded the American Express Company, then Wells, Fargo & Company, in 1852. Fargo served as president of American Express, of Wells Fargo, and two terms as mayor of Buffalo, NY. The city of Fargo in North Dakota was named for him.

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