Son of William Fargo (1726-1813) and Mercy Beebe (married 17 Jan 1754), the grandson of Ralph Fargo (18 Aug 1693-1763), the great-grandson of Moses Fargo (1648-1742).
Aunt Mercy Fargo Smith (abt. 1755).
Married Mary Congdell (1762) in Sep 1784, Lyme, CT. She remarried after his death and moved to Salem, Springfield Co., NY.
William - At the age of 17 he was among the first to enlist in the Revolutionary War. Was a trader and shipper of cattle and horses. Sgt in Rev War. (DAR Index). Grandfather of William George Fargo of Wells-Fargo and American Express, and James Congdell Fargo, co-founder of American Express.
Children:
1. Gideon Fargo (1789, Montville, New London Co., CT.-1842, Manlius, NY) m. Elizabeth "Betsey" Reels. #12828799 & #12828914. 1850 Census (Manlius, NY) has Betsey at age 60, with son William #26683332 at age 33, born NY. 1860 mother Elizabeth age 69, William age 42, and Holden Snell age 71, MA, a pauper.
2. Sally Fargo (abt. 1790-East Springfield, NY) unmarried
3. William Congdell Fargo (20 Mar 1791, Montville, New London Co., CT-1878) #45571548 m. Stacy Strong (14 Sep 1799, Hebron, CT-9 Nov 1870) on 10 Aug 1817. #45571466. Buried in Buffalo, NY. 1820 living in Pompey, NY, 1850, 1860, 1870 living in Manlius, NY.
Children:
*i. William George Fargo (20 May 1818, Pompey, NY-3 Aug 1881, Buffalo, NY) m. Anna Hurd Williams in 1840, 12 children.
William - Formed an express company with Henry Wells in 1844.
William George Fargo
From the age of thirteen he had to support himself, obtaining little schooling, and for several years he was a clerk in grocery stores in Syracuse. He became a freight agent for the Auburn & Syracuse railway company at Auburn in 1841, an express messenger between Albany and Buffalo a year later, and in 1843 a resident agent in Buffalo. In 1844 he organized, with Henry Wells (1805-1878) and Daniel Dunning, the first express company (Wells & Co.; after 1845 Livingston & Fargo) to engage in the carrying business west of Buffalo.
The lines of this company (which first operated only to Detroit, via Cleveland) were rapidly extended to Chicago, St Louis, and other western points. In March 1850, when through a consolidation of competing lines the American Express Company was organized, Wells became president and Fargo secretary. In 1851, with Wells and others, he organized the firm of Wells, Fargo & Company to conduct an express business between New York and San Francisco by way of the Isthmus of Panama and on the Pacific coast, where it long had a virtual monopoly.
In 1861 Wells, Fargo & Co. bought and reorganized the Overland Mail Co., which had been formed in 1857 to carry the United States mails, and of which Fargo had been one of the original promoters. From 1862 to 1866 he was mayor of Buffalo, and from 1868 to his death, in Buffalo, on the 3rd of August 1881, he was president Of the American Express Company, with which in 1868 the Merchants Union Express Co. was consolidated. He was a director of the New York Central and of the Northern Pacific railways. (LoveToKnow Free Online Encyclopedia )
ii. Jerome Freeman Fargo (6 Feb 1820)
iii. Rufus Congdell Fargo (28 Dec 1821)
iv. Chancellor Livingston Fargo (12 Jan 1824) #25432675
*v. Sarah Ann Fargo Reed (24 Mar 1826-1888)
*vi. Maryette Fargo Wormley (18 Dec 1827-1922)
*vii. James Congdell Strong Fargo (5 May 1829-1915) co-founder of American Express with his older brother William Fargo.
*viii. Charles Fargo (15 Apr 1831-1900)
ix. Thomas Benton Fargo (7 May 1833)
*x. Emeline Fargo Deesz (17 May 1836-1881)
xi. Willet Hinman Fargo (15 Feb 1840-1876) #20786497
xii. Mortimer Fargo (24 Sep 1843)
4. Betsey Fargo m. Samuel Mosher abt. 1809, Montville, CT. and moved to East Springfield, NY., where they both died.
5. Polly Fargo (abt. 1793, Montville, CT-1845, Bolton, CT) m. Samuel L. Wheeler in 1806, moved to Bolton, CT.
6. John Fargo (abt. 1795, Montville, New London Co., CT). Moved to first to Pompey and afterwards to Manlius, NY., where he died. Never married - died at about age 20. Likely buried at the Manlius Center Burial Ground, as there are many damaged and illegible headstones.
