Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO.
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO. American Express was started as an express mail business in Buffalo, New York, in 1850. It was founded as a joint stock corporation by the merger of the express companies owned by Henry Wells (Wells & Company), William G. Fargo (Livingston, Fargo & Company), and John Warren Butterfield (Wells, Butterfield & Company, the successor earlier in 1850 of Butterfield, Wasson & Company). The same founders also started Wells Fargo & Co. in 1852 when Butterfield and other directors objected to the proposal that American Express extend its operations to California.
American Express first established its headquarters in a building at the intersection of Jay Street and Hudson Street in what was later called the Tribeca section of Manhattan. For years it enjoyed a virtual monopoly on the movement of express shipments (goods, securities, currency, etc.) throughout New York State. In 1874, American Express moved its headquarters to 65 Broadway in what was becoming the Financial District of Manhattan, a location it was to retain through two buildings.
The company went on to become multi-national company. For 2008, American Express was named the 62nd best company to work for in the United States by Fortune, ranking it number one for bank card companies.
According to the 1857-1858 through 1865 Dubuque City Directory, this business was located at 124 Main.
The 1878-79 Dubuque City Directory listed 437 Main.
The 1886-87 through 1890-91 Dubuque City Directory listed 449 Main.
The 1899-1900 through 1911-12 Dubuque City Directory listed 888 Main.
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Source:
Wikipedia