CHAPTER XVI.

THE AMERICAN IN IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND DAKOTA. REMINISCENCES OF DUBUQUE. THE UNITED STATES AND PACIFIC EXPRESSES. OMAHA, COUNCIL BLUFFS, SIOUX CITY, LINCOLN, AND THE BLACK HILLS.

"Westward the star of empire takes its way."

The poetic line, so often quoted, still expresses, in a small parcel, a great truth. Check it.

A huge area of tolerably rich agricultural country, well timbered, and thickly studded with cheerful, intelligent, and thriving little cities, towns, and villages, is Iowa.

It is lucrative ground, too, for the two competing old Express lines, which have had firm footing there for a score of years or more.

The American's superintendent in Iowa is W. J. Hancock, who, though hardly attained to the meridian of life, is old in the business. He began his seventeen years' experience in Freeport, Ill., in 1863, on the limited salary of thirty dollars per month. He is untiring (only wagon wheels are allowed to be tired in the Express service); but Nature is chalking her score, and will have her revenge one of these odd days. No officer should attempt to perform more arduous, incessant toil (especially brain work) than can be continued with safety to his health. Probably it is a matter entirely of his own choice, and possibly we may over estimate the amount of work in his "bailiwick"; but, besides Iowa, it includes a portion of Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota; also, a few offices in the southern part of Minnesota.

The earliest pioneer at the business of the American in Iowa, that my own long look back recognizes, was Peter Waples, agent at Dubuque in 1851. Dubuque (then a town built on natural bowls of earth) looked into the Mississippi river, but could not see a single Express office to the west of it, being

itself, then and for several years later, the ultima thule of Express enterprise.

Nearly thirty years ago, William G. Fargo and his associates planted it there, and now the puny sapling has become a noble tree, and Dubuque a populous and wealthy city, the pride of a great and powerful State.

Superintendent Hancock preserves the original "Out and In Trip-book" with religious care. The fly-leaf bears the following legend:

"LIVINGSTON, FARGO & COMPANY,

AMERICAN EXPRESS.

DUBUQUE AGENCY, ESTABLISHED
8th of May, 1851.

PETER WAPLES, Agent."

Its first entry is a transcript of "W/B, No. 281. 8 May, 1851. Chicago to Dubuque; total charges to collect, $5.50." W/B, No. 1, Dubuque to Chicago, contained only one entry, but it was a good one, being a package of $4,000 for the American Exchange Bank, New York.

The pioneer manager from Dubuque was S. J. Rickard, whose settlement with Peter was triply, squaring up every time. After him came "Capt. Oaks," Alex. Davidson, J. W. B. Murphy, Raynor, and others.

The business grew very slowly, and was not large when Edwin Hayden, in 1855, was sent by the company from his post as chief clerk in the Chicago office to assume the Dubuque agency. Hayden had been in the Express employ only two years, beginning as a messenger between New York city and Elmira, in that State, and next becoming a clerk, first in the Elmira office, and, in 1854, in a like position in Chicago, under the supervision of the new agent there, J. C. Fargo.

The latter gentleman, himself at that time (as I well remember) rosy with health and jocund spirits, and consequent suavity, was already a good judge of character, and the kind, honest countenance and cheery labor of Edwin Hayden, as his assistant, took his fancy. It was probably through his recommendation that the young man was appointed to take charge of the best office in Iowa. Hayden's ambition was flattered,

and with a light heart he repaired to Dubuque, and began very energetically his efforts to build up a business. The sad sequel to that matter is recorded in the history of the first twenty years of the Express service. For a few days the inflexible integrity of this excellent man rested under a cloud (and to a person of his sensitive honor they must have been days of exquisite torture), but he came out of it triumphantly, and has ever since been a favorite with the company, of which he is now a director.

In the spring of 1856, Thomas Adams (since so well known to expressmen in the northwest), was inducted into the Dubuque office by Edwin Hayden, as his clerk. The following year H. having been transferred to the charge of the Prairie du Chien business, Adams went up a peg and became agent; which position he had filled only two years when he was appointed division superintendent. "Promotion is rapid in the French army." Boys, be encouraged!

His division, at the outset, was westward from Chicago, on the C. & N. W. Railway, via Dixon and Galena, into Iowa; also, a portion of the Illinois Central road. In Iowa there was about 75 miles of railway west of Dubuque, and not more, in practical operation, west of Clinton, Ia. Now, how different! The American Express Company's routes in Iowa include 2,500 miles of rail. The United States Express Company's routes in the same State are extensive; the whole length being about 2,000 miles.

After retaining his superintendency seventeen years, to the entire satisfaction of the general superintendent and the public, our good friend A., with his usual forethought, came to the conclusion not to stand any longer the wear and tear consequent upon so much travel and hard work, both of mind and body, but, while health yet remained to him, to retire to a less arduous position. Accordingly, at his own solicitation, he was given the agency in the prosperous city of Clinton, Ia. That was in 1875. In 1880 he still retained that modest, but agreeable situation, in good mental and bodily condition, and quite as well fitted for office work as ever. Long may he continue so! It is related, that while he was superintendent, one of his route agents sent to him for inspection a money envelope marked to contain $300; and his subordinate accompanied