1801 - 1869 (68 years) Submit Photo / Document
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Name |
John Warren Butterfield |
Born |
1801 |
Berne, Albany, New York |
Gender |
Male |
Census |
1855 |
New York |
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1855 NY Butterfield. 1855 State Census. Utica, Oneida, New York. Family 424. |
Census |
1865 |
New York |
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1865 NY Butterfield. State Census. Utica, Oneida, New York. Family 88. |
Occupation |
John was a stagecoach driver. He went on to co-found the companies that became American Express and Wells Fargo.
In 1857 he founded the Butterfield Overland Express. He carried Mail and passengers from St. Louis to San Francisco. The 2812 mile trip was expected to take 25 days but, they often made it in 22 days. The trip was longer than other stage routes but, it went far enough south to avoid the snow. Passengers paid $200 for the trip. Adjusted for inflation they were paying a little over $7,300. For a simple laborer working 60 hours a week this represented 2 1/2 years of wages.
At their best the company employed 800 people owned 250 stagecoaches and 1200 horses and mules. In March 1860 due to debt owed to Wells Fargo they took over the company and John was forced out of business.
In March 1861 the route was discontinued due the the anticipation of conflict in the Civil War. |
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Butterfield Overland Mail Route. This 1958 U.S. postage stamp shows the route of the Overland Mail route. It was issued in commemoration of the 1858 contract John got to carry mail for the U.S. Postal service. |
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A 1953 American Express Shipping Receipt. A 1953 American Express Shipping Receipt that shows Butterfield was a partner. |
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Butterfield Stagecoach. This Restored Butterfield Stagecoach is on display at the Fort Chadbourne museum in Coke county, Texas. |
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Butterfield Overland Mail In San Francisco. Harper's Weekly, New York, Saturday, December 11, 1858 page 1. |
Died |
14 Nov 1869 |
Utica, Oneida, New York |
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Hon John Butterfield Obituary. The New York Times, Tuesday, November 16, 1869 page 5. |
Headstones |
Submit Headstone Photo |
Person ID |
I15764 |
Nagel |
Last Modified |
28 Jan 2017 |
Family |
Malinda Harriet Baker, b. 23 Oct 1799, New York , d. 20 Aug 1883, Utica, Oneida, New York (Age 83 years) |
Married |
1822 |
Children |
| 1. Elizabeth Livingston Butterfield, b. 7 Nov 1822, d. 14 Mar 1893, Utica, Oneida, New York (Age 70 years) [Birth] |
+ | 2. Theodore Faxton Butterfield, b. 2 Jun 1826, Berne, Albany, New York , d. 21 Feb 1891 (Age 64 years) [Birth] |
| 3. John Butterfield, Jr, b. 20 Aug 1827, Utica, Oneida, New York , d. 9 Mar 1909, Utica, Oneida, New York (Age 81 years) [Birth] |
| 4. Daniel Adams Butterfield, b. 31 Oct 1831, Utica, Oneida, New York , d. 17 Jul 1901, Cold Spring, Putnam, New York (Age 69 years) [Birth] |
| 5. Delia M Butterfield, b. Abt 1833, New York [Birth] |
| 6. Charles Ebert Butterfield, b. 5 May 1836, Utica, Oneida, New York , d. 17 Nov 1872, Utica, Oneida, New York (Age 36 years) [Birth] |
| 7. Harriet L Butterfield, b. Abt 1839, New York [Birth] |
| 8. Eliza Butterfield, b. Abt 1843, New York [Birth] |
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Last Modified |
6 Jan 2017 |
Family ID |
F5322 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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Event Map |
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| Born - 1801 - Berne, Albany, New York |
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| Census - 1855 - New York |
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| Census - 1865 - New York |
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| Died - 14 Nov 1869 - Utica, Oneida, New York |
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Pin Legend |
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set |
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