1800 Census (Montville, New London Co., CT)
William Fargo
number of household members: 6
4 under 16
2 over 25
Aunt Mercy Fargo Smith (abt. 1755).
Married Mary Congdell (1762) in Sep 1784, Lyme, CT. She remarried after his death and moved to Salem, Springfield Co., NY.
William - At the age of 17 he was among the first to enlist in the Revolutionary War. Was a trader and shipper of cattle and horses. Sgt in Rev War. (DAR Index). Grandfather of William George Fargo of Wells-Fargo and American Express, and James Congdell Fargo, co-founder of American Express.
Children:
1. Gideon Fargo (1789, Montville, New London Co., CT.-1842, Manlius, NY) m. Elizabeth "Betsey" Reels. #12828799 & #12828914. 1850 Census (Manlius, NY) has Betsey at age 60, with son William #26683332 at age 33, born NY. 1860 mother Elizabeth age 69, William age 42, and Holden Snell age 71, MA, a pauper.
2. Sally Fargo (abt. 1790-East Springfield, NY) unmarried
3. William Congdell Fargo (20 Mar 1791, Montville, New London Co., CT-1878) #45571548 m. Stacy Strong (14 Sep 1799, Hebron, CT-9 Nov 1870) on 10 Aug 1817. #45571466. Buried in Buffalo, NY. 1820 living in Pompey, NY, 1850, 1860, 1870 living in Manlius, NY.
Children:
*i. William George Fargo (20 May 1818, Pompey, NY-3 Aug 1881, Buffalo, NY) m. Anna Hurd Williams in 1840, 12 children.
William - Formed an express company with Henry Wells in 1844.
William George Fargo
From the age of thirteen he had to support himself, obtaining little schooling, and for several years he was a clerk in grocery stores in Syracuse. He became a freight agent for the Auburn & Syracuse railway company at Auburn in 1841, an express messenger between Albany and Buffalo a year later, and in 1843 a resident agent in Buffalo. In 1844 he organized, with Henry Wells (1805-1878) and Daniel Dunning, the first express company (Wells & Co.; after 1845 Livingston & Fargo) to engage in the carrying business west of Buffalo.
The lines of this company (which first operated only to Detroit, via Cleveland) were rapidly extended to Chicago, St Louis, and other western points. In March 1850, when through a consolidation of competing lines the American Express Company was organized, Wells became president and Fargo secretary. In 1851, with Wells and others, he organized the firm of Wells, Fargo & Company to conduct an express business between New York and San Francisco by way of the Isthmus of Panama and on the Pacific coast, where it long had a virtual monopoly.
In 1861 Wells, Fargo & Co. bought and reorganized the Overland Mail Co., which had been formed in 1857 to carry the United States mails, and of which Fargo had been one of the original promoters. From 1862 to 1866 he was mayor of Buffalo, and from 1868 to his death, in Buffalo, on the 3rd of August 1881, he was president Of the American Express Company, with which in 1868 the Merchants Union Express Co. was consolidated. He was a director of the New York Central and of the Northern Pacific railways. (LoveToKnow Free Online Encyclopedia )
ii. Jerome Freeman Fargo (6 Feb 1820)
iii. Rufus Congdell Fargo (28 Dec 1821)
iv. Chancellor Livingston Fargo (12 Jan 1824) #25432675
*v. Sarah Ann Fargo Reed (24 Mar 1826-1888)
*vi. Maryette Fargo Wormley (18 Dec 1827-1922)
*vii. James Congdell Strong Fargo (5 May 1829-1915) co-founder of American Express with his older brother William Fargo.
*viii. Charles Fargo (15 Apr 1831-1900)
ix. Thomas Benton Fargo (7 May 1833)
*x. Emeline Fargo Deesz (17 May 1836-1881)
xi. Willet Hinman Fargo (15 Feb 1840-1876) #20786497
xii. Mortimer Fargo (24 Sep 1843)
4. Betsey Fargo m. Samuel Mosher abt. 1809, Montville, CT. and moved to East Springfield, NY., where they both died.
5. Polly Fargo (abt. 1793, Montville, CT-1845, Bolton, CT) m. Samuel L. Wheeler in 1806, moved to Bolton, CT.
6. John Fargo (abt. 1795, Montville, New London Co., CT). Moved to first to Pompey and afterwards to Manlius, NY., where he died. Never married - died at about age 20. Likely buried at the Manlius Center Burial Ground, as there are many damaged and illegible headstones.
