American Express Co. Issued to and Signed by John Butterfield. Also Wm. G. Fargo and Henry Wells- 1863 dated Autographed Stock Certificate

During the 1980s, Amex invested in the brokerage industry, acquiring what became, in increments, Shearson Lehman Hutton and then divesting these into what became Smith Barney Shearson (owned by Primerica) and a revived Lehman Brothers. By 2008 neither the Shearson nor the Lehman name existed.

In 2016, credit cards using the American Express network accounted for 22.9% of the total dollar volume of credit card transactions in the United States. As of December 31, 2019, the company had 114.4 million cards in force, including 54.7 million cards in force in the United States, each with an average annual spending of $19,972.

In 2017, Forbes named American Express as the 23rd most valuable brand in the world (and the highest within financial services), estimating the brand to be worth US$24.5 billion. In 2020, Fortune magazine ranked American Express at number 9 on their Fortune List of the Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2020 based on an employee survey of satisfaction.

William G. Fargo (1818-1881), Expressman, First co-owner of Wells & Co., Secretary of American Express (1850), helped organize Wells, Fargo & Co. for express service to California (1852). By 1855 the company controlled Western express business, carrying gold dust, mail, packages, and passengers. Wells Fargo and associated express companies were united as the American Express Co. in 1873, with Fargo as president.He also served as Buffalo Mayor from 1862-66

John Butterfield (1801-1869) American stagecoach proprietor and expressman, b. near Albany, N.Y. Beginning as a stage driver out of Albany, he rose to ownership of a large network of stage lines. He helped to merge his express company with others to form (1850) the American Express Company. In 1857, when Congress established the overland mail route to Los Angeles, Butterfield was awarded the mail contract. He was given the job to deliver the mail. and was paid $600,000. John carried the mail on the first leg of the first Journey. He went right through Springfield. It was during this time that he said, “Remember Boys, nothing must stop the mail." He organized the service on the 2,800-mi (4,500-km) southern route efficiently and continued it until 1861, when the stages were moved to the central route. His company delivered the mail for 21/2 more years. Then his company joined with the Wells Fargo Company. Butterfield also promoted the development of telegraph lines and railroads. He was the founder of the Utica and Waterville Rail Road Company. John moved to Utica, New York. In 1865 he became the mayor of Utica. He died in 1869. He was 59. John Butterfield established the longest mail route in the world at that time. He helped connect people separated by 2000 miles.

Henry Wells (1805-1878) Expressman. Formed American Express and became its President from 1850-68. In 1852 he organized Wells, Fargo & Co. James C. Fargo (1829-1915), Express Executive, Brother of William G. In 1866 became Superintendent and Manager of American Express and in 1881 became President.

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