In Wells Fargo's Archives, not every document is "Minutes of the Board of Directors" meeting from 1904. Exciting as that always is, there are many other documents—Gold Rush-era transactions, letters between local agents and the Head Office ... Many documents tell everyday stories of people working for the company.
William Muir in Chicago in the early 1890s gives a story of working for Wells Fargo. He told his family on Sept. 16, 1890:
"I am now with Wells, Fargo & Co. Express. It is a much better job than the last one. On each wagon, there are two men, a driver and conductor. I am driver. I have it pretty easy as I have nothing to do, only drive. The other man does the delivering. I don't need to take care of the team at all. All I do is unhitch them and chase them upstairs (the wagons remained on the ground floor—Bob) and the hostlerstake care of them after. I start at 7 A.M., quit at 6 P.M. out of which I get two hours for dinner."
Six months later, Muir had a different story to tell. Wells Fargo saw aptitude, and responsibility made Muir a better man. Said he on March 31, 1891:
"I have a much better job than driving. I am conductor on a money wagon, delivering money to the banks. It is a very responsible position to hold and also I have to be very careful to whom I give the money. For instance, yesterday I had about 100,000 dollars to deliver."
Muir gave Wells Fargo a good days' work. Wells Fargo gave Muir a greater opportunity as a result. And he delivered.
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