1800 Census (Montville, New London Co., CT)
William Fargo
number of household members: 6
4 under 16
2 over 25
Son of William Fargo (1726-1813) and Mercy Beebe (married 17 Jan 1754), the grandson of Ralph Fargo (18 Aug 1693-1763), the great-grandson of Moses Fargo (1648-1742).
Aunt Mercy Fargo Smith (abt. 1755).
Married Mary Congdell (1762) in Sep 1784, Lyme, CT. She remarried after his death and moved to Salem, Springfield Co., NY.
William - At the age of 17 he was among the first to enlist in the Revolutionary War. Was a trader and shipper of cattle and horses. Sgt in Rev War. (DAR Index). Grandfather of William George Fargo of Wells-Fargo and American Express, and James Congdell Fargo, co-founder of American Express.
Children:
1. Gideon Fargo (1789, Montville, New London Co., CT.-1842, Manlius, NY) m. Elizabeth "Betsey" Reels. #12828799 & #12828914. 1850 Census (Manlius, NY) has Betsey at age 60, with son William #26683332 at age 33, born NY. 1860 mother Elizabeth age 69, William age 42, and Holden Snell age 71, MA, a pauper.
2. Sally Fargo (abt. 1790-East Springfield, NY) unmarried
3. William Congdell Fargo (20 Mar 1791, Montville, New London Co., CT-1878) #45571548 m. Stacy Strong (14 Sep 1799, Hebron, CT-9 Nov 1870) on 10 Aug 1817. #45571466. Buried in Buffalo, NY. 1820 living in Pompey, NY, 1850, 1860, 1870 living in Manlius, NY.
Children:
*i. William George Fargo (20 May 1818, Pompey, NY-3 Aug 1881, Buffalo, NY) m. Anna Hurd Williams in 1840, 12 children.
William - Formed an express company with Henry Wells in 1844.
William George Fargo
From the age of thirteen he had to support himself, obtaining little schooling, and for several years he was a clerk in grocery stores in Syracuse. He became a freight agent for the Auburn & Syracuse railway company at Auburn in 1841, an express messenger between Albany and Buffalo a year later, and in 1843 a resident agent in Buffalo. In 1844 he organized, with Henry Wells (1805-1878) and Daniel Dunning, the first express company (Wells & Co.; after 1845 Livingston & Fargo) to engage in the carrying business west of Buffalo.
The lines of this company (which first operated only to Detroit, via Cleveland) were rapidly extended to Chicago, St Louis, and other western points. In March 1850, when through a consolidation of competing lines the American Express Company was organized, Wells became president and Fargo secretary. In 1851, with Wells and others, he organized the firm of Wells, Fargo & Company to conduct an express business between New York and San Francisco by way of the Isthmus of Panama and on the Pacific coast, where it long had a virtual monopoly.
In 1861 Wells, Fargo & Co. bought and reorganized the Overland Mail Co., which had been formed in 1857 to carry the United States mails, and of which Fargo had been one of the original promoters. From 1862 to 1866 he was mayor of Buffalo, and from 1868 to his death, in Buffalo, on the 3rd of August 1881, he was president Of the American Express Company, with which in 1868 the Merchants Union Express Co. was consolidated. He was a director of the New York Central and of the Northern Pacific railways. (LoveToKnow Free Online Encyclopedia )
ii. Jerome Freeman Fargo (6 Feb 1820)
iii. Rufus Congdell Fargo (28 Dec 1821)
iv. Chancellor Livingston Fargo (12 Jan 1824) #25432675
*v. Sarah Ann Fargo Reed (24 Mar 1826-1888)
*vi. Maryette Fargo Wormley (18 Dec 1827-1922)
*vii. James Congdell Strong Fargo (5 May 1829-1915) co-founder of American Express with his older brother William Fargo.
*viii. Charles Fargo (15 Apr 1831-1900)
ix. Thomas Benton Fargo (7 May 1833)
*x. Emeline Fargo Deesz (17 May 1836-1881)
xi. Willet Hinman Fargo (15 Feb 1840-1876) #20786497
xii. Mortimer Fargo (24 Sep 1843)
4. Betsey Fargo m. Samuel Mosher abt. 1809, Montville, CT. and moved to East Springfield, NY., where they both died.
5. Polly Fargo (abt. 1793, Montville, CT-1845, Bolton, CT) m. Samuel L. Wheeler in 1806, moved to Bolton, CT.
6. John Fargo (abt. 1795, Montville, New London Co., CT). Moved to first to Pompey and afterwards to Manlius, NY., where he died. Never married - died at about age 20. Likely buried at the Manlius Center Burial Ground, as there are many damaged and illegible headstones.
