LaVonne W. (Grnemae) -
This is really 2 books in one. Contains lots of factual and fun information regarding the beginning of Wells Fargo and how it has grown to become the multifaceted business it is today. Wonderful personal stories and many pictures.
A nice survey of the Wells-Fargo history and its impact on the West, and the rest of the country: for example, developing refrigerated train cars to ship California vegetables to the East to sell as fresh produce. The links between Wells Fargo in the West and the combine of investors in the East, who had launched American Express, was an interesting bit of history I wasn't previously aware of. The efforts to monopolize the stagecoach business going west is good to know for any reader of Wild West lore, as is the info on how Wells Fargo nearly did itself in as the trains took over travel and freighting from the Mississippi to the West coast. Recommended.
Jerry H. (jmichael) reviewed Stagecoach : Wells Fargo and the American West on + 4 more book reviews
Excellent history of the old west and the role Wells Fargo played
