1868 Stock Certificate for. The American Merchants Union Express. Signed by President William G. Fargo and other company exec. The stock is for 20 shares and remains in. With the usual punch and stamped cancellations present. Very BOLD Fargo signature. Revenue stamp on the front. Was born in Pompey in Onondaga County, New York on May 20, 1818. He was the eldest of twelve children of William C. On April 1, 1845, along with Henry Wells and Daniel Dunning, Fargo organized the Western Express which ran from Buffalo to Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago and intermediate points, under the name of Wells & Co. Livingston, who became Fargo’s partner in Livingston, Fargo & Company. In 1850, three competing express companies: Wells & Company (Henry Wells), Livingston, Fargo & Company (Fargo and Livingston), and Wells, Butterfield & Company, the successor earlier in 1850 of Butterfield, Wasson & Company (John Warren Butterfield), were consolidated and became the American Express Company, with Wells as President and Fargo as Secretary. In 1866, Merchants Union hired away older companies experienced agents and invaded their territories. American Express suffered such losses in 1867 that for the first and only time in its history it failed to pay a dividend. American Merchants Union Express Company. (shortened in 1873 back to the American Express Company). In 1868, upon the resignation of Henry Wells and American Express’ merger with the Merchants Union Express Company, William Fargo was elected President of the American Express Company. He was president of the American Express Company until his death in 1881, at which point his brother, J. Fargo, assumed the presidency, which he held until 1914. Great opportunity to own a piece of 19th Century. Would look FANTASTIC framed! Please check my feedback and…………… Thank you for looking!