1800 Census (Montville, New London Co., CT)
William Fargo
number of household members: 6
4 under 16
2 over 25
Aunt Mercy Fargo Smith (abt. 1755).
Married Mary Congdell (1762) in Sep 1784, Lyme, CT. She remarried after his death and moved to Salem, Springfield Co., NY.
William - At the age of 17 he was among the first to enlist in the Revolutionary War. Was a trader and shipper of cattle and horses. Sgt in Rev War. (DAR Index). Grandfather of William George Fargo of Wells-Fargo and American Express, and James Congdell Fargo, co-founder of American Express.
Children:
1. Gideon Fargo (1789, Montville, New London Co., CT.-1842, Manlius, NY) m. Elizabeth "Betsey" Reels. #12828799 & #12828914. 1850 Census (Manlius, NY) has Betsey at age 60, with son William #26683332 at age 33, born NY. 1860 mother Elizabeth age 69, William age 42, and Holden Snell age 71, MA, a pauper.
2. Sally Fargo (abt. 1790-East Springfield, NY) unmarried
3. William Congdell Fargo (20 Mar 1791, Montville, New London Co., CT-1878) #45571548 m. Stacy Strong (14 Sep 1799, Hebron, CT-9 Nov 1870) on 10 Aug 1817. #45571466. Buried in Buffalo, NY. 1820 living in Pompey, NY, 1850, 1860, 1870 living in Manlius, NY.
Children:
*i. William George Fargo (20 May 1818, Pompey, NY-3 Aug 1881, Buffalo, NY) m. Anna Hurd Williams in 1840, 12 children.
William - Formed an express company with Henry Wells in 1844.
William George Fargo
From the age of thirteen he had to support himself, obtaining little schooling, and for several years he was a clerk in grocery stores in Syracuse. He became a freight agent for the Auburn & Syracuse railway company at Auburn in 1841, an express messenger between Albany and Buffalo a year later, and in 1843 a resident agent in Buffalo. In 1844 he organized, with Henry Wells (1805-1878) and Daniel Dunning, the first express company (Wells & Co.; after 1845 Livingston & Fargo) to engage in the carrying business west of Buffalo.
The lines of this company (which first operated only to Detroit, via Cleveland) were rapidly extended to Chicago, St Louis, and other western points. In March 1850, when through a consolidation of competing lines the American Express Company was organized, Wells became president and Fargo secretary. In 1851, with Wells and others, he organized the firm of Wells, Fargo & Company to conduct an express business between New York and San Francisco by way of the Isthmus of Panama and on the Pacific coast, where it long had a virtual monopoly.
In 1861 Wells, Fargo & Co. bought and reorganized the Overland Mail Co., which had been formed in 1857 to carry the United States mails, and of which Fargo had been one of the original promoters. From 1862 to 1866 he was mayor of Buffalo, and from 1868 to his death, in Buffalo, on the 3rd of August 1881, he was president Of the American Express Company, with which in 1868 the Merchants Union Express Co. was consolidated. He was a director of the New York Central and of the Northern Pacific railways. (LoveToKnow Free Online Encyclopedia )
ii. Jerome Freeman Fargo (6 Feb 1820)
iii. Rufus Congdell Fargo (28 Dec 1821)
iv. Chancellor Livingston Fargo (12 Jan 1824) #25432675
*v. Sarah Ann Fargo Reed (24 Mar 1826-1888)
*vi. Maryette Fargo Wormley (18 Dec 1827-1922)
*vii. James Congdell Strong Fargo (5 May 1829-1915) co-founder of American Express with his older brother William Fargo.
*viii. Charles Fargo (15 Apr 1831-1900)
ix. Thomas Benton Fargo (7 May 1833)
*x. Emeline Fargo Deesz (17 May 1836-1881)
xi. Willet Hinman Fargo (15 Feb 1840-1876) #20786497
xii. Mortimer Fargo (24 Sep 1843)
4. Betsey Fargo m. Samuel Mosher abt. 1809, Montville, CT. and moved to East Springfield, NY., where they both died.
5. Polly Fargo (abt. 1793, Montville, CT-1845, Bolton, CT) m. Samuel L. Wheeler in 1806, moved to Bolton, CT.
6. John Fargo (abt. 1795, Montville, New London Co., CT). Moved to first to Pompey and afterwards to Manlius, NY., where he died. Never married - died at about age 20. Likely buried at the Manlius Center Burial Ground, as there are many damaged and illegible headstones.
1800 Census (Montville, New London Co., CT)
William Fargo
number of household members: 6
4 under 16
2 over 25
Inscription
illegible
Family Members
Parents
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
