American Express Stock signed by James C. Fargo & William Henry Seward, Jr. - 1898 dated Autograph Stock Certificate

Signed by James C. Fargo as President, engraved by American Bank Note with the great 'Safety and Dispatch' vignette of the company's dog mascot. Also signed by William H. Seward Jr. Includes portrait of Fargo.

The American Express Company (Amex) is a multinational financial services corporation headquartered at 200 Vesey Street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1850, Amex is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, underscoring its status as a major player in the financial sector.

The company’s logo, adopted in 1958, features a gladiator or centurion, a figure that has become synonymous with its brand and is prominently displayed on its traveler's cheques, charge cards, and credit cards. American Express is widely recognized for its financial products and services, which include credit cards, charge cards, and travel services, and it is known for catering to a high-end clientele.

James Congdell Strong Fargo (May 5, 1829 – February 8, 1915) was a key figure in the history of the American Express Company, serving as its president for 30 years. He was the brother of William Fargo, co-founder of both American Express and Wells Fargo. James Fargo began his career at age 15 when he moved to Buffalo, New York, to work for his brother William, who managed express lines between Buffalo, Detroit, and Albany. Starting as a clerk, he quickly rose through the ranks, handling the delivery of money packages and, by 1847, controlling operations in Detroit.

In 1851, when the company was organized as Wells Fargo & Company, James Fargo was appointed Superintendent of Virginia operations. By 1855, he had become the Chicago agent for the American Express Company, the successor to Wells, Fargo & Co., and was later promoted to General Superintendent of the Northwest Division. In 1867, he relocated to New York City to serve as General Manager of American Express.

Following his brother William's death in 1881, James Fargo became the third president of American Express, with Theodore M. Pomeroy continuing as vice president. He held this position until 1914, when he was succeeded by George Chadbourne Taylor. James Fargo played a crucial role in the growth and development of American Express, solidifying its position as a leading financial services company.

William Henry Seward Jr. (June 18, 1839 – April 29, 1920) was an American banker and brigadier general in the Union Army during the Civil War. The youngest son of William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, Seward was educated at home and developed an early interest in finance. He began his career in banking by forming a partnership with Clinton McDougall and served as a private secretary to his father when he was a U.S. Senator from New York in 1860. Seward opened a private bank in Auburn, New York, in 1861.

He temporarily left banking on August 22, 1862, to join the Union Army, serving as a brigadier general until he resigned his commission on June 1, 1865. After the Civil War, Seward returned to his banking career and resided with his wife at the family homestead in Auburn, New York. He remained active in politics, charitable work, and various patriotic and historical societies. Seward also became a director of several corporations and was involved in founding the Auburn City Hospital in 1875.

In 1886, Seward was elected as a companion of the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and was assigned insignia number 4696, reflecting his continued engagement with military and veterans' affairs after his service in the Civil War.

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